AL, BNP against army role in governing process

Awami League (AL), BNP and Workers' Party yesterday opposed former autocrat ruler HM Ershad's recent proposal to involve the army in the governing process, saying this would hamper the country's democracy.
They demanded immediate declaration of a date for the government's dialogue with the political parties. They also said the government will have to shoulder all responsibilities if any untoward incident takes place centring the release of the detained teachers and a student of Dhaka University (DU).
Speaking at the BBC Bangladesh Sanglap at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital yesterday, AL Presidium member Motia Chowdhury, BNP Secretary General Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed and Workers' Party President Rashed Khan Menon made these statements.
Executive Director of Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) Dr Iftekharuzzaman also participated in the dialogue as a panellist. BBC Bangla Service in association with the BBC World Service Trust organised the event moderated by Kamal Ahmed of BBC Bangla Service.
"I think the army should not be given any duty related to governance of the country as it would make the army controversial," said Hafizuddin, adding that every segment of the government, including the army, has particular rules of business and none should go beyond their boundary.
Addressing a discussion in the capital on Thursday, Jatiya Party Chairman Ershad had suggested that the army should be involved with all kinds of governance activities.
Motia said problems related to democracy must be solved democratically, considering the people as the main force. She said the army should be in the cantonment as part of the government's regular forces and they should not get involved with governance.
Menon said there might be a conspiracy in Ershad's proposal. In 1981 also Ershad gave a similar proposal and then he established autocratic military rule in the country, Menon added.
Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the army should do what the government asks it to do and continue its current role in handing over power to an elected government through a free and fair election as early as possible.
All the panellists observed that the government should sit in dialogues with the political parties to put an end to the current political crisis and that the government should not put any condition for the dialogues.
Responding to a query from the audience, they demanded immediate release of the detained DU teachers and the student before any untoward situation takes place.
Menon said one executive order of the government is enough to withdraw all charges brought against the DU teachers and students. "I think the administration has taken the matter as a revenge for the movements the teachers and students of Dhaka University had waged," he added.
Maj (retd) Hafiz said the government should forgive the students right now since they are "young and innocent".
The panellists also asked the government to take necessary steps to bring the prices of essentials within people's reach.