Challenges ahead
In an indigent country like ours almost every group of people has countless grievances and unfulfilled demands. Students have demands for an efficient educational system; labourers have demands for higher wages and better living standards; while civil servants have demands for effective administrative reforms. However, having grievances and demands (no matter how grave they might be) doesn't justify mayhem by the aggrieved. Just because a few students have certain demands, it doesn't anyhow give them the right to vandalize their campuses and brutalize their teachers. Similarly, in a civilized society distressed workers aren't expected to slaughter their employers if the latter fail to fulfil the workers' rightful demands. By the same token, the incredible crimes perpetrated by the BDR mutineers is by no means a justifiable way through which a disciplined and well-trained armed force should express their grievances. It's quite apparent that there were several constructive ways through which these mutineers could have communicated their demands to the authorities. Instead of killing a great many of their superior officers they could have called a non-violent strike (or even a 'hunger strike'). Moreover, it was also a legitimate option for them to communicate with different interest groups, the media and the government policy makers via their own spokespersons. Despite having all those applicable alternatives, they resorted to indiscriminate violence that actually made us question the credibility of their blatant accusations. If they had taken a peaceful route to achieve their objectives, they might have been able to make their causes clearly justifiable. Brutal killing of superior officers apparently exposed the inadequacy of moral and cultural grooming that exists in our paramilitary force.
I think a few things need to be clarified regarding the issue. First of all, if the mutineers really had some grievances, was it truly possible for the higher ranking officers to alter the prevailing scenario? The type of facilities the paramilitary force would receive is actually determined by the government budgeting and strategic policy makers. Then why did the rebels slaughter the innocent unarmed officers most of whom had nothing to do with the lack of the demanded facilities? Secondly, the paramilitary force of a country can't logically expect to attain the equal status as the country's main 'military force'. In an economically vulnerable country like Bangladesh it's certainly not trouble-free to allocate resources among various armed forces in an absolutely satisfying manner. Inadequacy of resources and relevant funds is actually a common dilemma for almost every sector, not only the paramilitary force. These mutineers should have understood this reality. Factually speaking, the entire mutiny was based on utter falsehood. The mutineers claimed that the slain officers initially opened fire, which was not true. They lied about the casualties. They tried to win public support by terming this sordid act as the outcome of 'accumulated anger', a theory that was bought by many irresponsible media outlets. (Regrettably, a few TV channels were telecasting the news in such a manner which made the whole thing appear quite justifiable.)
Furthermore, the mutineers didn't even hesitate to open fire on innocuous pedestrians and onlookers that actually revealed the maniacal nature of the people involved in this revolt. Like a bunch of felons they didn't hesitate to loot, plunder and kill innocent women and children. Worst of all, like cold-blooded murderers, they didn't show any sign of remorse afterwards. I really wonder what type of 'ethical training' these people receive as the members of one of the most important armed forces in the country. It's quite disturbing to imagine that upon these people's 'sense of responsibility' our security relies. These coward mutineers were only good at killing unarmed people and when the heavily armed military forces closed in they fled with their tails between their legs.
The ruthless killing of the qualified military officers is an irreplaceable loss of human capital for our nation. The general people including the civil society want exemplary punishment to those involved in this gruesome bloodbath. No one in a civilized nation should be given the right to violate the basic code of law. I think we shouldn't take the Prime Minister's announcement of general amnesty seriously because at that critical point it was necessary to bring the situation under control.
We must understand that no valid deal can exist between civilized humans and a bunch of horrendous savages.
The two day long BDR mutiny that broke out on the 25th February must be a great lesson for the leaders and government high-ups of our country. Whatever the causes of the revolt, the consequences have so far been lethal. The country have lost almost 75 (as is estimated by media) of its brilliant, energetic and young officers. Though the casualties have been minimized, the country may yet have to brace for long term consequences.
The problems before our leaders are complex, they must examine all possible alternatives and choose the best one. They should prove their prudence and sagacity.
Pulok Chakraborty, SUST
We passed two horrifying days and nights due to the mutiny of the BDR.
Approximately 75 army officers were killed/missing, wives of some army officers living in the BDR headquarters were brutally murdered.
I would like to raise a question here. Why should the culprits responsible for these brutal murders will go unpunished? How Bangladesh is going to replace those brilliant officers? Who is going to compensate for the losses suffered by the families of the dead officers? Money and verbal consolation are not good enough.
Punish the culprits as per the law of the country. If we fail to punish the responsible elements, this kind of unwanted events will keep on happening.
Nazakat, On e-mail
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