Bangladesh’s army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman on Tuesday blamed infighting for deteriorating law and order, warning that the gains of the student-led revolution that toppled the government last August were at risk.
“If you can’t move beyond your differences and continue meddling and fighting among yourselves, the independence and integrity of the country will be at risk — I warn you,” said General Waker-Uz-Zaman, without singling out any group by name.
“Since stakeholders are busy accusing each other, miscreants find the situation favorable. They believe they can get away with anything,” he said at an army memorial event.
“The anarchy we have witnessed is manufactured by us,” Waker-Uz-Zaman said.
“At the beginning, I said it would take 18 months to hold an election,” Waker said.
“We are on that path. Professor Yunus is doing his best to keep us united. Let’s help him.”
Waker said security forces accused of a raft of allegations “of enforced disappearances, murder, and torture must be investigated”.
“Punishment must be ensured,” he said. “Otherwise, we will be trapped in the same cycle.”
But Waker, a career infantry officer who has spent nearly four decades in the military, serving two tours as a UN peacekeeper, said he just wanted a break.
“I just want to bring the country and the nation to a stable point and then take a vacation”, he said. “After that, we will return to our barracks.”
