Bangladesh News

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed has said taking over of power or imposing martial law by the army is not right and no one in the modern world would accept it.

General Moeen, in a pre-recorded programme named Tritiyo Matra aired yesterday evening on Channel i television, also said there is no possibility of the army taking power as the situation in the country does not call for it.

“All should play the roles that they are entrusted with — politicians would form the government, run the country and the army would assist them. And we are doing exactly that,” said Gen Moeen.

“The train that was derailed is now back on track. What is crucial right now is [to have] skilled drivers. The drivers are the politicians who will take the country towards the right destination — a prosperous Bangladesh, a mid-level developed country,” he added.

The chief of army said the army’s role in this regard is to provide all sorts of support to the government and the people. “We are working as a crane to lift the derailed train [and place it] onto the tracks.”

When asked if the army would continue providing such support in the future, Gen Moeen said, “Yes, we can do it. You saw how we stood by the people in the past one year — during two floods and a cyclone.”

Commenting on whether the imposition of state of emergency on January 11 last year could be avoided, he said the situation at the time was critical with ongoing political conflicts and destruction of properties. “If that continued for a few more days, Bangladesh would’ve been a failed state.”