Editorial
Army's no to dialogue participation welcome
The issue should not have been raised at all
WE welcome the unambiguous statement from army headquarters regarding the absence of any desire on the part of the military to be part of the negotiations between the government and the political parties. The statement, made in the light of some recent statements by politicians and speculations in the media, strengthens our collective belief in the need for the armed forces to remain absolutely professional. We are heartened at the fact that the army, a vital component of our security structure and now providing crucial support to the caretaker government, has acknowledged such professionalism as its priority. In other words, the statement is further strengthening of the reality that the institutions of the state must necessarily be administered by an elected civilian authority and so provide added substance to democratic governance in Bangladesh.
Even as we appreciate the position taken by the army, we fail to understand why the issue of military participation in the planned dialogue between the government and the political parties needed to be raised at all. It is indeed extremely surprising that a politician of Mr. Suranjit Sengupta's experience and acumen should have thought it necessary to propose that the army be part of the dialogue process. A few other politicians across the spectrum took up the refrain, conveniently forgetting the fact that such calls not only embarrass the army itself but also, and more importantly, undermine the concept as well as reality of civilian authority over the institutions of the state. In the past, we have seen our political classes expressing their unwillingness to allow any action (read that as military involvement in politics) that can leave democracy frayed at the edges. And yet some of them have now raised a highly sensitive political issue with hardly a thought to the repercussions of their action in the public arena. Truth be told, it was preposterous and at the same time scandalous of Mr. Sengupta to raise the issue when the national goal is a holding of proper, free and transparent general elections and a transfer of power to an elected government.
Such bizarre workings of political minds cannot but leave the country in a state of confusion. But now that we have a clear statement from the army on the issue, we feel the sagacity demonstrated by the military stands out for a round of appreciation. Let Mr. Sengupta and others like him keep their mouths shut on issues whose implications they do not seem to understand.
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