National election should be held within December: Army chief

Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman has stated that the national election should ideally be held by December this year.

Addressing senior officers at the Dhaka Cantonment yesterday (Thursday), he reaffirmed his earlier stance that the right to determine the country's future path lies with an elected government.

The remarks were made during an "Officers' Address" event attended by army officials of various ranks, both in-person and virtually, reports Prothom Alo.

A range of contemporary issues—elections, humanitarian corridors, ports, and reforms—were discussed, according to sources present at the gathering.

Humanitarian corridor

Touching on the topic of a proposed humanitarian corridor in Myanmar's Rakhine State, General Waker emphasised that any decision regarding such a matter must come from a legitimate, elected government through proper legal procedures. He underlined the importance of protecting national interests and stated that any step taken must have political consensus.

'Mob Violence'

The Army chief issued a stern warning against "mob violence," stressing that the army is adopting a stricter stance on law and order. He declared that disorder and violence under the guise of public gatherings will no longer be tolerated.

Port management

Responding to recent controversies regarding the management of Chattogram Port's New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) by foreign entities, General Waker said the opinions of local citizens and political leaders must be considered. He reiterated that such decisions should be made by a political government.

Views on reforms

Regarding ongoing reforms, the Army Chief clarified that he has not been consulted and is unaware of the specifics. "I have not been involved in any discussion or consultation regarding the reforms," he said.

Security ahead of Eid-ul-Adha

With Eid-ul-Adha approaching, General Waker instructed the army to ensure that citizens can celebrate the festival in a safe and festive atmosphere.

Commitment to sovereignty and neutrality

In his concluding remarks, General Waker-Uz-Zaman affirmed that the Bangladesh Army will never engage in activities that could compromise national sovereignty. He called on all personnel to remain neutral and carry out any electoral duties with honesty and dedication.

He thanked the forces for fulfilling their responsibilities amid changing circumstances and added, "We are cooperating with the interim government and will continue to do so."