Staff Reporter :
Retired army officers have called upon the government to immediately withdraw the armed forces from the streets, arguing that the ongoing political turmoil is rooted in longstanding economic, social, and cultural issues.
Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan, former Chief of Army Staff of the Bangladesh Army from 2012 to 2015, delivered a written statement expressing deep concern over the recent widespread violence, including killings, torture, disappearances, and mass arrests that have plagued Bangladesh over the past three weeks.
At a press conference held at RAOWA Club in the capital on Sunday, Bhuiyan highlighted the critical situation, noting that the country’s border is left unprotected due to the significant withdrawal of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members to suppress the student movement.
Another key speaker, Lt Gen Nuruddin Khan, also addressed the press conference to express concerns.
“Today we appeared here because we are deeply concerned, troubled, and saddened by all the egregious killings, tortures, disappearances, and mass arrests that have been tormenting Bangladesh over the past three weeks,” Bhuiyan read from the statement.
“Witnessing all these as guardians, we simply cannot absolve ourselves from the responsibilities associated with these untimely demises of hundreds of children, teens, and young brave souls.
Hence, our conscience forced us to appear before the nation today. We pray to Allah for the souls of all the martyrs of this glorious anti-discrimination movement,” he continued.
Lt Gen Nuruddin Khan said that people in the margin, the majority of the population, can no longer bear the brunt of the country’s dire economic condition and bad governance. In order to rectify this situation people no longer fear to sacrifice their lives.
Those who are responsible for pushing people of this country to a state of such an extreme misery will have to be brought to justice, he read.
Societal peace, order, and trust have to be restored by bringing in transparency, accountability, and justice and at the same time by ensuring punishment on those responsible for the current situation, he pointed out.