‘Rohingya crisis putting pressure on economy’
Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman has said the Rohingya crisis is placing significant pressure on the country’s environment and economy, while also contributing to security challenges including drug trafficking, smuggling and other criminal activities.
He made the remarks on Thursday, August 20, while addressing the closing ceremony of the Capstone Course at the National Defence College (NDC) auditorium in Mirpur Cantonment.
Highlighting a range of national challenges, the army chief said Bangladesh is also dealing with border-related issues, challenges involving neighbouring countries, problems in the Chattogram Hill Tracts, insurgency concerns and the ongoing energy crisis.
He said participants in the Capstone Course had exchanged professional experience and expert knowledge on these issues, which could help them contribute more effectively to solving national problems in their respective fields.
“These problems cannot be solved in a single day,” he said, stressing the importance of bringing experienced professionals together to share knowledge and perspectives.
General Waker-Uz-Zaman said the participants could play an important role in policymaking, legislation and addressing the country’s major challenges.
He noted that 37 participants from different professions took part in the course, including professors, doctors, judges and lawyers.
According to the army chief, interaction among professionals from diverse backgrounds helps create stronger cooperation, mutual understanding and collective expertise.
He said bringing together people with different perspectives and professional experience creates “synergy” that can help the country move forward and support national development.
The army chief also thanked the NDC commandant, faculty members and staff for successfully conducting the course and expressed hope that similar programmes would continue in the future.
NDC Commandant Lieutenant General Md Faizur Rahman, meanwhile, emphasised the importance of continued dialogue and consensus-building on issues of national significance.
He expressed hope that the active participation of the fellows had helped broaden their strategic understanding and strengthen coordination among leaders from different sectors.
The Capstone Course is one of the key training programmes of the National Defence College.
It is designed to enhance strategic awareness, develop constructive thinking, strengthen inter-agency cooperation and create a shared understanding of national security and development issues.
Senior military and civilian officials from the armed forces, government and private organisations, NDC faculty members and other distinguished guests attended the closing ceremony.
