Bangladesh Army Chief General Walker-uz-Zaman has promised to support the interim government in important reforms.
The army chief said this in a rare interview given to Reuters in his office in Dhaka on Monday .
In early August, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned in a student-led coup. He then fled to the neighboring country of India. Later, an interim government was formed under the leadership of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
The army chief told Reuters he has full support for the interim government. A path has been outlined to free the military from political influence.
“I will support him (Muhammad Yunus),” said Waqar-uz-Zaman in an interview in military uniform. Whatever the situation. So that he can complete his work.
Muhammad Yunus promised necessary reforms in the country’s judiciary, police, financial institutions. He also promised to pave the way for fair and free elections.
The army chief said that there should be a transition to democratic process within one to one and a half years. But he emphasized the need for patience.
General Waqar-uz-Zaman said, “If you ask me, I would say, we should go for a democratic process by this time.”
Bangladesh’s two main political parties, the Hasina-led Awami League and the rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party, earlier called for elections to be held within three months of the interim government taking power in August.
The army chief is having weekly meetings with the head of the interim government, Muhammad Yunus. They have a good relationship. The army chief mentioned the military’s support in the government’s efforts to stabilize the country after the turbulent situation. He said, I am sure, if we work together, there is no reason to fail.
Bangladesh Army is now under the Ministry of Defence. This ministry is mostly under the control of the Prime Minister. General Waqar-uz-Zaman also mentioned that the interim government can look into this aspect through constitutional reforms.
He said the military as a whole should never be used for political purposes. A soldier should not get involved in politics.
