The audio files and some questions
This tragedy, as horrific as it is , gave a chance to bridge the gap that exists between the civil-military relationship in Bangladesh. But the release of the latest audio files on the meeting of army and PM will not be of help in mending that relationship. The tape shows the grief and anger of the officers, but it also exposes the sense of entitlement the officers feel over the current democratic government (’where would you be if 1/11 did not happen’) which was remenescent of the movie – A Few Good Men. Who can forget the lines from the film quoted below?
“I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said “thank you,” and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest that you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you are entitled to.”
Someone from within (other than matia, hasina, there were no civilians) yesterday leaked out a recording of a confidential meeting of PM and the top army officers where no press or outsiders were allowed. Notwithstanding how serious of a breach of our national security this leak is, the display of rowdiness in the meeting towards the highest chair of the body, did little to the image of the our army being a very professional entity.
We heard about awkward questions in the meeting but we didn’t have the slightest idea how rough the meeting was. Now we know. We know that a lot of serious accusations were hurled at the PM. I have no problem with that. They were grieving, they were angry. An outburst was natural. But what took me aback was the most undignified and shocking display of rowdiness in this expressions. The officers dished it out to the PM. But can they take it? Not really. They went on a vitriol on the MPs for criticising them in the parliament. Their lack of ability to take criticism was evident from the way the ‘Apnar doler netara’ was lambasted for criticising army in the parliament? The officers then started asking ‘What have you given us’ with a bunch of them saying from the back ‘nothing really’. This was a glimpse of alternate reality world where one of the most privilaged groups of the country claimed that the government offered nothing to them.
What else was in the file? There were some genuine grievences (like how the gates were open and the killers were let go, why didn’t the home minister want to see the hostages during negotiation), there were some 2nd guessing what ifs ( If the army came early, all of the hostages would be free. Even though it took army a full 2 hours to arrive at the scene at 11.30 and by most account all the killings were completed by then), and there were some serious dangerous innuendos ( why did the PM cancel dinner plan on the 26th? Was this a ploy to get back at the army officers because of 1/11?).
All in all, listening to the tape, I heard broad generalisations and lack of analysis barring a few. Even scanning through the cadet blogs, I detected mass generalizations against other bloggers, intellectuals, journalists. For the ‘crime’ of one, they chastised the whole group and lamented. So why should it be a different story when it comes to criticising the army? So is the army also ready to hear tough questions and take some responsibility as a group for the failure of a few?
Here is a start:
1. It took army 2 hours to come to operation. PM asked army chief how long it would taken them to get into operation. He said 2 hours. They arrived at 11.30 and by most account all the killings were completed by 11 AM. Why is it now being said if PM let them come in early, the officers would have been saved when army was in no position to come before the killings occured any way?
2. Why in spite of having so many intelligence agencies military, dgfi, nsi, bdr security etc, army failed to catch this ? Will army officers take responsibility for it?
3. What were the army intelligence doing after the seige began? How did army let gate number 5 be open for bdr to escape? Why did they not cordone off the entire compound and had people all around monitoring the developments? If Nanok, Sahara, let the killers go as they are claiming, how come army wasn’t alert enough to not let that happen? Aren’t they the most organized force in our country and wasn’t it their own men?
4. Why did army not know how many were missing even FIVE full days after the incident and the number dropped from 70 to 7 all on a sudent with the only explanation being that the previous number was a guestimate? Why such a high number, based on assumptions, was being given to media on SUCH a serious matter. How professional is that?
5. How can the PM trust the army again with national security when her confidential conversations with the best and brightest of the army are being leaked out to the public causing serious breach of national security by letting our enemies know about the discord and showing a perception of vulnerability in the national army currently?
6. Lastly, how professional was it to act with a seating Prime minister like the way they did? The meeting of army officers with the PM did not sound very different from that of a BNP Awami League meeting. Can we imagine a secretariate meeting with the civil servants like this? No matter how much grief stricken an officer is, how professional it is to so rudely interrupt a PM and shout like the way they did?
Is it time to look at the own house? Of course, please note that we don’t have the whole meeting. So we want to fully qualify that but the 30 minutes we heard was thoroughly disappointing.
Others are asking the same question.
Sachal - http://www.sachalayatan.com/hasan_murshed/22237
Amar blog – http://amarblog.com/arifjebtik/42940
Tags: BDR mutiny
A point by point rebuttal of the general’s letter and political philosophy behind the letter.
http://www.cadetcollegeblog.com/shan/5263
The general’s letter has now become the talking point of Khaleda Zia.
http://bdnews24.com/bangla/details.php?cid=2&id=45141&hb=4
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I bumped into the following great piece of writing while surfing the net.
I want the honor’ble PM Sheikh Hasina, her cabinet members, and all our military officers to read it and reflect on its contents. I am not only impressed by the political acumen and decision-making maturity shown by the PM but am also impressed by the army’s disciplined calm and restrained response to the tragic chain of events on that fateful day.
There’s one question that I want to throw at the Bangladesh Army. It has haunted me ever since February 25.
WHY WAS THE SECURITY OF THE ARMY OFFICERS WHO NUMBERED PERHAPS A THOUSAND OR LESS WERE LEFT TO A OVER 80,000 PARAMILITARY BORDER FORCE?
SECOND, WHY WAS PEELKHANA NOT A WELL PROTECTED FORTRESS WITH 20-METRE TALL WALLS? THE EVENT EXPOSED BY THE MEDIA TO THE NATION THAT HOW POROUS THE TERRITORY OF PEELKHANA WAS? I AM SURE PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE REGULARLY GOT INTO THE COMPLEX WITHOUT ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE ARMY OFFICERS.
The writing by the anonymous Greek philosopher goes like this:
THE COMPLEX AND SOMEWHAT ill-defined relationship between the military establishment and constitutional government is a subject that has made many Americans uncomfortable, especially in the modern era when the United States has assumed a leadership role in world affairs. American Cold War era culture, after all, cautioned us about the intrinsic anti-democratic nature of top-ranking military officers, whether in cinematic portrayals like Seven Days in May or Doctor Strangelove or the very real inflammatory politicking of retired generals like Douglas MacArthur, Curtis LeMay, or Edwin Walker.
In reaction to these Cold War and Vietnam-era fears, scholars such as Samuel P. Huntington (The Soldier and the State) and, more recently, Eliot Cohen (Supreme Command) have written insightfully about the proper relationship between civilian and military authorities in a constitutional democracy like ours. These scholars generally agree that the delicate balance was sometimes upset in our past wars when politicians did not have much knowledge about military affairs. Sometimes, out of insecurity, they blustered and bullied officers, or at other times, in recognition of their own ignorance, civilian leaders ceded too much control to the Pentagon.
Under the Clinton administration it was felt that an increasingly alienated military exercised too much autonomy, whether in lecturing civilian authorities that gays simply would not work as fully accepted members of the armed forces or in voicing strong initial opposition to the prospect of humanitarian intervention in the Balkans. Militaries for their part understand that during “peace-keeping” exercises the rules of engagement change, the cameras intrude, and they are asked to assume civilian roles where their target profile increases, while their ability to fight back without restrictions is checked.
During the Bush presidency, by contrast, the charge was often just the opposite: a compliant Pentagon had been bullied by its civilian overseers into keeping quiet about doubts over the feasibility of neoconservative nation-building. In fact, in 2006 we witnessed a “revolt of the generals” against civilian leadership of the Pentagon. Top brass came forward out of recent retirement to lambaste Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld over the entire civilian conduct of the war in Iraq. They complained that there had been too much micromanagement of the war, too many policy demands placed on a military that was stretched too thin to carry such burdens, and too much utopian ideology guiding the conduct of the war at the expense of realistic judgments of what in fact was possible.
This insurrection of top retired officers was not quite unprecedented, except in the left’s sudden muted silence in response to this rare emergence of like-minded critics of the policy in Iraq. Instead, it was more reminiscent of an earlier “revolt of the admirals” in 1949-50. At that time, in the early years of the Cold War, threatened postwar cutbacks in naval operations led to a similar expression of public outrage by admirals against their civilian overseers. The controversy brought down Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson and led to firings and resignations of top military officers.
Why do democratic societies perennially worry about their own military’s periodic objections to civilian oversight and larger liberal values?
Why, often in response, do military leaders conclude that they are either misunderstood or manipulated by civilian authorities whom they regard as naive or ignorant about military affairs?
IT IS A FACT WORTH REMEMBERING that the armed forces are inherently hierarchical organizations based on rank and the chain of command. There is no opportunity in military units for decision by majority vote when war begins. Once bullets fly, soldiers can ill afford to debate the wisdom of assaulting the next hill. They cannot worry about the “fairness” of a brilliant glib private having no influence in the decisions taken by an obtuse or blockheaded commanding officer.
Impatience, resolve, audacity — these necessary military traits are not necessarily those that democratic legislators and bureaucrats prize. Most politicians loathe a loud-mouthed George S. Patton in peacetime as much as they hunt out his swashbuckling style in time of war.
Sometimes the voting public suspects that professional soldiers like violence and killing, or at least far more than civilians do. And supposed sheep always worry about giving orders to hungry wolves. One needs only to read the sad letters of poor Cicero to see how in his arrogance he fatally misjudged entirely the military minds of an Augustus or Antony. Civilian overseers in France and later in Germany sought to solve emerging problems by dispatching Napoleon to Egypt or by throwing Hitler in jail but found that in the end these steps were but the beginning and not the end of their troubles. They had fatally misjudged these “troublemakers.”
Then there is the ever-present fear of militarism — that is, the fear of the cult of arms that transcends the battlefield and becomes an ideology that celebrates power, rigid discipline, fanatical devotion to a cause. Indeed, this exaggerated dimension of military life often draws the most zealous and dangerous of characters into its orbit. These can be truly scary folks, these Spartan krypteia, the Praetorian guards, or Hitler’s SS. Such groups in the past have often interfered with or intervened in politics under the posture of being models of rigorous asceticism for the nation.
Anti-constitutional military coups, and not the idealistic promotion of democracy and liberal values, thus seem the more logical vice of military figures when they intrude into politics. History in some sense is the record of supposedly sober soldiers intervening in times of perceived social chaos to bring society a needed dose of their own order and obedience.
That was the rationale in 44 B.C. when Caesar crossed the Rubicon and put a formal end to the Roman Republic, Napoleon dismissed the Directorate, Hitler ended the Weimar Republic, and the 20th-century Latin America caudillos, Greek colonels, and Middle Eastern Baathist and Nasserite officers staged their various coups. Communist dictators in the Soviet Union and China inserted their own commissars into their militaries to ensure that they were perpetual advocates for Communist ideology and indoctrination, at home and abroad.
Courtesy: AMERICAN SPECTATOR
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Siraj,
Thanx God. General’s letter has become the talking point of Ex-PM (Khaleda Zia). Both are from Bangladesh.
But we are afraid as Neighbor’s Newspaper has become the talking point of present PM and her cabinet.
DJ
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People on both sides of political views, I just want to say that I have heard the tape, and suffice it to say, I am not pleased with the leakage, as it raises the question of compromising national security. However, I will only say that the mere definition of darbar is an informal meeting in the context of the armed forces. The army officers who were present at the meeting was talking to their commander-in-chief (although, some may argue that the President is) and venting after an unthinkable carnage on February 25th. Nevertheless, people of both sides, sit back and reflect: Who gains from dividing the nations at this time? Please stop this and have respect for democracy. Now, if you believe in dictatorship, then that is a different story. If your argument is based on an eternal and intrinsic hatred for Sheikh Hasina or Bangladesh Awami League – and that is something you need to ask yourself and give a truthful answer to yourself without camouflaging it with rhetoric- then I will not be able to convince you, ever. As your mind is already set to make sure she is not successful in running the country, contrary to what majority of the world is inferring from her handling of the situation. My only concern at this time is, from hearing the tape, whether these army personnel are being used as a “PLAN B” of a well orchestrated plan to destroy the very fabric of a nascent democracy in Bangladesh. Whatever it is, we have to stay united for the greater good of the country and refrain from personal attacks.
If I am venting in terms of a family crisis in front of my mother, then it does not mean I have forsaken her. And if my khalas or their agents are going to tape that conversation and start creating a rift between my mother and I, and succeed, that it will be highly unfortunate, especially if my mother is going through a shackletonian task of keeping the family united. The PM has shown utmost sincerity by accepting to talk to them. She could have outright refused to talk to them, citing security concerns. I am also concerned that the leakage of the tape coincides with the opposition leader’s political rhetoric at this very early stage of the investigation. The opposition leader at this time, for the sake of democracy should distance her from controversial characters. One thing is for sure that, the direct beneficiary from anarchy in Bangladesh will not be India as they will not risk loosing 4,000 crore taka (1990s figure) trade advantages with Bangladesh anytime soon. The group that can benefit is the one who can really get away with murders and rapes in 1971. Therefore, everyone should stand back and reflect – and it is okay to have opposing points of view in terms of democracy in Bangladesh – but calling one group less patriotic than the other -and use bigoted and prejudicial rhetoric that I have been hearing since the beginning of Bangladesh is outright unfortunate. It only reflects as a nation we are not worthy of due process as we are selective in executing them – this self-righteousness is outright dangerous. I hold this to be self-evident, what self-righteousness can do to a civilized society anywhere in the world. Therefore, at this time, we need patience, and more than ever stay even more united for peace and justice.
I will ask Asif Saleh to reconsider closing this group on March 15, 2009. As long as we can ensure that no one use profanity to show their grievances and refrain from personal attacks. Make it a point that for the sake of decency all personal attacks and profanity laced posts will be deleted. WE ARE UNITED MORE THAN EVER, INSHALLAH. WE ARE UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE!!
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To be fair, some of our PM’s talking points were also derived from Lt. Col Zaman’s deliberation in the tape. I heard her saying, verbatim Col Zaman, the following day, in the parliament, how in BNP era Lt Cols became Brigedier Generals in 3 years with quick successive promotions.
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Nonetheless, the leakage of the tape was a serious security breach. This was not our khalajan or ammajan talking to a bunch of quarreling siblings, it was the prime minister of the country speaking at a closed door meeting with the officers of the armed forces in the highly secured zone of the cantonment. What if the topic of the discussion was national security in a war time situation. Wait a minute… this was no less than that. Whoever leaked this outside did it with a diabolical purpose and should be taken to task for a major wrongdoing.
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Dear Admin,
It is no denying fact that the BDR Peelkhana Massacre is the most heinous act in our history.
However, the discussions you have generated need second thought. The Govt has tried to solve it in a political way. Merits and demerits, it has both. But we cannot change the past and surely it is the future which will validate the decision.
But now, we must be united. United to find out the culprits behind this debacle. United to rebuild the border guards. United to control the emotion and move forward.
What is your role ? you are publishing controversial issues and trying to bring unhealthy debate in your blog. Yes people are visiting your blog and putting their valuable comments. But knowingly or unknowingly you are dividing the nation. I am sure it is contrary to the ethics and against the posting rules.
I humbly urge you to stop doing such act. Instead unite and to build the country.
DJ
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@Fahmi:
I do not believe the audio tapes. How on earth could the conversation between a head of state and her officers be leaked? We have seen many fake fabricated tapes that were posted online in MP3 format during Fakruddin’s failed era that actually bred criminals that killed so many innocent lives on February 25.
We are not so dumb that we cannot distinguish between propaganda and facts. I have friends in LAPD SWAT teams who agreed that the government’s choice was the wisest given the circumstances under which our forces operate. Don’t think that we civilians don’t know anything about military matters. In today’s wired world you can get any information regarding anything instantly.
If even if what the proponents of military intervention are saying is justified I am sure the Bangladesh army had neither the skills, expertise and million dollar high-tech weaponry and gadgets to launch an assault on the rebels. Even then it would have been risky as it has been proved time after time on much smaller scale operations.
In Russia or India it was just a number of terrorists who killed at random many hostages and held a city to standstill in spite of attempts by specially trained commandos to liquidate the killers.
In contrast the paramilitary rebels in Bangladesh were trained by the army and knew almost everything about the military options and operational tactics because they were trained and comandeered by the army officers whom they brutally killed in the early hours of the rebellion. On top of that the rebels were several thousand in number and well armed.
Any military action would have resulted in huge civilian and military casualty. This is precisely what the terrorists had hoped for to play the army against the border guards to destroy democracy in Bangladesh.
I am confident that the truth behind the carnage will be made public in the parliament as we have a popularly elected democratic government in power. In the past the unconstitutional military governments hid facts and even rewarded killers and assassins of statesmen. Farcical trials let killers off the hook.
This is the first time a democratically elected government is probing the incident and must scrutinize why the defence forces intelligence (DFI) and national security intelligence (NSI) failed miserably to ensure the safety and security of the army officers.
I thank the government and for the right and wise decision that averted a bigger scale disaster.
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@Zafar I agree with you and my point was not the authenticity of the tape – but the intent of the distribution. I think leaking a tape like this whether authentic or secretly done id despicable (again that shows the level of professionalism on our Army’s part). The charade of a protest rally by Mrs. Zia is simply done to create a friction between Army and the present govt. or to insinuate that the present govt. is anti-army. I really question the timing of such protest rally when the investigation is not complete. Also, when a chief of Army says that he is subservient to the People, doesn’t mean he is pro Awami Leaguer or anything. People need to see it as the way a Chief of Army ought to act in a democratic system. Feeding the ego of the army has been the biggest problem for Bangladesh. Army needs to know that our taxes go for the fringe benefits that they receive and that they are defending the constitution of the People’s republic of Bangladesh. Hearing this tape most people are outright saying how unprofessional Bangladesh Army is. They can also extrapolate why there have been so many mutinies in the past. As a nation, our children go to the Army. Obviously, as a nation if we do not have due respect for the law, our children will take that psyche to the Army and no matter how much discipline they learn in the army, they will have this inherited rowdiness as a skeleton in their respective closets. But unfortunately, our psyche has been ‘”I am the only one who is a rational thinker, everyone else is wrong, and if you do not agree with me you are an abominable lot” and it is being passed from one generation to the other. At this time, I plead to everyone to sit back and wait; and for the sake of Bangladesh, for the sake of everyone’s sanity refrain from making unnecessary remarks. This is not the first time that political parties have misquoted one another in their rhetoric. The “gono khoma” in post 1971 has been misquoted by war criminals. Similarly, the “shadharon khoma” has been misquoted over and over again in the last few days and taken out of context, despite crystal clear clarification to the contrary. This is being deliberately done by people who have a lot to gain from destabilizing Bangladesh. Please do not insult our intelligence if you are going to play the same old broken record. That goes to show what a vested interest is trying to do. Both the government and the political parties are talking about “vested interest”; needless to say, who they are pointing their fingers. However, in my original blog I tried to rationalize who benefits most from destabilizing democracy in Bangladesh – India or the 1971 war criminals. Why did Nizami and Mujahid try to flee Bangladesh a few days ago and were denied?
Nevertheless, I want to reiterate that the present government has shown exemplary level of maturity, courage, graciousness and professionalism under fire. For the record, I have lived all my adult life outside Bangladesh and to see an elected government handling this national crisis in this manner gives me hope. Yes, there will be dissent even in the army and among people and that is normal- but using the difference as ammunition against one another needs to be nipped in the bud – now or never. We must have respect for the rule of law and work accordingly and stay united. Remember, even in mature democracy like the United States, there have been dissent and conspiracy theorists. But at the end rule of law and respect for due process have prevailed all the time.
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@Zafar: Another clarification: not that these small corrections alters the gist of your well thought of blog
1. Prime Minister is the head of Government. The President is the head of State.
2. DGFI is the intelligent branch not DFI and DGFI stands for Director General of Forces Intelligence.
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Few intellectuals here are thinking a lot on how Army officers acted even after seeing their brothers killed brutally, wives and daughters raped, even the dead bodies are mutilated and disgraced (the DG’s wife’s dead body was found nude and folded only with a piece of curtain….you understand what they did with even a dead body). None of you are trying to understand the minds of those genocide ravaged poor fellows and how deep their emotion can drive them against those high-sounding and polished words like PROFESSIONALISM, SECURITY etc. Didn’t the nation see several times on TV how do the elected bodies of our country use abusive words to each other in the open parliament? Whereas we consider the National Parliament House to be one of the most sacred places of our country. It is true that the officers had emotional outbursts but if you listen to the audio clips thoroughly you must notice that how informal the gathering was. The PM was claiming herself as the mother (really she is as the PM and more particularly as the Defense Minister) in that forum time and again and she was also addressing all the officers in an informal manner (calling TUMI and by name). The leakage was truly unfortunate. But I am really surprised to notice that none of you intellectuals are high-lighting on how the morale of the officers could be regained, re compensated, how the command control and the efficiency of the Army could be restored. The talk shows and different writtings only depicts the truth that our intellectuals just wait for an issue to fight each other and prove that someone possess better knowledge than others. Nobody cares to think for the organization which has done so much in the past for the nation during the genuine crisis moments like floods, sidr, earthquakes, elections, counter insurgency in CHT, national ID card, VGF card, abashon projects and many other fields. I put my humble request to you all to think over those problems which are putting this People’s Army away from her people and instigating her to do something more dangerous. Otherwise, the next calamity will come sooner than you expect and you will still be arguing over what Army or Govt did was wrong or right.
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Again, we are not intellectuals! We are ordinary citizens with a common root and purpose. The entire nation has been with the Army. The entire nation following the mutiny has echoed that they do not have “an iota of sympathy” for the terrorists.
Our hearts are with the Army men who sacrificed their lives and the family members who have been victims of unmentionable atrocities. We do not have any problem with the officers even venting with the PM. We have a problem with the lack of decency and a lack of professionalism associated with making a tape -whether authentic or fake – and distributing it in a diabolic manner . It shows that whoever did this wants to create chaos and confusion. Obviously whoever leaked it is working on PLAN B of their goal of “operation destablizing” Bangladesh, as the initial plan of having the Army attack BDR and the subsequent nationwide reactions at other BDR camps failed. Maybe that is the only way to save themselves from the gas chamber by creating a civil war.
The fact that the opposition has preemptively rejected the report, long before anything is even submitted or published, casts more doubt to their actual intention and makes it disturbing.
On another note, I also question the sensationalism in which Salauddin Quader Chowdhury called a press conference and the media complied. He claimed that he has filed a $100M lawsuit with his U.S. Attorney Marshall Brother. Since he did not mention which district court his attorney filed a lawsuit, I contacted the American Bar Association without any fruitful result. The only Martin Brother under lawyers resulted in a lawfirm by the name of Martin Brother, P.C. (Professional Corporation) in Atlanta, Georgia. When contacted the attorney denied having Mr. Chowdhury as a client. I have since contacted CNN-IBN and waiting to hear from them. Mr. Chowdhury should think twice before creating sensationalism – he can full some of the people, but not all of us- at least not all the time. Mr. Chowdhury is realizing that like his father, his days as a free man may be numbered.
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m an army man…not with a very long service. m not with a political motive, neither m an intellectual like many of u. i guess, i should talk a little here..
the activities of army for the last two years may have created a lot of controversies amongst all.. i was there involved with lot of drives too.. it was not my knock to make a decision or act against the wish of my superiors.. its a democratic army but democracy cant b exercised inside army, plz remeber that..thats what is very much required for the preparation of future war.. ‘there is not to reason why, there is but to do or die’..
what all i understand is my brothers were murdered brutaly, their families were tortured, bodies were cut into pieces , burnt into ashes…i never can explain you how much its bleeding inside all our heart..i can talk about myself..i could not sleep for the 1st 5 nights from the day of incident, could not eat, could not help shedding tears…and thats what are people around me doing…its such a big wound.. now u r criticising our attitude in PM’s darbar!! whoever raised this doubt- had it been your family, i’d see ur reaction.. well, about spreading of that audio tape, i dont support it either…dont know who has done it…at least it wasn’t me..besides, was there anything in that long conversation which hampers the national interest?? was there anything at all?? our silence may send the message to you people that we r not bothered about our losses rather we love obeying the orders of the political govt only..at least this tape gives people the message we care for our brothers, we care for our families..and at last WE CARE FOR OUR COUNTRY….only for the better interest of this nation we had to make such a big sacrifice…
he who sheds blood with me, is my brother… we could not shed blood with our brtohers n let them die in the sake of national interests….now for almighty’s sake…shed tars with me n be my brother
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its most unfortunate that, tapes hv fallen in dubious hands but brothers try to fathom the gravity of the entire situation, with rumours rife and the floodgates of rumor mills flung wide open.
the bottom line is that, none must ignore the fact that these few recalcirtant elements commenced the scourge of callous acts of Feb 25, 2009. so, whether its legal to hold; special tribunals, amendments of law etc., with retrospective effect??? the las 02 years & also in the past our courts have literally thrown out such verdicts legally. regardless of whatever moudud ahmed may have said on commercial consideration the other day.
the only way out is through the special powers act amendment or ortherwise by amendment of the constitution where none can challenge legally. why the govt is not opting for this gracious win-win situation??? why is govt taking the blame for army not flwg the army code??? bcoz bdr code maximum is to discharge from service nothing more or less.
take care!!!
[Reply]
Dear R Hussain,
My heart goes all out to you. We are all hurting. However, you can also see there are some people who are trying to take advantage of the situation by spreading rumours and false propaganda to create a distance between army and government. None of us engaged in protesting that understanding the gravity of the situation. Until we realized the propaganda campaign has influenced of a lot of people, we decided to protest. The moral in the army must be really low. It will take sometime to recover from trauma like this. But do understand we are with you — grieving and mourning for the fallen.
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Provocations from outside is possible; no, likely. But why do we succumb? There will always be people ready to commit the most heinous crimes for a tiny gain. Lamenting it does not take us very far. We have to develop our own defense. Talking about germs floating in the air around us is no cure. We have to develop our own immunity.The recent BDR event is not the first of this kind, nor the second; similar occurrences have already happened a number times in this short history of Bangladesh. There is something pathologically wrong in the fabric of the society in general and the defense society in particular. Some simple measures can be taken to redress:1. Defense personnel should not wear their ranks. Civil administration can work without wearing their ranks on their shoulders. Military administration must also work. 2. Salute and all related rules, convention or traditions should be abolished. When two persons meet, they will greet each other just as human beings do. Greeting should inculcate love. Salute breeds hatred.3. When young cadets come to the academy, senior cadets receive them with brutality. The idea is to inculcate fear and discipline. It inculcates hatred. They also learn to be brutal without any reason.4. Little boys entering Cadet Colleges (recruiting grounds for defense personnel) face the same brutality from their seniors as do young cadets. No point complaining to college authorities. They will turn their deaf ears. This is a part of the education. The children grow up learning that – right or wrong — they will enjoy the support of the establishment if they are wearing the right rank. They also learn that subordinate staff has no right to complain.5. Discipline built on fear takes its toll, and crumbles when it is needed the most. The recent BDR event is a harsh example. This is not confined to ranks. People at the top have some times been ignoble to their once-superiors, when the table turned. Their high ranks have not made them more generous or magnanimous. 6. Discipline should be built on justice, compassion and mutual trust.We have to be more humane.
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r hossain: We can understand your hurt and the emotional turbulence the army officers must be going through, but also please understand that the hurt belongs to the whole nation. There cannot be a monopoly and therefore priority to its amends. One of my dear school friends, a senior officer with BDR (yes, I am of that age), was killed in the first volley of the bullets. This whole tragedy will leave a deep scar on all of us. But that does not mean that in response we will behave emotionally and most likely erratically. We now have to more upright and methodical about what we do next. An ulterior motive of the killing was to send the country reeling into some unimagined vortex of anarchy and blood-letting. I for one would not budge a single inch from a civil and civic rule of the country. I would like to think that, despite some flaws, the government handled the immediate crisis very well. I think the army command deserve appreciation for a very professional and thoughtful decision and abiding with the government’s strategy. But the story is not over for the dark forces are very much in our midst. We need to get to the bottom of this. We need to trace and nab all the perpetrators, both the field soldiers and the invisible figures. Otherwise, the killings may be repeated again and again. And for that we need a new unity and understanding, especially between the civil government and armed forces, and one that is based on rationality and thoughtfulness.
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Dear R Hossain,
I salute you and your fellow soldiers for the exemplary display of restraint during this tragic event. I share your pain and can fully appreciate the sense of loss that many of you have. We all have been left numb at these senseless killings and brutalities. What we can only hope is that the concerned authorites will conduct a thorough analysis of this incident and come up with a long term plan to face it more professionally, rapidly and in a shorter time frame if it were to reoccur in the future.
That being said, I would like to point out a few things in some of the arguments for and against direct army action stated in the postings above.
In any hostage situation, the government party has to quickly evaluate a number of facts. First and foremost – how much of support and unity do the hostage takers have. And this is where the intelligence services are expected to be the major contributor. They must have a feel for the true level of antipathy and hatred that may exist under the surface. Whereas intelligence services worldwide have failed to prevent specific terrorist acts (9/11, UK, Spain, India, Russia, pakistan, etc), what they can do is provide vital information about general levels of discontent and how far the hostage takers are willing to go to push for their demands.
It must also be kept in view that the larger the number of hostage takers, the weaker is the unity among them, specially if they realize that their action can cause them to face life threatening situation with possibly serious consequences for their family members (loss of income and livelihood). I think a common mistake being made by many here is overlooking the obvious fact that very few of the BDR soldiers were actually willing to risk their lives to get their demands met. The very fact that thousands of them have reported back knowing very well that any possible implcation will lead them to the gallows is proof enough that they feel confident about their fate and may indirectly be taken as a sign that these were also the people who would have not held their ground in case of a strong military response.
Let us also not forget that the BDR is very lightly armed compared to the regular army. A show of force (not necessarily action) would have almost certainly caused many of the BDR soldiers to surrender or escape ( as in fact many did when the tanks first showed up).
The suggestion that the hostages would all have been killed in the face of an army action is not valid. I would actually argue that faced with brute force, most hostage takers would have chosen to save their lives and laid down their arms. Please note, these mutineers were not ideologically driven nincompoops. There were seeking some minor enhancements to their pays and benefits and the demands were not serious enough to justify losing their lives. Faced with the stark reality of death, the vast majority of them would have chosen to surrender. In fact, many of them would have sided with the army and possibly fight the renegade soldiers.
The scale of looting and rapes were massive but they bring out one important fact. These were materialistically motivated actions by a few and such people do not have the ideological strength to face danger with impunity. In many ways, it is a clear indication that they are weak and would have wilted under duress.
Armies the world over live under a simple maxim ” one for all and all for one”. You go to a battle field knowing well that the guy behind you will cover you and not shoot you in the back. This gives a soldier strength and a sense of camaraderie. Once violated this weakens morale and causes confusion and loss of faith. The disappointment among soldiers is hence absolutely logical and understandable.
Many here seem to think that army action would have entailed a massive exchange of fire-power with thousands of lives in collateral damage. These assumptions are absolutely baseless. I have already spoken about the psycholgical and ideological weakness of the mutineers. Also, before the army unleashed its firepower, it could have used simple weapons to weken and destabilize its opponent. Something as simple as tear gas would have helped.
There are people in our army who are qualified to run such tactics and it is indeed a shame that they were never given a chance.
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Just read this off an Article in Google News
<blockquote cite=”Mumbai, Dhaka and Lahore are strands ultimately woven together into a macabre plot of death and destruction.
Proof of this came during a closed-door meeting of a motley group of about 50 Congress leaders hailing from different states earlier this week.
“Addressing them in the capital’s Mavalankar Hall, foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee disclosed a conspiracy was afoot to destabilise the elected governments in Bangladesh and Pakistan.
He let out a hitherto unknown fact to the audience: “I had to go out of my way to issue a stern warning to those trying to destabilise the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh that if they continued with their attempts, then India would not sit idle.” “
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No nation can prosper without rule of law. We have law, but no rule as per the law. We are always affected by the ism, and that is the reason this nation laging behind. We are aftraid to accept the truth. The recent Pilkhana tragedy should be ivestigated throughly, and the culprits shoud be given examplary punishment so that this does not repeat in our national life ever. The security/intelligent department those who are responsible to report this matter failed totally, and they shoud be brought to the justice. The nation should work together to bring the killers in the justice, and if some one do politics on this issue should be abandoned by the people of Bangladesh.
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The govt banned youtube and einps to prevent the spread of the army audio tapes!!!
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from outlookindia.com
The Hidden Emirate Of Anarchistan
A larger theme unites 26/11, the BDR mutiny and Lahore terror
Mumbai, Dhaka and Lahore are strands ultimately woven together into a macabre plot of death and destruction.
Proof of this came during a closed-door meeting of a motley group of about 50 Congress leaders hailing from different states earlier this week. Addressing them in the capital’s Mavalankar Hall, foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee disclosed a conspiracy was afoot to destabilise the elected governments in Bangladesh and Pakistan. He let out a hitherto unknown fact to the audience: “I had to go out of my way to issue a stern warning to those trying to destabilise the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh that if they continued with their attempts, then India would not sit idle.” In other words, New Delhi had conveyed it was willing to take counter-measures in the Great Game, including the possibility of direct intervention.
full article is here
http://www.outlookindia.com/
http://bdosintmonitors.blogspot.com/
just got an email from a friend in Dhaka, Govt has banned youtube. Good step for digital bangladesh.
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Dear r hossain:
Your comments touched my heart, and prompted me to write my own here.
It is interesting to note the way the arguments and counter arguments—in various forums—-are unfolding the very characters, mind-sets and loyalties the authors of various postings adhere to.
Few authors clearly appears to be secretly ashamed (under hidden guilt but not willing to concede) because once they supported PM’s stance to give General Amnesty; but now they are ashamed to concede the mistake though they know the heinous acts of rebels in details; and yet they are trying to give all the credits to PM by that slogan “TALK—not TANK—did it” (first invented by ) to prove that PM deservedly has proven the Army redundant at least in one case—-as if that was the main issue in BDR rebellion.
In order to avoid take further shame by recognizing the resolve and boldness of our Army Officers that they could stop the killings & rapes if given the “GO” signal in time, those pathetic authors are using few ‘borrowed” words and facts from very different situations of US and Israel Army of varying premise, degree, complexity to say that “Army action” would not be proper—as our Army is not as equipped or trained like those.
Further, to undermine the contents of Senakunja tapes, some—-instead of being objective—-are even becoming subjective—-“When you can not counter the fact, attack whoever is citing the fact”—by raising the question of ethics or even authenticity .
What in process they are actually missing are:
1. PM promised to Army Officers in BDR that help is on the way. Army officers had been awaiting that help—-in good faith—-which never came. WHY PM BROKE HIS PROMISE AND LEFT & KEPT THEM HELPLESS TO BE DEVORED BY THE REBELS ? She should at least try to pass this info to them again by mobile phone—if not by any other means—that she is not sending the “military help” as promised but, alternatively, going for “Political Solution”, and advise them what to do under the situation her political solution is going to ensue. Is PM not the Defense Minister, too ?
Again, SHE PROMISED “GENERAL AMNESTY” TO REBELS, THEN QUICKLY BROKE THAT PROMISE TOO—–AS IT LATER PROVED TO BE WRONG AND INAPPROPARIATE. PM failed to size up prudently a situation, then took wrong steps, and finally broke her own promises that she should not make in the first place. Can s/he—-who is apt in making & breaking promises so quick for not thinking properly or for want of ethics—–be trusted to run the country and the people and its army ?
Desperate situations call for desperate solutions. It was a case of rebellion of a para-military armed force against unarmed military officers. It is a military crisis calling for military solution—which could be supplemented by even a “political solution”—-but never only for a “political solution. But, asking Army not to “GO” and, later, asking them to go away from BDR HQ periphery as the rebels are whining to complete the political solution—-was an act leading to ‘later-in-the-day’ murders, rapes and lootings. The first “NO GO” order emboldened the rebels to perpetrate other heinous crime immediately after and later on.
2. Meeting in Senakunja was not held to discuss any issue of national security but to discuss—-about any lapse in the sad occasion—-between PM and bereaved Army Officers so that mutual recognition of faults and failures—if any—is done by respective parties for future remedy. It was held in camera ONLY to protect PM from any indignity because all knew that she lacks the open-mindedness to accept own fault and guilt. That is why her reactions were evasive and in most cases not-to-the-point. She appeared as if she was “caught”
So, it was to save her own skin—-not any national secret—Army Officers considered to chose the venue. If MPs would be of any worth, this should have been done at length in Parliament under TV/Radio coverage. Yet many authors are lamenting all along actually to save PM and/or maybe their own judgments, as well, that later proved wrong—-and that too on the pretext of preventing any rift between Govt. and Army..
3. Some are trying to hush up every one—-lest more wrong deeds or foul acts come into discussion—-in the name of preserving national unity. Some others—-in defending the “TALK; not TANK” slogan—are still slandering our ARMY.
My mother—drunk or sober—-is my mother
My country—rich or poor—is my country
My Army—as equipped as that of US/Israel or not—is my Army
Consider that you are in a house. You know 4 persons are trying to rape your mother & sister in the other room. Will you still go for a “political solution” or your honor and sense will prompt you to pounce with whatever you have at your hand ?
If you can rightly answer this question, you have all the answers.
Question of casualty does not come into consideration when it comes to defend your honor and your country and its army—as all 3 are synonymous—-valued due to each other. Was not our national honor at stake when rebels were killing Army officers and looting their properties, and dishonoring their women ? Are not those agonized men and violated women our brothers and sisters ? Are not they also brothers and sisters of those civilians who could die in an army assault on BDR HQ—the death of honor. Only those who are failing to see honor in such deaths, and its worthy and honorable connections thereto are anxious to see a political solution wins at the expense of others’ honor.
Now, in Pilkhana, case even the political solution also could not win—but resulted in more deaths and dishonor and looting and fleeing of both : perpetrators & master-minds. You can still argue that some imaginary deaths were avoided. But, if you are a man of honor; ask yourself : At what cost ? At what expense of our tortured & killed brothers and our violated sisters ?
Years after years, in sufferings of flood & cyclone, in shortage of water & electricity, in election & ID, in border crisis, in every sphere of national need, Army were with us within an hour with ‘military solution’ of their own. But, only in their moment of need, we thought of ‘political solution’ based on imaginary deaths and our own political convenience, and left them on their own ?
If you are still satisfied with the ‘Political Solution’ then I know you of 2 points:
1. Your own parent, wife & children, brothers and sisters should not depend on you in similar crisis
2. If were able, you were not an active Freedom Fighter or you know nothing of freedom fighting. Many of our mothers and sisters happily sent us to fighting to stop genocide & rape—even while they knew that deaths are inevitable, and we and many others may not return home in the process.
If Bangladesh has become barren of that spirit—-the spirit to meet any threat of death to preserve own honor—–then perhaps we deserve a punishment of a greater scale which should now come as a national wrath for us all—only for those who did this serious omission and who supported it by action or inaction—–unless we all come to sense.
Unfortunately, the Political Solution could not achieve any of the intended results either:
1. No stoppage of killing
2. No surrender of arms (now it is reported that huge arms are missing)
3. No surrender of rebels (400 plus stayed in and 8000+ fled while still 2000 are absconding)
Alas! the innocent BDR jawans (if any ) and rebels alike did not believe PM’s promise of Amnesty, but all very smartly heeded to—–approaching but categorically-stopped—-rumbles of few tanks. They were indeed lucky enough to be spared of yet to listen the roaring of the pouncing tigers of our Army. Nevertheless, they knew the tigers very well—obviously, better than many. That is what they very craftily avoided to face—-using successfully our PM and her cronies.
Please restrain from slandering Army any further. Even if any of them had leaked the tape, they have not compromised any national security but only the fake prestige of our PM which she and her cronies were trying to make at the expense of our talented—-now sadly dead—Army Officers. That lost prestige of doing ‘a political solution’ in such dishonorable manner was not really well-earned anyway.
Another point is involvement of foreign hand. Rumors implicate SQ Chy, Huji, JMB, ISI, RAW, Myanmar etc. Let all of us wait for the outcome of investigation(s)—-because this identification can not be done by us, the authors of various posts by speculation. We expect that at least Army investigators will go to the root of this possibility, and will made it public : Who, if any. It is a national crisis, so the nation deserves to know it clear.
Many also expect from BNP that they will attend the assembly in proper manner, and will point out all faults by the Govt., if done any, and yet extend Govt/BAL wise solutions, and cooperate with Govt/BAL to overcome this national crisis. They too must refrain from any oblique comments to Army. Their fall came due to their own doings, not by Army. Historically speaking, BNP should come to a better stance to understand the grief of Army—-as also evidenced from its last press release by KZia. BAL should assure that all investigations are freely and properly executed, and publicized. BNP should be the watchdog to ensure that such was done.
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[...] uploaded and shared using many file sharing sites including E-snips and YouTube. Unheard Voice blog discusses the issue of the leaked audio files which are being used by some quarters to create some political [...]
[...] uploaded and shared using many file sharing sites including E-snips and YouTube. Unheard Voice blog discusses the issue of the leaked audio files which are being used by some quarters to create some political [...]
The shameless act by BDR has severely damaged our image in the world. Military intelligence failure is alarmingly annoying and disturbing. They simply just didn’t know what a terrible conspiracy was brewing within themselves. If any foreign elements were involved it was the task of DFI and NSI to break that nexus. That is exactly why a big portion of our national budget is spent on those secretive organisations. I strongly demand that their unpardonable failure is made public to the people.
With screwed up BDR we are exposed on two flanks – India and Burma. Burma recently flexed its muscle in the Hill Tracts bordering area. Therefore it is imperative that our heroic armed forces are immediately deployed in those areas to stand up against foreign aggression in the form of war.
I see no reason why the new civilian government should be blamed for what has happened in Pilkhana. The new government brilliantly diffused it. That is exactly what the rest of the world thinks.
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i started to read this mail,but read only this line and cud guess what is there further. “Someone from within (other than matia, hasina, there were no civilians) yesterday leaked out a recording of a confidential meeting of PM and the top army officers where no press or outsiders were allowed. ”
actually it was not a secret or even confidential meeting at all,and BTV was there,recording the whole damn thing.other 3 media representatives were there but as i didnt mark their identity so i m not naiming.and that was not the meeting of top army offrs,all offrs were there,and those spoke were very jounior officers.
oh,another thing,probably you didnt have any offrs present there over phone,and thereby u know all the killing was done by 11.30. so,u talk basing on how much media fed u,but we had conversation with the offrs like col gulzer and col muzib upto 3 pm.
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F khan, it was a closed door meeting. The media was allowed to take pictures for the first three minutes and then they had to leave.
http://www.newagebd.com/2009/mar/02/front.html#10
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[...] uploaded and shared using many file sharing sites including E-snips and YouTube. Unheard Voice blog discusses the issue of the leaked audio files which are being used by some quarters to create some political [...]
hi folks : i gather from above write-ups that, a few are blaming the hon’bnle p.m. who, guided by the constitution on the 50th day of governance has done a splendid job. the army code is crystal clear i.e. army act 1952 hence, army must act ac’dgly.
if this has been done and not involving the civil govt this worst case scenario of death galores, rapes & looting cud hv been saved to a great extent so, the 64 M $ question arises, where does the buck stop???
hv a great day!!!
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Let us not forget what our current PM had to go through during 1975 (And particularly take note, who were responsible for that). Forget professionalism, PM’s response even put those yong officers in shame by the standard of a normal human being with a minimum empathy if we care to compare. I hoped at least one person with a military background would come out with facts to defend the theory that military strike solution wouldn’t hold up in this scenario as claimed by ‘intellectuals’ (Who still have their brain in skull, not in their hills) here, but so far found none with a convincing tone.
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[...] and shared using many file sharing sites including E-snips and YouTube.Unheard Voice blog discusses the issue of the leaked audio files which are being used by some quarters to create some political [...]
I spoke to some Western diplomats. They simply ridiculed the army spies who leaked the tapes. It has severely hurt our image abroad. We have seen similar things during fakruddin’s botched up period.
Whoever had done it has links with the massacre. They want to destabilize Bangladesh. FBI despatch from New Delhi is a significant development. They were probing Al Qaeda links in the Bombay terrorist act. May have clues about this outrageous act in Dhaka.
I am sure its the work of war criminals. The war criminals must be punished. Otherwise they will destroy our democratic framework. It has to be the work of JI infiltrators.
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sorry to say that i was there mr admin.thereby i sud know little more in details than u but in bangladesh it must be other than me who knows more details.than me.
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F Khan, in that case, your account contradicts all the media reports that were available the day after the meeting. Since we don’t have a way to validate your account, we’d go with the media reports.
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I think they should not post the audio link. I pointed out Kamruzzaman was telling that no killing was started before 11:30 in Darbar Hall. It means if army attacked many lives could be saved. I saw none of any BDR came out and informed authority that there are massive killing inside BDR. Now they started shooting and then they killed some officials by torturing, hitting by beonade. ADC’s eyes up root. Medical doctors in DMC informed that all of them were not killed at the same time. It is pity that they are ignoring women and childeren were raped and some of them were burned also. I went to CMH from there I got information. Someone informed her relative was raped 7 times. People are now showing sympathy for BDR that only few were involved, But we all saw that all of them were involved there with their gun. Few of them had human feelings that’s why only few hostages were alive. In some TV channel it was showing that BDR is our border security force. Whish is true. But hilltract area is under army as it is the war zone. They are securing border with Myanmer also. It is semilar to India. with Bangladesh they have BSF but with PAK border they have army. One of my nabour informed me that on 25th night DAD tauhid came and informed them that minister is coming and if any of the hostage is make any noise than blow them up with the dinamite. He also informed the soldier that do not waste your bulet by killing this people. If army attack then we may shortage of bulet. I don’t know how now we shall blame PAk people that what they did in lebaration war. And Col Gulzer who arrested Sheikh Abdur Rahman, he telephoned several times for help and requested to atteck, were brutally killed. His body was identified by DNA test. His father’s body was also missing in liberation war an dthey never found it. Where we shall keep this shame. How weak we are. I think PM should re-organize our secret security force again. and we all should be alert from now. May be it was a test on us. if we let this perpetrator go the something more is waiting for us infuture
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GM shaju vai, i read ur text…u sorted everything so clearly that u deserve my appreciation…i wrote on 7th here…was really to down n wrote only few emotional stuffs…now let me tell u the facts i feel…
i can assure all of u that all ( i mean all) junior officers r thinking absolutely in the same way m doing now…
suppose ur brother is attacked on the street by a hijacker..the hijacker had a previous plan to catch ur bro…n now ur bro is also stabbed brutally..is bleeding ..is calling u now asking for help…but u r now bothered about ur parents asking u not to go out so late night risking ur own safety…so now its u to decide whether u would allow ur bro to die being bothered about ur safety, larger interest- ur parents’ reputation or u will go all out to stand for ‘brother for brother”…. thats wht i wanna mean about the pilkhana genocide… PM thought about her political interests, international image n other bullshits….can be xcused a little coz she is a civillian leader…but what the damn our reputed generals did?? i can tell u, that day all junior officers were standing little away from the incident place n just waiting for an order….but the order dint come at all…rather the stupid politicians were spoiling time inside in the name of negotiation…i had 3 RAB offrs present at the entry point of main gate…u wont blv what they have seen there…the MPs have brought out the bustard jawans lying down on the floor of their personal vehichles…none of the redcross ambulances were allowed to be checked on 25th n 26th night….BDR jawans were being carried by those…govt ordered the deployed army to clear off 3 km from the pilkhana HQ…intentionally no 4 n no5 gates were kept fully opened n cleared to allow those bustards to flee off…on 25th night home minister staged a wpn surrender drama infront of btv camera..but do u know there was no arrangement inside to keep those wpn under govt custody// all wpn were taken back by those bustards just after the moment home minister left…my statements r taken from the stories heard from the alive families…so, no doubt govt has direct invovement in this case…may not be the PM or few other good leaders r connected to this…but the affected corrupt big men of AL who suffered during last 2 years r directly invoved along with foreign interest… but u know what, the truth will not b allowed to b heard….already the process to hide the truth has been started…today i saw the commerce minister is talking about JONGI connection….these all r bullshit…we know many things because the investigation offficers r our brother…we here the stuffs happening…probably i wont ever b proud of serving this nation which neither can save my brothers, their families nor can confess the truth…
PM, her worthless home minister, the suspicious negotiators n all my shameless generals should be tried for crime against humanity…….
n unfortunately thats what all junior officers r feeling at the moment…coz seniors have sold their soul…
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