Strong military-civilian relations are essential to a nation’s sovereignty: Defense Adviser

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Prime Minister’s Defense Adviser Brigadier General (retd) AKM Shamchul Islam emphasized on the concerted efforts of the military and civil administration to ensure national security and stability. He said that a strong civil-military relationship based on mutual respect and trust is essential for the sovereignty and development of the country.

He said these words while speaking as the chief guest at the session of the Defense Ministry and Armed Forces Department at the ongoing Deputy Commissioner (DC) Conference at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital on Tuesday.

Chief of Army Staff General Waqar-uz-Zaman, Chief of Navy Admiral M Nazmul Hasan and Chief of Air Force Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan were special guests in this session chaired by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani.

Apart from this, the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Department Lieutenant General Mir Mushfiqur Rahman and the Secretary of the Ministry of Defense. Ashraf Uddin was present.

At the beginning of the speech, the defense adviser paid tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War, Chittagong Hill Tracts and the United Nations Mission as well as the students who died in the recent July movement. He said that the Deputy Commissioner Conference plays a very important role in coordinating the administrative activities of the country. If the guidelines of this conference are effectively implemented at the field level, the public services will be more dynamic and fruitful.

The Defense Adviser also commented that the tireless work and sense of responsibility of the District Administrators in the development of the country, maintaining law and order and ensuring public welfare is commendable.

Regarding the armed forces, he said, the armed forces have rendered maximum service in support of the civil administration during the unstable period after the July mass uprising. From providing security to important installations to holding peaceful elections, they showed professionalism.

Shamshul Islam alleged that some unscrupulous groups tried to create a civil-military rift by questioning the military to cover up their failures, which did not succeed.

If a member of the military commits a personal crime while serving in another institution, the defense counsel said, noting that the responsibility lies with the entire armed forces, the responsibility of the individual’s crime should be borne by the individual. The Armed Forces of Bangladesh have always been, are and will remain loyal to the state and the constitution.

Highlighting the multi-dimensional challenges of national security in the current geopolitical reality, the defense adviser said, now security is not limited to geographical boundaries; Cyber ​​attacks, terrorism, climate change or economic security are also part of it. Therefore, all the institutions of the state should work in a coordinated manner by adopting a ‘whole of government approach’. He also said that the government wants to develop a defense system, which will deter potential enemies from thinking of aggression through capabilities. In order to achieve this goal, he called upon the District Commissioners to show the desired speed and efficiency in the workplace by avoiding administrative long lines.

Referring to the members of the armed forces as ‘citizens in uniform’, he said that if they are not given proper status in the society, the talented future generation will be discouraged to join the military profession. This could lead to the risk of creating a fragmented force, which is a threat to national security.