Military has no political ambition, polls by Dec 31, Moeen reassures
Wednesday, 9 April 2008
FE Report
Army chief General Moeen U Ahmed reassured the nation Tuesday the armed forces have no political ambition, will not grab power and will go back to barracks once elections are held by December 31 this year.
"I want to reemphasize we don't want to be in politics," general Moeen told editors of the country's leading dailies at a briefing at the armed forces headquarters.
"How can I make you believe" that the military would not take over power and "you will see things after December 31 this year", he said.
"We are in our current role only for the next nine months. We want to see democracy in the country and a free, fair and credible polls," Moeen said.
He also said the armed forces are not running the government, although they are helping it in combating corruption, tackling disasters and taking projects that could change the life of millions of people.
"Let me reassure you that we are not running the government. We don't attend any cabinet meeting. We are here only in aid of the civilian government. On our own, we took projects -- a good number of them from our own funds -- that we thought can make a lot of difference to the countrymen," he said.
The army chief said the polls would be held as per the election commission roadmap by December 31 this year.
"There is no alternative to holding polls as per the roadmap. Elections will be held by 31st December. It is the cut-off line. And there will be no deviation from that goal," he told the sceptics.
"There might be one or two hiccups, but we are right on track to hold elections," he said.
His assurance came amid increasing scepticism by the country's two main parties -- the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) -- that polls this year is uncertain.
Former Junta and leader of Jatiya Party General Hussain Muhammad Ershad also said last Monday there would be no elections this year.
Moeen expressed the hope that the government's dialogue with the parties would bear fruits so that the country does not have to go back to the pre-January 11, 2007 period.
"I hope there will be a consensus between the parties and the government in the dialogue. Let the government, political parties and the civil society decide what is good for the country," Moeen said.
He reiterated his calls to the parties to make qualitative reforms in their ranks.
"We'll never say vote this man. But the political parties should carry out reforms. We want honest and competent leadership to take over after the elections," he said.
He said National Security Council is still on the table although an order was passed more than a decade ago.
"What I know is that the president will be its head. It will have representatives from the government, the opposition, the civil society and four from the armed forces," he said.
He said he was prepared to go into retirement by June this year, but the president has acted on his own to extend his tenure by a year.
The army chief said food price-spike is the biggest challenge the country is facing at the moment and urged the people to eat potato side by side with rice.
"We know the people are in extreme hardship because of the food price-hike. And it is not happening alone in Bangladesh. It's all over the world," he said.
The hoarding by some profiteering businessmen and panicked consumers have also contributed to the price spikes, he said.
He urged the farmers to grow food on every inch of cultivable land, so that the country can lessen its food deficit, which ballooned after the floods in July and August and the cyclone in November last year.
"We've no alternative but to grow more food, as the world price of food has almost doubled since January last year," he said, giving a comparative picture of global food prices between January 2007 and March 2008.
"Otherwise the country will face crisis in the future," he warned.
He said the country grew 8.0 million tonnes of potato this year, which is at least 40 per cent more than last year.
"We should eat more potatoes. I've asked all my personnel to consume more potatoes at home. And I do it myself," he said.
Outlining the success of the military's anti-graft drive, general Moeen said the joint-forces have helped the government recoup Tk 83.72 billion in arrear utility bills and reclaimed 31,619 acres of state land.
"We also recovered Tk12.20 billion siphoned-off money. The maximum amount of the money has been deposited with the Bangladesh Bank and the rest would be deposited soon."
He said corruption is rooted deep in the state-run utilities and corporations.
Officials have admitted that they have stolen Tk 20.00 from Dhaka City Corporation, Tk 10.00 billion from Rajuk, Tk 16.00 from Titas Gas and Tk 5.45 billion from the National Housing Authority, he said.
"We have identified 13 institutions where corruption is pervasive," he said, adding the joint-forces are working to recover the stolen money.
In Titas, the country's largest gas distribution company, natural gas worth Tk 2.0 trillion has been stolen since its inception, he said.
"We have identified 10 foreigners who were flown in to tamper meters by the factories," he said.
He said thanks to army's intervention, Chittagong is now one of the efficient ports in the region.
Turnaround time of ships have come down to 2.94 days in March this year from 13 days in January last year, he said, adding freight cost has also declined by at least 30 per cent.
"The port now handles 38 containers per hour, which is almost at par with Singapore," he said.
"Computers have been brought in for the port and container handling will soon be digitised," he added.
General Moeen said on his personal initiative training centers have been opened in four impoverished northern districts, where at least 1000 youngmen and women are being trained a month.
"As soon as they complete training, they get confirmed jobs at the garments factories," he said.
The army has also taken fisheries project in Teesta Barrage, milching cows cooperatives, bio-gas plants and popularising energy saving lamps and granular urea.
"By popularising energy saving lamps alone in 10 northern districts, we have saved 48 megawatt power. If the whole country starts using the energy saving lamps, we can save 600-700 mw power," he added.
The army has also distributed 43 granular urea machines in Narsingdi districts, which helped reduce fertiliser use by at least 30 per cent while increasing yield by 20 per cent.
"The country can save over Tk100 billion if granular urea is used by all the farmers," he said.
UNB adds: Explaining the role of the armed forces, Gen Moeen said the army is extending round-the-clock cooperation to the caretaker government.
Asked about lifting the state of emergency, he said the army has nothing to do in this matter -- the government would take the decision.
Terming the media as parliament in the absence of an elected parliament, the army chief said the government, different agencies and even the army are taking many actions on positive reports in the media. "We are not media-shy; rather, we want to be media-friendly."
The army chief made a five-point appeal to the media. These include: helping to bring down prices of essentials, holding of credible elections, encouraging people to diversify their food habit, improving the rule of law and security and highlighting rural news.
The Army Chief said during the countrywide anti-corruption drive under the National Coordination Council, the council identified 222 corrupt persons so far. Of them, 81 were arrested and the trial of 50 of them have been completed in lower courts. They can go to higher court.
The army chief said the taskforce in operation during of the course of their investigation into different public sector bodies found in one such institutions -- RAJUK -- that 49 per cent of plot-allotment documents were missing. The government, he said, is taking action on the basis of the report by the taskforce.
He said manpower export increased 76 per cent last year compared to 2006. "We believe we have enough resources," General Moeen said, and if the human resources were developed through proper training, the situation in Bangladesh would improve a lot.
The army chief also narrated how the armed forces helped farmers to encourage food-grain production across the country and gave an optimistic picture of bumper production of Boro, wheat and maize.
"Human resources should not be considered a curse; rather, they are the assets of the country", he said, expressing his firm belief "we will be a mid-income-group country by 2020 and it is possible" if the nation's resources are properly developed and utilised.
bdnews24.com adds: "We will neither follow Pakistan or other neighbours, nor our predecessors," Moeen said in reference to military coups in Thailand and Pakistan and previous "take-overs" in Bangladesh, in response to question by one editor.
Moeen spoke on his recent visit to India in reply to a query by one of the editors and said: "I have invitations (from China and Pakistan), too."
The general was flanked by Major General Sina Ibn Jamali, chief of the general staff, and Major General Golam Mohammad, head of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, when he spoke to the editors.
The journalists who attended the meeting includes Daily Independent editor Mahbubul Alam, Ittefaq editor Rahat Khan, Amar Desh's acting editor Ataus Samad, Samakal editor Abed Khan, Prothom Alo editor Motiur Rahman, New Nation editor Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Bangladesh Observer editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Financial Express editor Moazzem Hossain, News Today editor Reazuddin Ahmed, UNB chief editor Enayetullah Khan, Manav Jamin editor Motiur Rahman Chowdhury, BTV director general Kamal Uddin, head of news of Channel i Shaikh Siraj, editor-in-chief of bdnews24.com Toufique Imrose Khalidi, New Age editor Nurul Kabir, Bhorer Kagoj editor Shyamol Dutt, Naya Diganta editor Alamgir Mohiuddin, AFP correspondent M. Shafiqul Hoque, AP Bureau chief, Farid Hossain, BBC correspondent Quadir Kollol, ATN Bangla adviser Saiful Bari and its chief of news Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul and Channel 1 head of news Nazmul Ashraf.
The meeting was followed by a lunch, the menu of which was dominated by seven items of potato.
Army chief General Moeen U Ahmed reassured the nation Tuesday the armed forces have no political ambition, will not grab power and will go back to barracks once elections are held by December 31 this year.
"I want to reemphasize we don't want to be in politics," general Moeen told editors of the country's leading dailies at a briefing at the armed forces headquarters.
"How can I make you believe" that the military would not take over power and "you will see things after December 31 this year", he said.
"We are in our current role only for the next nine months. We want to see democracy in the country and a free, fair and credible polls," Moeen said.
He also said the armed forces are not running the government, although they are helping it in combating corruption, tackling disasters and taking projects that could change the life of millions of people.
"Let me reassure you that we are not running the government. We don't attend any cabinet meeting. We are here only in aid of the civilian government. On our own, we took projects -- a good number of them from our own funds -- that we thought can make a lot of difference to the countrymen," he said.
The army chief said the polls would be held as per the election commission roadmap by December 31 this year.
"There is no alternative to holding polls as per the roadmap. Elections will be held by 31st December. It is the cut-off line. And there will be no deviation from that goal," he told the sceptics.
"There might be one or two hiccups, but we are right on track to hold elections," he said.
His assurance came amid increasing scepticism by the country's two main parties -- the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) -- that polls this year is uncertain.
Former Junta and leader of Jatiya Party General Hussain Muhammad Ershad also said last Monday there would be no elections this year.
Moeen expressed the hope that the government's dialogue with the parties would bear fruits so that the country does not have to go back to the pre-January 11, 2007 period.
"I hope there will be a consensus between the parties and the government in the dialogue. Let the government, political parties and the civil society decide what is good for the country," Moeen said.
He reiterated his calls to the parties to make qualitative reforms in their ranks.
"We'll never say vote this man. But the political parties should carry out reforms. We want honest and competent leadership to take over after the elections," he said.
He said National Security Council is still on the table although an order was passed more than a decade ago.
"What I know is that the president will be its head. It will have representatives from the government, the opposition, the civil society and four from the armed forces," he said.
He said he was prepared to go into retirement by June this year, but the president has acted on his own to extend his tenure by a year.
The army chief said food price-spike is the biggest challenge the country is facing at the moment and urged the people to eat potato side by side with rice.
"We know the people are in extreme hardship because of the food price-hike. And it is not happening alone in Bangladesh. It's all over the world," he said.
The hoarding by some profiteering businessmen and panicked consumers have also contributed to the price spikes, he said.
He urged the farmers to grow food on every inch of cultivable land, so that the country can lessen its food deficit, which ballooned after the floods in July and August and the cyclone in November last year.
"We've no alternative but to grow more food, as the world price of food has almost doubled since January last year," he said, giving a comparative picture of global food prices between January 2007 and March 2008.
"Otherwise the country will face crisis in the future," he warned.
He said the country grew 8.0 million tonnes of potato this year, which is at least 40 per cent more than last year.
"We should eat more potatoes. I've asked all my personnel to consume more potatoes at home. And I do it myself," he said.
Outlining the success of the military's anti-graft drive, general Moeen said the joint-forces have helped the government recoup Tk 83.72 billion in arrear utility bills and reclaimed 31,619 acres of state land.
"We also recovered Tk12.20 billion siphoned-off money. The maximum amount of the money has been deposited with the Bangladesh Bank and the rest would be deposited soon."
He said corruption is rooted deep in the state-run utilities and corporations.
Officials have admitted that they have stolen Tk 20.00 from Dhaka City Corporation, Tk 10.00 billion from Rajuk, Tk 16.00 from Titas Gas and Tk 5.45 billion from the National Housing Authority, he said.
"We have identified 13 institutions where corruption is pervasive," he said, adding the joint-forces are working to recover the stolen money.
In Titas, the country's largest gas distribution company, natural gas worth Tk 2.0 trillion has been stolen since its inception, he said.
"We have identified 10 foreigners who were flown in to tamper meters by the factories," he said.
He said thanks to army's intervention, Chittagong is now one of the efficient ports in the region.
Turnaround time of ships have come down to 2.94 days in March this year from 13 days in January last year, he said, adding freight cost has also declined by at least 30 per cent.
"The port now handles 38 containers per hour, which is almost at par with Singapore," he said.
"Computers have been brought in for the port and container handling will soon be digitised," he added.
General Moeen said on his personal initiative training centers have been opened in four impoverished northern districts, where at least 1000 youngmen and women are being trained a month.
"As soon as they complete training, they get confirmed jobs at the garments factories," he said.
The army has also taken fisheries project in Teesta Barrage, milching cows cooperatives, bio-gas plants and popularising energy saving lamps and granular urea.
"By popularising energy saving lamps alone in 10 northern districts, we have saved 48 megawatt power. If the whole country starts using the energy saving lamps, we can save 600-700 mw power," he added.
The army has also distributed 43 granular urea machines in Narsingdi districts, which helped reduce fertiliser use by at least 30 per cent while increasing yield by 20 per cent.
"The country can save over Tk100 billion if granular urea is used by all the farmers," he said.
UNB adds: Explaining the role of the armed forces, Gen Moeen said the army is extending round-the-clock cooperation to the caretaker government.
Asked about lifting the state of emergency, he said the army has nothing to do in this matter -- the government would take the decision.
Terming the media as parliament in the absence of an elected parliament, the army chief said the government, different agencies and even the army are taking many actions on positive reports in the media. "We are not media-shy; rather, we want to be media-friendly."
The army chief made a five-point appeal to the media. These include: helping to bring down prices of essentials, holding of credible elections, encouraging people to diversify their food habit, improving the rule of law and security and highlighting rural news.
The Army Chief said during the countrywide anti-corruption drive under the National Coordination Council, the council identified 222 corrupt persons so far. Of them, 81 were arrested and the trial of 50 of them have been completed in lower courts. They can go to higher court.
The army chief said the taskforce in operation during of the course of their investigation into different public sector bodies found in one such institutions -- RAJUK -- that 49 per cent of plot-allotment documents were missing. The government, he said, is taking action on the basis of the report by the taskforce.
He said manpower export increased 76 per cent last year compared to 2006. "We believe we have enough resources," General Moeen said, and if the human resources were developed through proper training, the situation in Bangladesh would improve a lot.
The army chief also narrated how the armed forces helped farmers to encourage food-grain production across the country and gave an optimistic picture of bumper production of Boro, wheat and maize.
"Human resources should not be considered a curse; rather, they are the assets of the country", he said, expressing his firm belief "we will be a mid-income-group country by 2020 and it is possible" if the nation's resources are properly developed and utilised.
bdnews24.com adds: "We will neither follow Pakistan or other neighbours, nor our predecessors," Moeen said in reference to military coups in Thailand and Pakistan and previous "take-overs" in Bangladesh, in response to question by one editor.
Moeen spoke on his recent visit to India in reply to a query by one of the editors and said: "I have invitations (from China and Pakistan), too."
The general was flanked by Major General Sina Ibn Jamali, chief of the general staff, and Major General Golam Mohammad, head of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, when he spoke to the editors.
The journalists who attended the meeting includes Daily Independent editor Mahbubul Alam, Ittefaq editor Rahat Khan, Amar Desh's acting editor Ataus Samad, Samakal editor Abed Khan, Prothom Alo editor Motiur Rahman, New Nation editor Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Bangladesh Observer editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Financial Express editor Moazzem Hossain, News Today editor Reazuddin Ahmed, UNB chief editor Enayetullah Khan, Manav Jamin editor Motiur Rahman Chowdhury, BTV director general Kamal Uddin, head of news of Channel i Shaikh Siraj, editor-in-chief of bdnews24.com Toufique Imrose Khalidi, New Age editor Nurul Kabir, Bhorer Kagoj editor Shyamol Dutt, Naya Diganta editor Alamgir Mohiuddin, AFP correspondent M. Shafiqul Hoque, AP Bureau chief, Farid Hossain, BBC correspondent Quadir Kollol, ATN Bangla adviser Saiful Bari and its chief of news Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul and Channel 1 head of news Nazmul Ashraf.
The meeting was followed by a lunch, the menu of which was dominated by seven items of potato.