Oversimplified and generalised comments are 'no guide'

How a disciplined force like the BDR, can suddenly come into the grip of mutiny is not understandable. The oversimplified and generalised comment that this was a result of longstanding grouse by the BDR soldiers against their officers, all of whom were deputed from the Bangladesh Army was at best highly irresponsible. If there were grievances, they could have abstained from work indefinitely until their demands were met. Say, if the BDR soldiers did not budge to attend their duties, there was no way to force them to obey. Would not that have been a far better way to air one's problems? And had they done that there would have been no blood spilt.

The savagery and brutality of the acts, no matter what their grievances are or for how long, mean that this was a cold blooded planning and execution. This operation was designed to kill scores of officers. It was designed to maim the Bangladesh Rifles and the Army. The state must go deeper into the matter and dig out the real reason for this most bloody incident. No matter what was being said by the masked BDR jawans, it is just one side of the affair. One needs two hands to clap. We did not hear anyone speaking about those officers who had been slain most brutally. Did they not deserve that their part of the story should also be heard?

Abul Kasem

Hatirpool

Dhaka