Dhaka: Bangladesh army chief General Waqar Uz Zaman has expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the country, warning that internal disputes could threaten the country’s sovereignty.
General Waqar Uz Zaman said that if people do not forget their differences and unite, the country’s independence and integrity could be at risk.
Crime rates in Bangladesh are rising sharply, while security forces have arrested thousands of suspects this month, who are being linked to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s party.
Last week, rival student groups clashed on university campuses, signaling a split among students involved in the anti-government movement. More than 8,600 people have been arrested so far in Bangladesh during “Operation Devil Hunt”.
Speaking at a ceremony, General Waqar-uz-Zaman said: “If we continue to create chaos ourselves, the situation will deteriorate and the country will become unstable.”
He added that “investigations are necessary against those accused of enforced disappearances, killings and torture. If they are not punished, we will remain trapped in the same cycle.”
After the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, General Waqar-uz-Zaman supported the interim government of Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus.
Yunus says that there is a plan to bring democratic reforms to Bangladesh and hold general elections in late 2025 or early 2026.
“Our goal is to bring stability to the country, after which the army will return to the barracks,” the army chief clarified.
