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No intention of capturing power: Bangladesh's army chief
Feb 9, 2007 - 3:40:20 PM
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The army chief said the 'new situation' would ensure that 'those who could not do politics so long for want of money will now get the opportunity'.
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By IANS,
[RxPG] Dhaka, Feb 9 - Bangladesh's army chief has said the armed forces were 'not running the country' and that the army has no intention 'to capture power or run the government'.
Apparently reacting to criticism in political circles and the intelligentsia at home and in the West that the present caretaker government is 'military-guided', army chief Lt Gen Moeen U. Ahmed maintained that the armed forces were only assisting the government 'to put the country on the right track'.
'The army has no intention to take over. We are not even running the government. But we like to see this government successful as we want to put the country on the right track through concerted efforts of all,' he was quoted as saying by the United News of Bangladesh -.
The criticism and apprehensions about the role of Bangladesh's armed forces stem from their past track record. After gaining independence from Pakistan, Bangladesh has had several phases of martial law and military-guided rules between 1975 and 1990, prompting analysts to draw parallels with Pakistan.
Ahmed responded to criticism by political parties at home, saying that the nation needs 'efficient and honest politicians to move forward', The Daily Star newspaper said.
'Our politicians do not understand anything beyond their self-interest,' Ahmed said.
The army chief said the 'new situation' would ensure that 'those who could not do politics so long for want of money will now get the opportunity'.
Likening the predicament of the country to a derailed train, Ahmed said: 'We need a heavy crane to put the train back on the track - and strength of the people is the crane. Once you can put the train on the track, it will move smoothly.'
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