The chiefs of the three services on Monday categorically said the armed forces would not intervene in governance and pledged to defend the constitutionality in any situation.
Army chief General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan, navy chief Vice Admiral Muhammad Farid Habib and air force chief Air Marshal SM Ziaur Rahman told the parliamentary standing committee on ministry of defence that they were oath-bound to stand by the constitution and the elected government at any cost and in any situation.
The 10-member parliamentary watchdog thanked the three services chiefs for their pro-constitution stance and loyalty to the government, M Idris Ali, the committee chief, told newsmen after the meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
The commitment from the military top brass came three weeks after opposition chief Khaleda Zia made comments on a probable military role should the country plunged into anarchy.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia had said in Bogra on Mar 24 that the military ‘will not sit back and watch’ if the country slipped into anarchy. Later the party denied that Khaleda had provoked the military and accused the media of not properly reporting her address.
`The three chiefs have categorically said that the armed forces will not interfere in governance even if there is political turmoil,’ Idris Ali said.
`We are under oath to stand by the government and the constitution; we will in no way deviate from professionalism,’ the chairman quoted the army chief General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan as telling the standing committee meeting.
The committee has also discussed the law and order.
`We have unanimously condemned the statement of Khaleda Zia who had provoked the army to take over by overthrowing the elected government,’ said Idris Ali.
Committee member and Jatiya Party chief HM Ersahd, who took power in a military coup in 1982, said the armed forces should not get involved in governance and politics.
The Jatiya Party chief said it was not Jamaat-e-Islami which would protect Islam. Some of its actions were against Islam, said Ershad who made Islam the state religion in 1988 through a constitutional amendment.
In response, Idris Ali said, `Who has given Hefajat the authority to protect Islam? It is only Allah who protects Islam. If anyone thinks Islam is being harmed he lacks in his belief in Islam’.
Awami League lawmaker Abdul Mannan, who represented the prime minister and defence minister Sheikh Hasina, came down hard on Ershad without naming him.
Standing committee members Nurul Mazid Mahmud Humayun and Manzoor Qader Qureishee also attended the meeting. (Source)
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