The New Nation - Internet Edition

THE idea of forming a National Security Council (NSC) has been floated. Knowledgeable quarters would by and large favourably react to the proposal considering its relevance to the present conditions in Bangladesh and the heightened need to oversee the security of the country in the face of growing challenges. The people do not want a 9/11 type of situation to engulf and threaten the country's well-being again, and would be all for such a Security Council to ensure that ruinous events do nor push the country towards anarchy and destruction even under an elected and constitutional government.

The people it is believed would love to see that such a body that would include the chiefs of the armed forces, among others, would function and see to it that the security of the country, economic, social, political, environmental, cannot be threatened and initiatives can be taken right in time to save the country from very ruinous developments. All quarters may not be happy with the NSC idea from an apprehension of institutionalising a role of the armed forces in the running of the country. Reportedly, the incumbent government is seriously considering the formation of such a body.

But those quarters who instinctively and negatively reacted to the idea before should seek to know what the government's plans are in this regard. Because, a properly set up NSC can be a source of strength for the nation. Such councils are there in many democratically governed countries including the United States of America. Thus, it should be only logical that the role of the armed forces should be institutionalised in our conditions through the NSC for taking advantage of their services. The NSC should be rightly perceived as a safety mechanism only to ensure that the democratic system after the elections, cannot be vitiated once again by interested quarters to rock the country's stability, peace and progress.