The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Leaders of political parties, representatives of professional groups and military officials at a roundtable yesterday extended their support to forming the National Security Council (NSC) comprising military and civilians to deal with internal and external security issues.

Addressing the meeting on National Security Council at Hotel Sheraton in the city, they observed that formation of such a platform would help cement the relationship of government, military and civilians and pave the way to identify and solve national issues.

The speakers suggested formation of a core group body headed by the President and comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, three Chiefs of Staff and other important stakeholders.

They stressed the need for determining the structures and objectives of the proposed body by involving political parties in the process and giving legal mandate to the NSC.

The meeting, organised by newly floated Bangladesh Institute of Leadership and Security Studies (BILSS), was chaired jointly by former Adviser to the Caretaker Government Mahbubul Alam and former minister Dr Mizanur Rahman Shelley. Prof Dr Ataur Rahman, President of BILSS, presented keynote paper and acted as the moderator. Ataur Rahman said formation of the NSC is necessary to ensure internal security, including food and energy, and to protect national security.

"We do not want to see the recurrence of 1/11 changeover by the military," he said adding, contribution of military can be institutionalised and democracy can be restored through formation of the NSC comprising co-ordinated leadership. He said formation of such a body is not contrary to the Constitution.

In his keynote paper, Ataur Rahman said geo-strategic location, stage of economic development, unique demographic profile of the country pose multifaceted security challenges including political violence, destabilisation, religious extremism, cross-border crimes, arms trafficking and drugs, what he termed more dangerous than inter-state conflicts.

He said the NSC should ideally be a part of the Constitution with a new Article inserted or can be enacted as an Ordinance now-to be incorporated later in the Constitution.

He said, "The NSC should be located with the President to create an appropriate check and balance with the Prime Minister's power."

The BILSS President suggested that there is considerable variation in the number of NSC members from 7 to 13 usually with an effective Secretariat and back up policy and research support groups.

Former minister and BNP leader M Osman Faruk said such a civilian military platform would be able to participate in policy making.

He underlined the need for deciding the goals of NSC first, then to take measures to give it a constitutional shape.

The BNP leader suggested formation of the NSC with small core structure with the provision to consult with more people.

Referring to the 1/11 changeover he said political leaders are not only responsible for the incident since military had interfered in the past, also.

Former minister Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf said, the country needs a NSC maintaining the supremacy of Parliament.

He said there should be a properly balanced platform comprising government, military and civilians to deal with security issues.

Jatiya Party leader GM Kader said it would be better to form such a body with the minimum number of members.

Authority and jurisdiction of the proposed NSC has to be determined. There should be accountability of the body, he said.

BJP leader Dr MA Matin said formation of a NSC is logical since the experiences of previous four Parliaments are not so comfortable.

He said the design of the proposed NSC has to be determined in view of the socio-economic political conditions of the country.

JSD President ASM Abdur Rab said there is no alternative of formation of National Security Council involving the Armed Forces.

Formation of BAKSAL, proclamation of state of emergency and emergence of 1/11 change over would not have happened, if there was a participatory rule involving army and other professionals, he observed.

Former minister and PDP leader Abul Hasan Chowdhury said that military and civilian relation is very unique in the country.

"The military helped the civil administration during all national calamities and in the war of liberation," he mentioned.

Brig Gen (Retd) Mainul Hossain said the title of the proposed body could be National Security and Development Council.

Lt Gen Abu Tayeb Muhammed Zahirul Alam, Commandant of National Defence College, termed the proposal of formation of NSC viable saying the country is facing more internal problems than external ones.

The meeting was also addressed, among others, by Raziya Foyez and Rabeya Bhuiyan of Jatiya Party, journalist Sadeq Khan, former MP MM Shahin, Air Commodore (Retd) Mahmud, Dr Hassan Mahmud, Ambassador Ashfaqur Rahman, Ambassador Rashed Ahmed, former FBCCI president Mir Nasir Hossain, Barrister Zafar Ahmed, Jon Darilowicz of US Embassy in Dhaka, Adv Shahiduzzaman, Ruhul Amin, Sharif A Kafi and Selim Akhter Khan.

Earlier, Dr Mizanur Rahman Shelley formally inaugurated the floating of the BILSS.