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UN Peace Keeping Mission Of Bangladesh And Military’s Involvement In Politics

By M Mukhlesur Rahman Chowdhury

21 November, 2015
Countercurrents.org

Bangladesh has been making peace outside the country though it failed to do so within. The country is one of the largest peacekeepers in the United Nations since the last part of previous century. As peacekeeping mission begun, it stopped military coup in Bangladesh. Although senior commanders’ bold position stopped 1996 coup attempt in Bangladesh, the UN peacekeeping mission also played a vital role to suppress the coup. However, 2007 military coup is a result of blackmailing of UN, which lasted for two years and also it was ended by UN with handing over power to politicians in 2009.

Although Bangladesh began UN Peace Keeping mission in 1988, the common understanding is that Bangladesh military became involved in this mission abroad in a large way after 1991. Since then Bangladesh has been making peace outside the country. However since 2007 it failed to keep peace inside the country. The reason of large way involvement of Bangladesh after 1991 is the country has emerged as a democratic country with the ouster of General Ershad from the political scene and the holding of free, fair and peaceful elections. Other positive factors were a). Bangladesh was one of those few Muslim-majority countries where democratic rule had been established, b). The elected Prime Minister was a woman, which was something quite unthinkable at that time in a Muslim country, c). The Bangladesh army had played its role successfully in the Iraq-Kuwait War in 1990, not only defeating the forces of Saddam Hussein but also in post-war reconstruction, particularly in demining operations in Kuwait, d). The PM was convinced by an official that it would in no way weaken the defence of Bangladesh because India, the immediate neighbour, would not take advantage of the situation where a large number of Bangladeshi troops would be engaged elsewhere, e). The official also convinced the PM that peacekeeping mission or duty would help the smooth transition to democracy because it would compensate the armed forces which were “high and mighty” during Ershad’s nine years of autocratic rule.

So, began a phase when all UN requests for peacekeeping troops from Bangladesh were met. Because of the counsel of the same official, the PM also instructed the then Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Nooruddin Khan to make HIV/AIDS test compulsory both before commencing peacekeeping mission/duty and also after returning from peacekeeping duty. This ensured two objectives. First, a fear was instilled in our troops that any deviant behaviour by them would not be tolerated. Second, it enhanced the prestige of Bangladesh among the UN Peacekeeping apparatus. This helped Bangladesh to obtain more UN requests for peace keeping troops.

So, over time peacekeeping abroad had assumed an extremely important duty for the Bangladesh army. It also meant that it would be easy for the outside forces to manipulate Bangladesh army.

By 2006 that is by the end of Khaleda Zia’s second term, several new developments had taken place:

a) The security situation in Bangladesh had deteriorated in the country and Khaleda Zia was seen as not being proactive in curving the terrorist elements (Bangla Bhai, Harkatul Mujahid etc.). For example, it was widely rumoured that Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Member of Parliaments (MP)s in the northern districts were receiving support of Bangla Bhai and that BNP government had acted rather mildly against the terrorists.

b) BNP government had created RAB and allowed “Operation Clean Heart” which made the presence of army in the body politic of the country a reality. According to political analysts, it was like “digging a canal to allow the crocodiles to come in”.

c) In the Bangladesh intelligence agencies also, reportedly the preponderance of corrupt military elements had increased. Thus, in the NSI, which is supposed to be basically a civilian outfit, the proportion of military elements had increased to an all-time high level under the leadership of the corrupt military officer heading the NSI for a period of time. Good news is NSI did not betray during ‘1/11’ as DGFI did.

d) One of the allies of BNP had adopted a dual policy vis-à-vis the BNP. On the one hand, some of its leaders continued to flatter the leader and next hierarchy to increase their hold in the government; on the other hand, it also maintained some liaison with a section of Islamic elements, those who were involved with alleged terrorist activities.

e) There were also a number of personal factors. The UK High Commissioner of Bangladeshi origin was biased in favour of Awami League (AL) because reportedly both his wives were from the AL Gharana. He was also pissed off with the government because it failed to take actions against those terrorists which attacked him in Sylhet, which was his birth place and native area. The High Commissioner reportedly made a request to the AL chief , when her party was in opposition, to give nomination to an AL leader in planned 22 January 2007 election. However, later on 28 December 2008 election, concerned candidate received AL ticket in one of Sylhet constituencies. Also, the PM had refused to see him for more than six months because she thought that he was thoroughly biased in favour of AL. Another story floating at that time was that one of the top Western ambassadors, a woman, was a lesbian and that the intelligence agency Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) had somehow got her videoed in a compromising position with her female sex partners. They were using it for blackmailing her. It is possible that they not only aided the military conspirators but also influencing their own home governments against BNP rule. The UNDP chief in Bangladesh Renata Lok Dessallien, another woman, was unhappy with BNP government’s inaction in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. In the Bangladesh army, a criminal as well as corrupt general had been promoted as Chief of staff bypassing nine of his seniors so that some person could do roaring military business with his erstwhile “military batch mate”. The army chief Lt. General Moeen U Ahmed was looking for an opportunity to seize power, ousting his benefactors, this being the “norm” of people like him. I informed the head of government in 2005 in five pages report from Bangabhaban about Moeen U Ahmed’s track record, role, ambition, character, his family background etc. and regarding some other generals, where there were both good and bad people to choose new army chief from them. At this stage, Major General Razzakul Haider’s appointment as army chief was almost done. General Razzak was recruited during Pakistan regime and General Moeen joined army after Bangladesh came into being. But in last minute, Moeen was appointed army chief changing Razzak’s file. Then General Razzak and Major General Jamil D Ahsan were appointed Bangladesh Ambassadors to Libya and Turkey respectively. Moeen wanted to establish that Major General Rezzakul Haider Chowdhury was about to be appointed army chief on 11 January 2007, which was baseless as Rezzakul was junior. During my time in the government, following Logi-Boitha (Paddle-Stick) event on 28 October 2006, a state of emergency was about to declare on the following day. I stopped it for the sake of democracy and for the cause of nation. However, I was asked time and again from the political hierarchy that why I am obstructing state of emergency. On the last day i.e. 11 January 2007, the political level did not receive my repeated calls. I could take action against the army chief. Ironically, the political hierarchy could not believe my political analysis or reading. She did realise this when her son was arrested.

Iftekhar Chowdhury, the contractually appointed Bangladesh ambassador in UN, was also looking for an opportunity to rise the ladder now that his tenure was about to end, and he was most helpful to the military in garnering UN support for the military takeover in Bangladesh. There were allegations from political parties especially from Sheikh Hasina that new Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh had also conspired to bring in military rule in the country for his personal gain. According to allegations, he thought that eventually the military would be put him in power.

f) It is said that India, a traditional supporter of AL, was always against the BNP government. The added reason was the complicity of the Bangladesh intelligence community in arms supply to the NE India ULFA rebels and giving shelter to the ULFA rebels inside Bangladesh. The particularly bitter anti-Bangladeshi stance of the Indian High Commissioner, a woman, was another factor. The High Commissioner Veena Sicri had to leave Bangladesh prior to 1/11 (11 January 2007 military coup) as she and 11 other including her husband were superseded in Indian Foreign Service. So there was no Indian High Commissioner serving Bangladesh during that period. Sarbajit Chakravarti was acting High Commissioner then. There was a lot of rumour at that time that Tarique Rahman had met the Mumbai don Dawood Ibrahim in Dubai. BNP could not come forward boldly against this propaganda. In such circumstances, India’s help to oust BNP government using any means, if necessary with the help of the ambitious Bangladesh military leaders and foul mounting against BNP with the international community, became much more plausible. India was supporting military Junta but western world did not.

g) The countries which provide the money for paying the UN peacekeepers are mostly Western powers, so some sort of influence on the army of the contributing country cannot be ruled out, either through the military attaches/ambassadors in Bangladesh or through the UN peacekeeping outfit. They could also be misled by their ambassadors posted in Dhaka for reasons stated above.

h) The UNDP letter that unless the army intervened, peacekeeping duty by Bangladesh army would be stopped was concocted with help of UNDP Dhaka representative. However, Moeen used it successfully. His purpose was primarily done by this as he could take over. All along I was very visible and continued with my mission in Bangladesh, the UN, USA, among others. AS I did not make politicians understand, convinced western diplomats, lobbied with the UN, USA mainly and under the leadership of USA managed western world and stopped India. I had exclusive telephone calls with Assistant Secretary of State Richard A. Boucher, Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns, US ambassador to Bangladesh Patricia A. Butenis, special envoy of UN Secretary General Craig Gennes and later Boucher and Gennes called on me exclusively and I convinced them that by 12 January there will be a Martial Law. Both British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury and American ambassador Patricia A. Butenis consulted army chief Lt. Gen. Moeen and Principal Staff Officer (PSO) Major General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury before ‘1/11’. They met said two army officials on 7 and 8 January 2015. However, an Australian journalist made comment on this other way round. I told all dignitaries to use UN Peacekeeping Mission as a tool so that there will be no take over by General Moeen. They also threatened them with this tool.

i) Lust of Presidency by Moeen, corruption, de-politicisation, militarisation, economic looting, plundering and mess were among others, which became the main reasons for failure of Moeen and his group to achieve his above targets and goals. In different army regimes there were success stories in respect of lasting and reforms in different countries where the army leaders were honest. Moeen period was unlike them as they were dishonest and they did not have mission and vision other than negative targets and goal to achieve power and army chief’s ambition to be the President. Still UN Peacekeeping can play a positive role in future to restore peace in Bangladesh. Army may not take power on its own. But with international support, there may be a patriot and honest government in Bangladesh in future, which will recast, rebuild and reorganise Bangladesh’s institutions, organisations and democratic forces in order to start a new. It will be unlike Moeen’s regime and programmes. Bangladesh needs a fresh constitution.

j) The outgoing Bangladesh representative to the UN became the new Foreign Adviser of the new military backed government. Actually he was aspirant for the position of Chief Adviser. He was in contact with army chief for quite long time and in 2005 in a sideline of Halifax Conference held in Canada, indicating army he prescribed for third force intervention in Bangladesh. His brother-in-law apparently on the advice of the Nobel Laureate became the formal head of the caretaker administration. The Nobel Laureate was allowed to form a political party at a time when all other political parties in the country were banned.
k) Army chief, Military Secretary to the President (MSP), SSF, and DGFI betrayed with the government in ‘1/11’. In contrast, in 1996 coup, above same positions and institutes did not betray, rather they were loyal to the President. At that time, the threat of UN Peacekeeping Mission was very strong as army as an institution did not support that coup.

l) On ‘1/11’ morning Moeen did spread rumour to all cantonments of Bangladesh that he was going to be dismissed, Major General Rezzakul Haider Chowdhury was going to new army chief and the UN asked to take over. All three information was baseless, concocted, fabricated and in order to achieve hid personal benefit.

m) Khaleda Zia trusted Moeen U Ahmed as she appointed him army chief, he has given commitment to be loyal and ensured her safety and security. Later Moeen betrayed with her, once his appointing authority. Sheikh Hasina has taken advantage out of it. Moeen gave his commitment to Sheikh Hasina to give power even without election. I divulged it earlier and later Sheikh Hasina also said the same. Moeen was playing with all concerned. He wanted to be the President of Bangladesh and failed. Later he did not have any other option other than compromise with Sheikh Hasina as Khaleda Zia announced to trial Moeen and accomplices. Sheikh Hasina won by defeating all including Khaleda Zia and Moeen U Ahmed. Khaleda Zia did not believe when I told her about Meen’s coup beforehand and while I was in power and after she left power. She now believes and says she will try Moeen and his associates. But to do this she needs power. On the contrary, Sheikh Hasina is consolidating power in her hands. If BNP and allies did not participate in 2008 parliamentary election, the election could not be held and there was a chance of another coup which could make a level playing field for a fair election indeed. Similarly, if BNP could foil 5 January 2014 election then the boycott would have been justified. As it did not yield any result, BNP should have joined the election and it could go to power like city corporation elections or at least could get more than hundred seats in the parliament and could remain as strongest political force in the parliament. Awami League said due to necessity of constitutional requirement there would be an election on 5 January 2014 and after a month there will be another election as similar kind of event held in 1996. Tofail Ahmed openly said Jatiya Party of Ershad and BNP did same kind of elections in 1988 and 1996 respectively and please allow us to do so for once. By this we all will be the same. Authority is Sheikh Hasina and Tofail is a clever player and there BNP did not succeed. Politics is nothing but a matter of equation and whoever plays it with prudence can receive rewards.

Finally, UN realised and with western support army was asked to wind up and transfer power to the politicians. In between, army made a mess in Bangladesh politics. Then a real threat has been emerged from the UN using Peacekeeping Force. That was if democracy was not restored, Bangladesh’s force in Peacekeeping Force may be backed. Here, UN Peacekeeping Mission played major role from beginning to the end. It helped army to takeover due to the undemocratic and anti-UN assignment done by Renata Lok Dessallien using UN Peacekeeping as tool. Rightly or wrongly UN Peacekeeping Mission worked both positive and negatively in Bangladesh during 2006-2008 period.

M Mukhlesur Rahman Chowdhury is a London-based Researcher as well as Independent Analyst in Politics and International Relations. A Career Journalist Mukhles Chowdhury is a Former Minister and Adviser to the President of Bangladesh. Former President of Overseas Correspondents’ Association Bangladesh (OCAB) Mukhles Chowdhury has been working as the Chief Editor of the Bangladesh Worldwide and the Weekly Prekshit as well. Email: [email protected]

 



 

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