By IANS
Dhaka : Bangladesh army chief has expressed oblique differences over the remarks by a top official about the government being “army backed”.
“Army is always with the government, like the police or the administration,” General Moin U. Ahmed told reporters Tuesday, a day after Law and Information Advisor Mainul Hosein had admitted the government in Bangladesh was “army backed”, confirming a perception at home and abroad.
Hosein speaking to editors Monday claimed that the government that assumed office on Jan 12, a day after a national emergency was imposed was “a national government of officials and technocrats”. Bangladesh has had over 15 years of military or military-guided rule in the past.
Asked for his comments on the law adviser’s remarks to representatives of the electronic media, the army chief said: “I don’t think so. Government is here and it’s a caretaker government.
“It (army) can’t remain isolated from any government,” New Age newspaper quoted Ahmed as saying.
Hosein’s contention to the media editors, that the government had a roadmap for restoring democracy and not merely holding elections, as being demanded by political parties, has the army chief’s approval, going by his recent statements.
Political parties have had their activities banned by the present government and they have been targeted for being inefficient, corrupt and having allegedly backed criminals and extremists when in office.