Army Housing

Healing the wounds of army and civilian relations
No sooner had the nation witnessed with grave concern the saddest incident of Sirajgonj than another one of an exceptional kind took place at Rupgonj. Both the sad incidents call for national concern, not political or military or Railway department separately and individually. Army is the sacred wealth and institution of a nation particularly in third world countries where political chaos reigns supreme. The nation sometimes witnesses political chaos which becomes the order of the day and the army then becomes the solution. We have not forgotten the political violence unleashed several times since we achieved independence. During that critical period of the nation the army became the custodian of our security and brought discipline . General people have a specialized honour and fear for the army. So, this institution has been utilized for any critical moment of the nation. Think of Chittagong Port. It went into standstill, only the army intervention made it operational. When we think of making our national ID we must remember them for their commendable job. At present they are working for making our electronic passport. One of my colleague just commented on their service that we think we have come to an office of a civilized country to make a passport which was one of the severest pains and harassments of the country. Now the passport office seems to be a clean place because of army intervention. So, in no way the army should be placed on the confronting situation with the citizens. People will withdraw their respect from the army when the incidence of Rupgonj occurs. We must not put the army in the place of police in the eyes of the people. General people don’t have any respect and they don’t any believe in the police. They become the victims of many odds and accidents but don’t want to meet the police for further fear of harassment. It is an established but sad truth of the nation.
I consider Bangladesh Army as an industry. Many think our army only consumes our national wealth. Actually, by virtue of the world class professional service of our armed forces, they have become one of the biggest foreign exchange earners by working in the UN missions. In the UN missions Bangladesh Army is one of the most vital forces. They had to earn that reputation at the cost of their dedication and honesty. Being the members of a poor country they have earned global reputation which call for our attention and we really take price in them. We must save our army at any cost. But to save the army the institution itself has to follow some guidelines and code of conduct being the citizens of an independent nation. A retired army officer has claimed the Army Housing Scheme project was taken up to meet the urgent need of the officer’s housing. The acquisition of land has been a factor which could not be met for years together. Land has become scarce for a long time. Yes, land has become scarce in the country which needs to be addressed by raising multi-storied buildings, or thinking to make housing on water or something like that. We cannot afford to encourage occupying agricultural land to make housing. The proposed site of the Army Housing Scheme in Rupgonj includes designated flood flow zone, water bodies and rural homesteads where no construction is permitted by the Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan. Alternation of flood flow zone would have an adverse effect on conservation of water bodies, river and biodiversity. It would increase vulnerability to urban flooding, hinder percolation of ground water level and escalate river pollution. Of the total area of the 24 moujas 65percent flood flow zone, 12 percent water bodies and 13 percent rural settlements. A canal flows from Beraid to Dakshin Nabagram across the proposed site in Rupgonj upazila of Narayangonj where the army plans to implement a 12000 bighas housing project.. Army Housing Scheme authority did not consult Rajuk, the custodian of the Detailed Area Plan, about the project although it was obliged to do so in line with private Housing Development Rules 2004 . It also raises questions that the armed forces did not consult the custodian. They should not consider themselves as a separate entity in this regard. They must show honour to the national laws and rules. Again, how uniformed higher level officers can be the chairman and managing director of the said housing? The army must take the whole affair into consideration.
Brining in any situation under control is utmost important for any kind of administration. Upto a certain degree, things remain controlled under the administration. The barometer will say when the mercury rises. We never should allow raising the mercury to such a level as cannot be controlled. The initial stages could have been controlled which the authorities concerned both civil and military ignored. After the barometer has risen so high that means people turned into unruly mob went fully beyond control and then brutal way of controlling was resorted. Both the actions and after effect bring serious return. The same thing happened to Sirajgonj. A huge meeting was going on. Stopping the train was absolutely impossible but the innocent drivers became the victims. The total administration, government agencies and the BNP party men all were seriously negligent of the impending danger and after the incident they just started playing filthy blame games. They hardly consider the loss of national wealth and the families of the dead and wounded and the hapless drivers. Everybody concerned was responsible for the incident. In Rupgonj also no authority was careful and active. When everything went beyond control, everybody and every organization started shouting and sidetracking the responsibility. It means another serious mess. The images of burning Army temporary Camp or the burning of military vehicles or the embarrassment of the military have seriously mesmerized the army and civilians relations which we don’t expect. It is hard to heal the wound already made. But we must heal it not at the cost of hostility but through the tools of friendship.

Md. Masum Billah
Program Manager: BRAC Education Program, PACE
Cell: 01714-091431
Email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com