Civilian control over military helps build professionalism
Eminent citizens tell seminar
Objective civilian control over the military can help the armed forces reach new heights of professionalism for defence of the state, said discussants at a seminar yesterday.
They also said the civilian control over the military allows both the institutions to focus on their key functions.
Noted citizens, including former military personnel, made the remark at a roundtable titled challenges and opportunities of civil-military-relations in Bangladesh at German House in the city's Gulshan. Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) organised the programme.
BIPSS President Maj Gen (retd) ANM Muniruzzaman who chaired the session said it must be clearly understood that the armed forces in all democratic countries are under democratic civilian control. An objective civilian control is an essential part of establishing a strong civil-military relationship in democratic countries, he added.
Presenting a keynote paper, Kristin Bleyder, a member of the Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research, institutionalised methods of civilian control are most important for civil-military relations and essential for democracy.
The civilian control over the armed forces practiced in several countries are control over the allocation to defence budget, implementation of monitoring institutions and parliamentary control over the military, said discussants.
They hailed Bangladesh armed forces for its superb role during different national crises, including natural disasters. Some speakers, however, criticised the military for being engaged in politics in the history of Bangladesh.
Speakers also stressed the need for releasing a white paper on the expenditure of budgetary allocation for the armed forces to ensure transparency.
They said formulation of a defence policy is essential for advancement and betterment of the armed forces. The policy, however, should be accepted by the people and passed by the parliament, the observed.
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