Hostage crisis management
Mr. Muhit Rahman certainly deserves thanks for his write up published in the editorial page of 12 March 2009. Like many, it appears that Mr. Muhit had been a keen observer of the recent Pilkhana incident and burnt midnight candle to gain knowledge on the Hostage Crisis Management. But to me it appeared that he had been rather unkind in making certain comments.
While quoting and commenting on the hostage crisis management in Russia and America, the writer overlooked to flash back on the excellent hostage crisis management done by General Kabir in Khagrachari a decade back. In such case, he would find a readymade example to cite in addition to recent internet browsing. General Kabir rescued the district administration officers from the hands of hostage takers through prolonged negotiation and not storming into it. If the writer has the time to go through the chronological development of the Khagrachari Hostage Crisis, he would find how the principles of such incidents were adhered to, i.e. ICER (Isolate-Contain-Evaluate-Report) by Bangladeshi military officers. We still have such trained and experienced generals in the armed forces to manage any hostage crisis.
Comments on the standard and preparation of the security force (if he meant the army) to manage crisis had been rather harsh, which reflects narrowness in vision and knowledge regarding our national armed forces. If I may have the audacity to remind of the standard and preparation, the Bangladesh armed forces have earned international acclamation in the Peace Keeping Exercises around the globe where, they have been managing such crisis quite frequently. Hostage Crisis Management does not necessarily need sophisticated equipment and elite units and anything better than what our armed forces are equipped with.
With regards to emotional outburst, it was but natural because of unique comradeship and fellow feeling which may not be visible in many institutions. And they do not hesitate to go for sacrifice of any level in times of crisis (without emotion can we identify ourselves as human being!). What we must look at is, they have acted on the political decision and direction despite the bleeding in their hearts.
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