Bangladesh Army Chief warns against infighting, calls for elections by year-end
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Dhaka: Bangladesh's Chief of Army Staff, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, has cautioned against internal divisions, attributing the deteriorating law and order situation to infighting. Speaking at an army memorial event marking the anniversary of the 2009 Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) mutiny on Tuesday, Zaman emphasised that the ongoing unrest was "manufactured by us" and warned that the country’s progress could be jeopardised if political conflicts persist.
Zaman urged all sections of society to set aside their differences and work towards national unity. "Forget all differences, all evil thoughts, and work towards the upliftment of the country and national integration," he said in Bangla. "If you can’t move beyond your differences and continue meddling and fighting among yourselves, the independence and integrity of the country will be at risk."
His remarks come in the wake of escalating tensions between student unions affiliated with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, both of whom have accused each other of fuelling the ongoing violence.
Calls for stability amid political unrest
Zaman warned that the political infighting was creating opportunities for criminal elements to operate with impunity. "Since stakeholders are busy mudslinging at each other, miscreants find the situation favourable. They believe they can get away with anything," he said, though he refrained from naming any specific groups.
The army chief also acknowledged the prolonged nature of the military's role in stabilising the country. "I thought my work was done, but it would take me longer to sort this out," he remarked, adding, "…And then I will take a vacation."
Elections should be held by December, says Zaman
Zaman underscored the need for holding free and fair elections by December, aligning with the broader political narrative following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last August. The interim government’s Chief Adviser, Muhammad Yunus, had earlier indicated that elections might be delayed until late 2025 or early 2026.
Bangladesh has been witnessing violent protests and clashes between student factions, with attacks on properties linked to Hasina’s family. The security situation has worsened since the launch of "Operation Devil Hunt" on 8 February, aimed at dismantling criminal networks accused of destabilising the country.
Meanwhile, student protest leader Nahid Islam resigned as the head of the telecom and information technology ministry on Tuesday, reportedly in preparation for the formation of a new political party.
Support for Yunus’ leadership
Zaman called on the public to back Yunus in his efforts to restore stability and steer Bangladesh towards a peaceful democratic transition. "Let’s collectively ensure that Dr Yunus is able to do his job and put our faith in him," he said, adding that he would return to his barracks once the country achieves stability.
The army, under Zaman’s leadership, had refrained from intervening in early August when student-led protests led to Hasina’s ouster after 15 years in power. Following her departure from Bangladesh, Zaman pledged full support for the interim government to implement essential reforms and hold elections within 18 months.
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Maharashtra sets up state vaccination task force to strengthen immunisation programme
Mumbai (PTI): The Maharashtra government has set up a State Vaccination Task Force to strengthen the regular immunisation programme and review the progress of related campaigns, a health department official said on Monday.
The State Vaccination Task Force will comprise at least 29 members and will be headed by the administrative head of the health department, he informed.
The government has also constituted separate district-level and municipal vaccination task forces to improve implementation and address challenges at the grassroots level, he said.
Municipal task forces, chaired by respective civic commissioners, have been constituted in view of the vast urban population in Maharashtra and the role of civic bodies in implementing different health programmes.
The district-level task forces will function under the chairmanship of collectors.
"Complete immunisation of children at the appropriate age is an extremely simple, cost-effective and highly effective measure to reduce child mortality and the prevalence of diseases among kids. Immunisation is a powerful tool for reducing illness in children," maintained the official.
To ensure full vaccination of all children, the state government implements various campaigns from time to time as per the central government guidelines, he pointed out.
"Active participation and cooperation of other relevant government departments are essential (in making these campaigns successful)," according to the official.
The state-level body will review the regular immunisation programme, associated campaigns and vaccine-preventable diseases in detail. It will also conduct focused assessments of high-risk districts and municipal corporations, including vacancies at district, municipal and sub-district levels, availability of cold chain equipment, resource gaps and training requirements, he noted.
The state task force will review allocation and utilisation of funds for immunisation and ensure timely action by officers concerned based on reports from district and municipal task forces and state-level monitoring mechanisms, the official said.
It will also ensure active coordination and participation of other government departments in immunisation drives, while district and municipal task forces will carry out similar functions at their respective levels, the official added.
