Govt doesn`t want to use DGFI politically: PM

Risingbd Desk, DHAKA

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said her government does not want to use the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) politically, rather it wants to uphold the reputation of the organization as a disciplined institution, reports BSS.

"It is unfortunate that the DGFI was rampantly used as a political weapon in the past. But we don`t want to use it politically. We want that the organization to be built as a national institution by upholding its reputation," she said.

The Prime Minister said her government is maintaining the advancement of the DGFI so that the people`s confidence and trust remain intact in the force.

She said this while addressing a `Darbar` of the officials and employees of the DGFI at its headquarters at Dhaka Cantonment.

PM`s Security Advisor Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique and DGFI Director General Major General Akbar Hossain were present on the occassion.

Sheikh Hasina said she believed that the DGFI would be able to consolidate its regained glory gradually by upholding the democratic process and maintaining continuation of democracy.

She said after the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu in 1975, capturing of the state power by violating the constitution started. "And the DGFI was used rampantly for grabbing the state power and clinging to power," she said.

The Prime Minister said the image and dignity of the force was tainted before the nation for using it for capturing state power. "The trust and confidence of the people in the force were also damaged," she said.

She said her government after assuming office in 1996, stopped using the DGFI politically and took initiative to restore its lost glory.

But after coming to power, she said, the BNP-Jamaat alliance government used the DGFI as a political weapon to cling to power.

The Prime Minister said after assuming office again in 2009, her government took sincere initiatives to establish the DGFI as a responsible national institute.

She said the country could not achieve its desired socioeconomic uplift if democratic system does not exist. She said 18 coups occurred in the armed forces after 1975 and for this, the forces had to pay price for it.

Shekh Hasina said numerous officers and soldiers were killed in these coups. "Many fathers and mothers became childless, while many sisters lost their brothers in these coups," she said.

The Prime Minister said her party was always against these coups, counter coups and killing and wanted that the democratic process exists in the country.

She said the autocratic rulers in the past had played ducks and drakes with the fate of the people by capturing power. "But we would never allow anybody to play with the fate of the people," she said.

The Prime Minister asked the members of the DGFI to remain always ready to face all sorts of threats to uphold the holy constitution and maintain the continuation of the democracy.

"You will have to keep yourselves always ready by remaining united for protecting the independence and sovereignty of the country," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said she believed that the members of the DGFI would work with utmost integrity to accomplish their jobs by keeping confidence and maintaining mutual trust and sympathy, fraternity, dutifulness and discipline.

Putting emphasis on maintaining good relations with the neighbouring countries, she said the DGFI like other forces will have to be well-equipped to launch counterattack if the country is attacked by others.

Highly appreciating the role of DGFI members in maintaining law and order, the Prime Minister said the force had provided special support for smooth holding of the trial of war criminals by giving prior information.

She said the DGFI members also played brilliant role in helping the law enforcers to combat militancy.

"Apart from providing prior information to ensure security of the airports, industrial areas and important establishments, the DGFI played effective role in containing the activities of various militant outfits through providing intelligence report," she said.

Sheikh Hasina also mentioned the role of the organization along with other similar organizations in maintaining law and order in the country during various social and religious events like Eid, Puja and Pahela Boishakh.

Listing various measures of her government for the welfare of the civil and military members of the force, Sheikh Hasina said her government promoted 158 civilian officers and employees, created posts of 634 in the organogram and introduced digital technology in office management.

Amid thunderous clapping, the Prime Minister announced 30 percent special allowance for the members of DGFI which would be implemented from the current month.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is becoming self-reliant in various sectors and 90 percent of the funds of its annual budget of the country come from domestic resources now.

Underscoring the need for lessening dependency on other countries, the Prime Minister said if proper management of the limited resources of the country could be ensured, Bangladesh will no longer be lagged behind.

"Bangladesh must be a prosperous and developed country, if the democratic system could be maintained," she added.

Later, Sheikh Hasina unveiled the new monogram of the DGFI.

risingbd/May 14, 2014/Augustin Sujan