Labour and Employment Adviser Brig Gen (Retd) r. M Sakhawat Hossain said on Thursday that Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman does not speak without a clear understanding of the situation.
The adviser made this comment in response to reporters’ questions regarding the army chief’s recent statements on various issues. Sakhawat was addressing the media during a briefing on the Advisory Council Committee’s review of the labour and business situation in industries at Beximco Industrial Park.
On Tuesday, General Waker-Uz-Zaman had remarked, “At the end of the day, we must prioritise the country and the nation over engaging in conflicts. If you resort to mudslinging among yourselves, the independence and sovereignty of both the country and the nation will be jeopardised. I am issuing a warning—don’t say later that I didn’t caution you.” The army chief made these statements while speaking at an event at Raowa Club in the capital to mark National Army Martyrs Day.
When asked about the army chief’s comments, Adviser Sakhawat said, “The army chief is a highly respected figure to me. He leads an army and doesn’t speak without fully grasping the matter. You can interpret the rest yourselves. From what I know of him, he is a very straightforward man. I have immense respect for him. I can’t elaborate on what he meant or didn’t mean—that’s entirely up to him.”
When a reporter inquired whether the army chief could address the chief adviser in such a manner, Sakhawat responded, “You’ll have to ask him.”