Scope trap: Dispensable panic hinders path toward reform

Serious strings of mistrust between key stakeholders has gotten a new high in past week or so with growing whisper of civil and military non cooperation. Digging very deep is an absolute necessity, to evaluate the whole circumstance.

Memories of somewhat dark past has left quite a spot in military quorum - recent one being 1/11 as serious jeopardy - even if considerations of 80's are left aside. First hand thoughts from ground soldiers reveal how traumatized they are, with the whole idea of deployment for uncertain period.

To judge CAS Waker, this whole understanding - reality of military deployment and probability of hampering basic chain of command - should act as very significant parameter. Maybe, recent turmoil have acted as serious flashpoint, but consistency of his responsible delivery of speeches about maintaining law-and-order in parallel to chain-of-command is praiseworthy at the very least.

Zia Hasan, a popular columnist, has broken through with the news of new turmoil involving another 4-star personnel, which may have triggering effect, or maybe not so, behind the saga of 'Officers' Address'. Not so long ago, another tasty gossip involving political-party backed general had been played out. So as there exists an importance of keeping trust between political head and military head, but the total panic that going around might just be very artificial and may end up being not so serious at all.

Another senior statesman from military service have reiterated the necessity of calming, steady heads in this vulnerable political reality. As crystal as he could be, he uttered the need of commendation toward all stakeholders of this land for avoiding bloodbath, comparing this whole instability being close in stature to that of after '75, if not worse.

As much as you understand this complex commanding structure behind various struggles, but Army can't run away from recent past. You can't just withdraw your hand by saying accused army officer - who shot at revolutionary crowd in capital Dhaka- deflecting his involvement around BGB deployment. And military answers is very obviously due, why unlawful killings in hands of deployed army platoon had happened, on 5th August itself.

The commanding structure within military have always been quite complex, and it remains workable within its own vicinity, for it's architectural functionality. The whole notion of elongation caretaker structure - as faulty as it is - is not very failsafe, as strong participation of military occupation is deemed necessary which would generate enough challenge from within military. Military personnel don't like this idea of deployment outside of barracks for uncertainly long period, and they are not at fault for being very overprotective from their past traumatic outcome.

This occupation is not designed, simply put, to handle civil land for long period. Though questions must be raising about military takes on political mishaps, but commendations are due for averting even worse turmoils. Even guessing those past days affecting decision making in recent scenarios, on the back of not issuing emergency between 5th and 8th August, might not be very absurd.

The very essence of military structure, as it remains structured, interprets any defamation against its chief being an attack against the whole institution. And it needs the vocal affirmation, that however late it happened, CAS sided against fascists, avoided lot more casualties, and chose civil power over military intervention for the nation in it's most fragile situation.

When building this nation 2.0, would it not be unwise to sideline any honest patriot? Does this defamation campaign, even derogatory far-fetched talks cheering someone's ousting, pose any sane justification?