Bangladesh:150 ex-officers to campaign for ruling party

By SM Najmus Sakib

DHAKA, Bangladesh

Scores of ex-military officers on Tuesday pledged to work in favor of the ruling party ahead of general elections set for Dec. 30.

More than 150 retired army, air force, and navy officers met the ruling Awami League (AL) head Sheikh Hasina at his office in the capital Dhaka, vowing to help campaign, reported the state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).

They greeted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with flowers and posed for photos with Hasina and other ruling party leaders.

The retired officers will bring “more dynamism to the campaign” so Hasina can win, said retired Maj. Gen. Tarique Ahmed Siddique, the premier’s security adviser.

Ten former army officers recently joined the Kamal Hossain-led opposition party Gono Forum.

Such actions by retired officers not uncommon in Bangladesh.

Two major political parties -- the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jatiya Party (JP) -- were formed by ex-top officers. The two parties ruled Bangladesh for several governmental terms.