RECENTLY the National Security Council (NSC) is a much talked about issue. The national security process of Bangladesh has been neglected for the last 36 years since the independence in 1971. No effective process so far was followed to design such need; the country has even experienced long time insurgency in CHT, repeated border skirmishes with the BSF, and grenade attacks in various times including coordinated countrywide explosions and bombings by the suicide squad of the JMB. Today the existence of NSC is a must to combat terrorism.

National security refers to the requirement to maintain the survival of the nation-state through the use of economic, military and political power and the exercise of diplomacy. NSC is a body of the executive branch of the government responsible to coordinate policies on national security issues and advising the head of the government accordingly. It is often headed by a national security advisor with assistance from senor officials of military, diplomatic, intelligence, law enforcement and other agencies. The functions and responsibilities of NSC of any particular country should not be amalgamated with the functions and responsibilities of Security Council of the UN and any such council under any military dictatorship.

In USA, since its inception under President Truman, the NSC is the principal forum of the President for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and cabinet officials. It also serves as his principal arm for coordinating national security and foreign policy among various government agencies. It was established by the National Security Act of 1947 and in 1949 it was placed under the Executive Office of the President, and is chaired by him. The Vice President, Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Defense, and Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs are its regular attendees. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the statutory military advisor and the Director of National Intelligence is the intelligence advisor to the Council. The Chief of Staff to the President, Counsel to the President, and the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy are invited to attend any NSC meeting. The Attorney General and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget are invited to attend meetings pertaining to their responsibilities. When appropriate, the heads of other executive departments and agencies, as well as other senior officials, are invited to attend meetings of the NSC.

In Israel the NSC was estab-

lished in 1999 during Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Other than strategic advice and security recommendation it carries out long term planning of security approaches and maintains relation with national security elements of selected friendly countries. Comprised of five wings, i.e. security policy, foreign policy, society and infrastructure policy, counter-terrorism, and organizations and operations, the NSC has both legal and financial advisors. Its recommendations are not obligatory to the government.

The NSC in Russian Federation is a consultative body, chaired by the President and comprised of key ministers and agency heads for coordinating and integrating national security policy.

In Turkey, the NSC is an advisory organ, comprised of selected cabinet members, the Chief of the General Staff and few Commanders of the Armed Forces, and chaired by the President.

In Pakistan, the NSC is a consultative body and chaired by the President and having 13 members, e.g. Prime Minister (head of the government), Chairman of the Senate, Speaker of the National Assembly, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Chief Ministers of the Provinces, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of the Staff Committee, and Chiefs of Staffs of three Services. It serves as a forum for consulta-

tion for the President as well as the government on matters of national security including the sovereignty, integrity, defense, and security of the State and crisis management in general. The NSC in Pakistan may also formulate recommendations.

In China, the Central Military Commission (CMC) with two wings, i.e. state CMC and party CMC, and both is chaired by the President. The state CMC created in 1982 is elected by and theoretically reports to the National People's Congress but is in practice autonomous. The party CMC is elected by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and is subordinate to the Politburo of the Party (the highest decision making body of the Communist Party).

In Iran, the NSC was established in 1989 to determine the national security policy and is chaired by the President of the Republic.

In India, the NSC was established in 1998, which is the apex agency looking into the political, economic, energy and strategic security concerns. The threetiered organization of the NSC comprises the Strategic Policy Group, the National Security Advisory Board and a Secretariat represented by the Joint Intelligence Committee. Besides the National Security Advisor, the Ministers of Defense, External Affairs, Home and Finance, and

the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission are members of the NSC. Other members may be invited to attend its monthly meetings, as and when required.

Bangladesh needs to constitute the NSC with the head of the Government as it's chief to work as the coordinating body in the battle against terrorism or for any other security issues. Ministers and secretaries for home and foreign affairs, chiefs of three services, heads of both NSI and DGFI, and principal secretary to the head of the government may be the other members of the committee. The committee should sit together with a regular interval, and consult and take suggestion from the civil society on any important aspect.

The NSC of Bangladesh needs to be constituted and structured to facilitate serious deliberation of strategic threats and problems in an independent and objective manner on a full time basis. This should be left to the military hierarchy, strategic think tanks and a NSC Secretariat composed of professional, full time strategic and intelligence analysts and expert consultants. Finally, the NSC should be legislatively institutionalized as a constitutional body so that there is a continuum in national security decisions.

The author is a freelancer.