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The morning after

Even more important, we have received a fine example of how a civilian government and the armed forces can work together in harmony, under the authority of the prime minister (who holds the defense portfolio), when the nation's security is under threat.

Zafar Sobhan
IT'S over. As 1 write this piece it looks as though the BDR mutiny that had brought the capital to a stand-still for the past two days has finally come to a close, and that the rebelling jawans have surrendered unconditionally, arc handing in their weapons, and freeing all hostages.
In the end, the threat of a full scale offensive by regular army units, with tanks moved into position and air-strikes reportedly prepared for, appears to have made the mutineers realise that further resistance was a dead-end street.
The fear was that, with so much blood on their hands, the rebels would calculate that they had little more to lose, and would want to go out with guns blazing. We can all surely be glad that it didn't come to that
Kudos must go to the government for its mature handling and resolution of the issue.
Many have already criticised the general amnesty that was offered to the mutineers by the prime minister, but I think, all things considered, that it was the wise and prudent thing to do, rather than to order a storming of a compound with several thousand armed rebels and an unknown number of hostages in the heart of the nation's capital.
Anything that would get the rebels to lay down their arms and surrender without the risk of a massacre had to be worth a shot. The government's priority had to be the quickest and most peaceful resolution of the crisis possible.
In any event, a general amnesty does not mean amnesty for those who were the ringleaders of the mutiny or who were directly involved in the killings and other atrocities.
A general amnesty, as I understand the term, would only absolve rebel jawans of guilt for taking part in the mutiny, not for
any crimes committed during the mutiny.
All things considered, it seemed to me like the only possible practical and practicable resolution to the crisis. If the worstcase scenario had occurred and the army had been forced to storm the compound, leading to unimaginable death and destruction, tire prime minister would at least have had the satisfaction of knowing that she had done everything in her power to resolve the crisis peacefully.
1 thought that Sheikh Hasina's speech yesterday afternoon was very prime ministerial and hit all the right notes, and it was both her sincerity and resolution of purpose that played the key role in resolving the crisis.
When she told the mutineers that she would ensure that they were treated fairly, coming from her, it meant something to them. It is at times like these that her true worth as a national leader comes through and we can see that she has developed into a leader of considerable stature in the eyes of the public.
I also think that some kudos is due the leader of the opposition and the opposition political parties for showing admirable restraint and solidarity, and not fanning the flames with intemperate or inflammatory comments.
The crisis has certainly shown us the importance of political leaders who are trusted and respected by the people. I think that our political leaders, including, as 1 have said, the opposition, have acquitted themselves very creditably.
Hopefully their response to this crisis signals a recognition of the maturity both sides will need to demonstrate if our democracy Is to function better than before, and will usher in a period of heightened responsibility and statesmanship among our leaders.
The army, too, as far as I can tell, has acted with admirable restraint and at all times under the authority of the civilian government. Let us now hope that cool heads prevail, and that as the full details of the atrocities committed during the siege become clearer, that they will still exercise restraint and professionalism, and that they will heed the prime minister's admonitions to not take the law into their own hands.
If there is anything positive to be taken away from this tragedy, it is the fact that both the government and the armed forces have acquitted themselves commendably throughout
Even more important, we have received
a fine example of how a civilian government and the armed forces can work together in harmony, under the authority of the prime minister (who holds the defense portfolio), when the nation's security is under threat.
Hopefully, when the dust has settled and we return to the everyday business of life, we will find that both our political leaders and the armed forces have received a timely reminder as to their duty to the country, and that we are entering a period of greater political maturity and conscientiousness on the part of all concerned.
Zafar Sobtan b Assistant Editor The Da»y Star