Drive dishonest officials out from security, intelligence forces: Ibrahim Khaled

The government has been advised to remove officials of uncertain integrity in security and intelligence forces to ensure a successful crackdown on militants.

Former banker Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled came up with the advice at a roundtable discussion of Sammilito Nagorik Samaj in the National Press Club on Saturday.

Referring to the distortion of history in Dhaka University anniversary souvenir, he said it could possible that police and other security forces are full of officials of uncertain integrity if a university registrar could be like this.   

Dhaka University sacked acting registrar Syed Rezaur Rahman after the souvenir he had supervised described military dictator Ziaur Rahman as Bangladesh’s first president.

“There could be such officials in security and intelligence forces. Police officials and detectives appointed can't be dishonest. Their loyalty to Bangladesh will have to be unquestionable,” Khaled said.  

Speaking about the crackdown on rebels after a failed military coup bid in Turkey, the former Krishi Bank chairman said he was not suggesting similar drive against dishonest officials in Bangladesh.

“The Turkish president (Tayyip Erdogan) wants a revolution, but his goal might not be good. Thousands are being removed.

“I am not suggesting anything like that. But we will also have to find a way,” he said.

“Thousands will have to be driven out of police, civil service, army. Keep them at home with pensions if necessary. But they cannot be in service,” Khaled said.

“Will the government be able to do this?” he asked.

The former banker also said the government should not pay heed to the BNP’s call for national unity against militancy. 

The organisation’s Chairman Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad presented the keynote paper.

Retired Major General Abdur Rashid, Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad President Retired Major General Helal Morshed Khan, Begum Rokeya University Vice-Chancellor AKM Noor-un-Nabi, Institution of Diploma Engineers President AKMA Hamid, among others, were also present.