Naval Headquarters' clarification
The Daily Star received a clarification of the Naval Headquarters (NHQ) through the ISPR on the article 'Decommissioning and re-commissioning of a navy ship' published in its "Strategic Issues' page on 26th August.
We publish below the clarification along with the author's reply:
The attention of Bangladesh Naval Headquarters has been drawn to the article titled 'Decommissioning and re-commissioning of a Navy ship' published in the Daily Star on 26 august 2007. After going through the article, it is revealed that some of the issues pertaining to BN Ship KHALID BIN WALID written by a retired naval officer who is a freelance writer namely Commodore M Khurshed Alam, ndc, psc, (Retd) is ambiguous and not factual. The article requires clarification and consent of the relevant service (Bangladesh Navy) prior to articulation. Our office reiterates its commitment in favour of writing unbiased and unexaggerated topic on defence matters. In this context, it is to remind you that the cost estimation of the missile system of BNS KHALID BIN WALID is not correct as stated by the writer in his article. We would like to inform you that NHQ does not agree to some of the personal opinion of the writer as stated in the article. It may be further mentioned that the freelance writer was sent on premature retirement by the former government owing to definite allegations related to misappropriation. Hence, all the questions raised by the writer in the article are purely grievance oriented pointing towards the authority (former government) which was responsible to sack him. Therefore, it would be prudent to verify (from the respective service) any such content prior to articulation. This kind of ambiguous information without verification is misleading and is bound to create confusion about our patriotic defence force.
Author's reply
The clarification issued by ISPR quoting NHQ titled "Clarification of Navy on decommissioning and re-commissioning of a navy ship published on 26th of August 2007" has not contradicted any of the irregularities and breach of rules and regulations in the whole episode as pointed out in the article and hence accepted to be facts. The clarification states that some of the issues covered by the writer are "ambiguous and not factual which requires clarification and consent…" but it has not been pointed out as to what is ambiguous and not factual about the issues dealt with in the article. Other than the price of the missile, which the writer has mentioned as "alleged", the NHQ has not produced any documents or cited any rules or regulations in their clarification to prove that the issues discussed were baseless or intended to mislead. Since most of the matters discussed are related to the existing Rules and Regulations of the Bangladesh Navy, it is ridiculous to say that these were the personal opinion of the writer. It is not understood how the NHQ can term these as personal grievances of the writer aimed at the former Govt., when some of the issues also relate to the present Govt., like renaming the ship and not investigating non-function of newly acquired missile system and why the ship was decommissioned. Thus it is obvious that the aim is to vilify the writer rather than to uphold the Navy Rules/Regulations. As for the NHQ allegation of misappropriation against the writer, it is totally unfounded. The writer did not face any court of enquiry nor has he been ever charged by any other organization of the Govt. Rather he was appointed chairmen of Mongla Port Authority soon after his retirement, which clearly belies the claim of the NHQ about the grounds for his retirement. The Gazette notification issued by the Govt. / Ministry of Defence in 2002 also does not support the NHQ allegation. It is evident that the clarification has been issued to defame the writer personally and he reserves the right to due legal process unless specific document to support allegations of misappropriation are produced or an apology is tendered withdrawing such allegations.
The clarification issued by ISPR quoting NHQ titled "Clarification of Navy on decommissioning and re-commissioning of a navy ship published on 26th of August 2007" has not contradicted any of the irregularities and breach of rules and regulations in the whole episode as pointed out in the article and hence accepted to be facts. The clarification states that some of the issues covered by the writer are "ambiguous and not factual which requires clarification and consent…" but it has not been pointed out as to what is ambiguous and not factual about the issues dealt with in the article. Other than the price of the missile, which the writer has mentioned as "alleged", the NHQ has not produced any documents or cited any rules or regulations in their clarification to prove that the issues discussed were baseless or intended to mislead. Since most of the matters discussed are related to the existing Rules and Regulations of the Bangladesh Navy, it is ridiculous to say that these were the personal opinion of the writer. It is not understood how the NHQ can term these as personal grievances of the writer aimed at the former Govt., when some of the issues also relate to the present Govt., like renaming the ship and not investigating non-function of newly acquired missile system and why the ship was decommissioned. Thus it is obvious that the aim is to vilify the writer rather than to uphold the Navy Rules/Regulations. As for the NHQ allegation of misappropriation against the writer, it is totally unfounded. The writer did not face any court of enquiry nor has he been ever charged by any other organization of the Govt. Rather he was appointed chairmen of Mongla Port Authority soon after his retirement, which clearly belies the claim of the NHQ about the grounds for his retirement. The Gazette notification issued by the Govt. / Ministry of Defence in 2002 also does not support the NHQ allegation. It is evident that the clarification has been issued to defame the writer personally and he reserves the right to due legal process unless specific document to support allegations of misappropriation are produced or an apology is tendered withdrawing such allegations.
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