DHAKA: The government is formulating a defense policy with provision for keeping all but national secrets open for public perusal.

The policy change is aimed at reducing the gap between the armed forces and the people.

A drafting committee, comprising senior officials of the Home, Defense, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, and Foreign Ministries, has been working on the policy.

A number of members of the committee told banglanews24.com.bd that the work has been progressing fast in drafting the policy.

Once finalised, the defense policy provides broad guidelines to the people for protecting the country and ensures their planned participation whenever the country needs them, according to defense experts.

A member of the drafting committee told banglanews24.com.bd that questions have been raised over the role of the military a number of times since independence of the country in 1971.

“Allegations are there that the military plotted coups unseating the respective governments,” he said, adding that the policy would help avoid such unwanted act in the future in greater interest of the country.

“There is a gap between the people and the military. Because information related to the armed forces is not open to the public. But the new policy will help reduce the gap,” the member said.

When contacted, security analyst and election commissioner Brigadier (rtd) Sakhawat Hossain welcomed the move by the government, saying that the defense policy should reflect the strategic direction as to what it would deliver.

Former army chief and BNP’s standing committee member Mahbubur Rahman said defense policy is a very important issue and absence of such a policy gave birth to lack of coordination. “Once the policy finalised, it will be clear how the armed forces will be operated.”

BDST 2215 HRS, AUGUST 8, 2010.