[chottala.com] Shadakalo Roadmap, MileStone 3: Mandatory Military Service

October 04, 2007

Shadakalo Roadmap, MileStone 3: Mandatory Military Service

After the August 20 civil-military confrontation, ShadaKalo invested some time in reading up on Civil-Military relationships around the world. As a result, and with our tongue firmly removed from our cheeks, here is Milestone 3 in our roadmap for Bangladesh.

Let us start with a relevant quote.

A nation that draws a demarcation between its thinking men and its fighting men will soon have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools. - Sir William Francis Butler

We had fools and thieves as leaders already. The jury is still out on the current military leadership, but from 1975 to 1990 we also had fools, cowards and thieves in the military leadership. Students have been fighting the military constantly, and on the other hand we see the police, and sometimes the military, beating up students and other civilians.

But we believe we have the solution to many problems in one stroke.

Mandatory Military Service for All

The details can be worked out, but here are the salient points.

• At the age of 18, every single able-bodied male citizen of Bangladesh will be required to serve 1000 hours in the military or one of the paramilitary branches.
• People who object to guns and violence will be given clerical jobs or other non-combat duties
  
• Without this service, no one will be eligible for government jobs, passports, etc. Bangladeshi passport holders entering Bangladesh past the age of 18 will be required to fulfill their national service commitment before exiting the country, or risk arrest.

Advantages:

• Guaranteed jobs at the age of 18, even if for only 6 months, and highly subsidized food
• Students will gain valuable insight and respect for our valiant military brothers
• Our future leaders will know exactly what the military is about: there will be no demarcation between the thinking men and the fighting men.

Disadvantages:

• Instead of petty thieves and hijackers, we will get some well-trained hijackers and muggers.

Unresolved:

• What about our female citizens? There are already female graduates of the military and naval academies, so we can foresee mandatory service for them as well
  
• Where is the budget going to come from?

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