The Department of Social Services has suspended the executive council of Retired Armed Forces Officers’ Welfare Association (RAOWA) led by Maj Khandaker Nurul Afser, and appointed a caretaker body to run the organisation for a ‘short transitional period’.
A notice issued by RAOWA caretaker body convenor Brig Gen Md Hasan Jahangir on Saturday said the Department of Social Services suspended the committee in a letter dated December 14 in response to a proposal of the Army Headquarters.
The notice said, “... in the recent past a deterioration in overall discipline, customs and practices has been observed among some of the RAOWA members which has greatly hampered the prevailing congenial atmosphere in the [RAOWA] club.”
“It has been observed with great concern that some of the members used money and wealth to exert influence and gain popularity among the RAOWA members. Some of the ill-disciplined and ill-reputed members... are found to conduct activities contrary to club discipline, norms and practices,” it added.
According to the notice, the indiscipline and unethical practices in the club have discouraged and dispirited senior members to take part in the leadership role of the association.
“Hence, it was a necessity that the unethical practices and ill-disciplined activities be strictly controlled and a congenial environment including administrative and financial accountability is restored,” it said.
The notice said most of the members of RAOWA expect that competent and relatively senior officers of the Armed Forces, particularly in rank and service, would lead the organisation.
“But due to their unwillingness, the leadership of the club has gone to the officers who are not widely accepted by larger community of RAOWA and even the civil society. As a result, office bearers of RAOWA Executive Council have failed to maintain an environment of peaceful recreation, welfare and other activities,” it added.
The notice referred to the Army Headquarters receiving many ‘incident reports’ related to RAOWA from some of the important agencies, and many retired officers expressing serious concern for the image and security of the Armed Forces and the retired community.
According to the notice, many senior retired officers expected intervention of the Army Headquarters on the matter for re-establish an atmosphere of peace, respect, military fraternity, discipline, custom and etiquette in RAOWA.
The notice said the Army Headquarters was proposed to amend the constitution of RAOWA by making a provision for setting criteria for some of the posts, particularly the chairman, secretary general and member beverage of RAOWA Executive Council.
“Under the circumstances, Army Headquarters, Quarter Master General Branch (Movement and Quartering Directorate) took up a case with the Ministry of Social Welfare through the Ministry of Defence for necessary amendment of relevant provisions of the constitution,” it said.
The notice assured the members that the caretaker body will be in chair only for a short transitional period as the law will not allow them to function for an indefinite period.
About the new constitution, it said the proposed draft of the amended constitution will be done by the caretaker body under the direct supervision of the Army Headquarters and in consultation with RAOWA members.
