Dhaka/IBNS: Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman has admitted that there is a serious problem in his country owing to a rapidly worsening law and order situation, media reports said.

He blamed the situation on the political turmoil which has led to a sociopolitical crisis.

The army chief said the situation is so dire now, that citizens are constantly "preoccupied with vilifying each other".

Speaking at an armed forces function, Gen Zaman, as quoted by NDTV, said: "The anarchy we have witnessed is of our own making."

He slammed the "extremely inefficient" police force, claiming that officers across the board - from senior to junior ranks were scared as their peers were either facing judicial cases or were jailed.

"There is an urgent need for national unity and institutional discipline," the army chief said, adding that rapidly growing infighting in society has put Bangladesh's sovereignty at immense risk.

"If you can't move beyond your differences and continue meddling and fighting among yourselves, and if you continue to injure and kill one another, the independence and integrity of the country will be at risk - I warn you," the army chief said in an appeal to Bangladeshi citizens.

He said: "I have no other aspirations. For the past seven to eight months, I have had enough."

"Since stakeholders are busy accusing each other, miscreants find the situation favourable. They believe they can get away with anything," he said, without naming any political groups or factions.

Gen Zaman noted that the gains of the student-led revolution that toppled the Sheikh Hasina government last August were at risk too.

General Waker-Uz-Zaman had taken over as Bangladesh's army chief after Hasina fled to India amid widespread protests in the country.

Ever since the toppling of the Hasina government, Bangladesh has seen a surge in violence, vandalism, rioting, and other forms of criminal activities.

The situation has forced security forces to launch an offensive called 'Operation Devil Hunt' under which 8,600 people were arrested in less than 3 weeks. Bangladesh's interim government has accused these individuals of attempting to "destabilise the country".