Developments in Bangladesh deserve serious attention

Army prepares itself for all eventualities after Gen.Waker-uz-Zaman counselled student leaders about the need to have “inclusive politics accommodating a refined Awami League” 

By P.K. Balachandran

Colombo, March 25: The situation in Bangladesh appears to have reached a critical point. Lawlessness is rampant. The Muhammad Yunus-led Interim Government is clueless about how to handle it despite being in office since August 2024.

University students, who spearheaded the movement to oust Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government last year, are still restive, suspecting that Army chief, Gen.Waker-uz-Zaman, is planning to allow a “refined Awami League” to fight elections at India’s behest.

Alarmed by the belligerent way in which some of the top student leaders are questioning the credentials of the army, its top brass went into a huddle on March 23 to take stock of the situation and mull various options including, according to some sources, Declaration of a State of Emergency.

In fact, the armed forces have already stirred themselves up using the powers given to them by the Interim Government in September last year. Last week, troops and para-military forces launched a nation-wide crackdown on crime. From Friday morning, army personnel have been patrolling key roads, setting up checkpoints, and conducting searches in Dhaka.

Islamic Radicalism

In addition to robberies, extortion, rape, molestation and industrial strikes, the rise of Islamic fundamentalism is a worry for Bangladeshis as well as the international community, especially because there is an informal alliance between the new students’ party, the National Citizens’ Party (NCP), and the fundamentalist  Jamaat-e-Islami and the Hefazat-e-Islam.

Last Friday, Islamic groups held a protest rally near the Baitul Mukarram mosque in Dhaka, condemning Israeli brutality in Palestine, attacks on Muslims in India, and the alleged plan to let Hasina’s party, the Awami League, re-enter Bangladeshi electoral politics backed by India. Apprehending trouble, army personnel carried out searches at the Baitul Mukarram mosque gate.

On Thursday, during a discussion at the State Guest House “Jamuna” the Interim Government’s Chief Advisor Dr.Muhammad Yunus said that the caretaker administration had no plan to ban the Awami League. However, those Awami Leaguers facing charges of murder and crimes against humanity would be brought to justice, he added.

But Yunus’ statement led to protests by students in Dhaka University on Thursday and Friday.

Student-Army Political Clash 

Differences had appeared between the Students party (National Citizens’ Party) and the army chief Gen.Waker-uz-Zaman also. Back in August 2024, Gen.Zaman, who is said to be a relation of the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, had facilitated her escape to India in collaboration with Indian authorities. This was at a time when student agitators were baying for her blood and were about to storm her residence.

Hasina not only escaped, but from her exile in New Delhi, began issuing statements asking her supporters to oppose the Interim Government which she accused of committing “genocide” against religious minorities, meaning the Hindus. The alleged atrocities against the Hindus had rankled India. Even US President Trump and his National Intelligence Chief Tulsi Gabbard had made statements condemning it.

Hasina’s spokesman in India used social media to tell Bangladeshis back home that she would come back to power. Reacting to this sharply, the National Citizens’ Party (NCP), the vanguard of the movement against Hasina, declared that the Awami League and other “fascist” forces would never be allowed to step into Bangladesh, let alone fight elections.

The Jamaat-i-Islami supports the NCP on this issue. But the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the only big party in Bangladesh today, is against banning political parties. Its aim is to restore a functioning democracy in Bangladesh and not set up a replica of a past repressive regime.

The Head of the Interim Government, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, is anti-Hasina and wants her tried for her “crimes”. But he too does not support the call for banning the Awami League.

Gen.Waker-uz-Zaman Hits Back

Reacting to criticisms against him and the army, Gen. Waker-uz-Zaman cautioned critics (without identifying them) that if they did not stop flinging mud at each other, fighting and killing each other, the freedom of Bangladesh and its people would be endangered. He asserted that only the army would be able to save the country. He further said that he wanted to see the army return to the barracks after restoring law and order.

“For the last seven-eight months, I’ve had enough” the anguished General told an audience of military personnel. He urged that a “free, fair and inclusive” election should be held within 18 months of the formation of the caretaker administration last August.

“I think the Caretaker Government is also moving towards that. Dr Yunus is making all efforts and working to keep the country united. We have to help him so that he’s successful,” the General added.

He acknowledged that some members of security organisations such as the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) and National Security Intelligence (NSI) were involved in “bad things” in the past, and assured that the guilty would be punished.

“But you must remember that we will do this work in such a way that these organisations are not undermined. One big reason the police force isn’t functioning is that there are cases against many of them, many are in jail. RAB, BGB, DGFI, NSI have panicked,” the General added.

Students Seek Clarification from Gen.Zaman

Meanwhile, students were getting restive about the army chief’s political remarks and wanted to know his agenda first hand. They sought a meeting with him and were given an appointment. Two leaders of the NCP, Hasnat Abdulla and Sarjis Islam, met the General at his office in Sena Bhaban on March 11.

A whole range of issues was discussed as the student leaders sought clarifications from the General. The General spoke to them as an experienced elder would speak to youngsters. His pitch was on restoring mutual understanding and accommodation among the various interests in Bangladesh rather than on sharpening conflicts. He warned that continuance of conflicts will make Bangladesh a happy hunting ground for undesirable elements.

It was towards the end of the meeting, while he was about to board his car, that Gen.Zaman indicated that a “refined Awami League” could be allowed to participate in the coming elections.

This upset Hasnat Abdullah, NCP’s chief organizer for the southern region. Hasnat took to social media to allege that pressure was being exerted to accommodate a “refined Awami League” on India’s prodding.

However, Sarjis Islam, head of the northern region, said that the General was misunderstood. His view was an “opinion” and not a “proposal” and that the opinion was stated casually at the very end of the meeting. The General had only said that “if a refined Awami League did not emerge, there would be long-term issues in the country’s political landscape.”

Another NCP leader, Nasiruddin Patwary, criticised Hasnat Abdullah for going public on what was but an informal meeting of a few NCP leaders with General. It was not formal meeting with the NCP.

However, all three leaders of the NCP reiterated their view that the Awami League should be banned.

Subsequently, the Bangladesh Army denied Hasnat’s allegations against the General. It dismissed his claims as “hilarious and an immature array of stories, nothing but a complete political stunt.”

Banning Awami League would be Counter-productive

Writer Mohammad a-Masum Molla warns in an article in The Daily Star that banning the Awami League would be unconstitutional, undemocratic, and would drive the party and its supporters underground.

That would destabilise Bangladesh. Above all it will go against the goals of the July 2024 movement- which was for broadening the democratic space not to restrict it. Furthermore, the Awami League is bigger than Sheikh Hasina or Sheik Mujib. It is linked to the spirit of the liberation movement and has consistently draw support from 35% of the electorate even in its lean days.

Army Goes into a Huddle

However, given the tense scenario and the world’s watchful eyes, a high-profile meeting of army brass was held at the Command Centre of the Bangladesh Army Headquarters on March 23, chaired by the Chief of Army Staff Gen. Wakear-Uz-Zaman.

Sources in Dhaka said that the meeting was attended in person by five Lieutenants General and several General Officers Commanding (GoCs), while others joined virtually. Additionally, all directors at the Army Headquarters, brigade commanders, and the GoCs of the 7th, 9th, 55th, and 66th Infantry Divisions from outside Dhaka were present in person.

Gen.Zaman discussed the overall situation in the country, including allegations made by Hasnat Abdullah and leaders of the National Citizens’ Party about the Army’s alleged interference in political matters. The meeting also addressed the matter of counteracting such propaganda and defining the Army’s role in responding to these accusations.

Opinions were gathered regarding the upcoming national elections and the possibility of declaring a State of Emergency, source said. The meeting resolved that on March 24, the Chief would address all levels of officers and soldiers at the Dhaka Cantonment.

International Factors

Sources said that international stakeholders in Bangladesh have been getting anxious about the deteriorating situation in the country and wanted to see a conducive environment for holding national elections, and transition to a democracy through participatory elections.

Since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, India and the US have been unhappy about the happenings in Bangladesh. India has flagged alleged attacks against Hindus and the Interim Government’s dalliance with its arch rivals, Pakistan and China. The US is worried about the resurgence of Islamic radicalism.

Interim Government head, Muhammad Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have not met so far. Media reports say that they are unlikely to meet even on the side lines of the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok on April 2 and 4. 

Bangladesh’s relations with the US are also not warm. The remarks of President Trump in October last year and those of the US National Intelligence Chief Tulsi Gabbard earlier this month in New Delhi about the alleged ill-treatment of Hindus have raised the hackles in Dhaka. Gabbard had gone further than Trump and highlighted the danger of Bangladesh’s becoming part of an international campaign to set up an “Islamic Caliphate”. This shocked the Interim government in Bangladesh which called her remarks ill-informed and completely contrary to the facts on the ground.

END