On 5 August 2024, around 2:45 pm, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina left the country in an army helicopter. Exactly one hour later, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman said that ‘Hasina has resigned. Now we will take care of the country.’ The current army chief
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The army has the biggest role to play in what will happen next in Bangladesh. They will pave the way for Sheikh Hasina’s return, will they run the government themselves or will form a new government by holding elections. However, the army’s hand is not very clean in the history of Bangladesh.
An hour after Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina left the country, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman held a press conference.
In Bhaskar Explainer, we will know what the Bangladesh Army is like. When did it try to gain power and what will the Army do in the current scenario…
Bangladesh was formed after the partition of Pakistan in 1971. The Mukti Bahini which fought for independence became the Bangladesh Army. Directly and indirectly, after the formation of Bangladesh, the army interfered in the politics of the country for the next 15 years. The army staged a coup 3 times…
First Coup: Assassination of Banglabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
- As the years passed after the independence of Bangladesh, differences within the Bangladeshi army grew and this turned into a coup in 1975. In fact, the Bengali soldiers who did not join the Mukti Bahini started facing discrimination.
- These same soldiers killed 17 members of the family including Banglabandhu Mujibur Rahman on 15 August 1975. His daughter Sheikh Hasina survived because she was abroad.
- With this incident, the first coup took place in Bangladesh under the leadership of Major Sayed Farooq Rahman, Major Khandker Abdul Rashid and politician Mushtaq Ahmed. Mushtaq Ahmed was made the President with the consent of the army. General Ziaur Rahman was made the Army Chief on 24 August 1975. General Ziaur Rahman seized power in November.
Second coup: He put a gun on the President’s chest and said – write your resignation
- On 24 March 1982, soldiers loyal to Army Chief General Hussain Muhammad Irshad put a gun on President Abdus Sattar’s chest and asked him to write his resignation. The President said, “I order you to leave this place immediately.” When the soldiers stood firm instead of leaving, Sattar understood that it would be better to resign.
- Three days after the coup, Supreme Court Justice Abul Fazal Muhammad Ahsanuddin Chowdhury was appointed President by Ershad. Ershad announced that he had staged the coup to remove the corrupt BNP government. After this, the Bangladesh Parliament was dissolved and all political parties were banned.
- To appear as a well-wisher of the country, Ershad first operated the government as an administrator and became the President in 1983. In fact, Army Chief Ershad told President Abdus Sattar that the army should also be involved in the government. The President refused. After this, Ershad rebelled.
Third coup: Caretaker government removed from power
- Army Chief General Moeen U. Ahmed carried out a military coup on 11 January 2007. The caretaker government was removed from power by amending the Constitution. After this, Fakhruddin Ahmed was made the head of the government.
- President Iajuddin Ahmed had to run the presidency at gunpoint during the military rule. The military government held parliamentary elections on 29 December 2008. After this, Sheikh Hasina’s party Awami League got 230 seats. In this way, the rule of the army ended in 2008.
Bangladesh’s current Army Chief General Waqar is close to Sheikh Hasina
Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman has been in the Bangladesh Army for the last 39 years. After graduating from the 13th BMA Long Course at the Bangladesh Military Academy, he obtained a master’s degree in defense studies from the National University of Bangladesh. Apart from this, he has also obtained an MA degree in Defense Studies from King’s College, London.
He was promoted as Lieutenant General in November 2020. He has commanded the Infantry Brigade, School of Infantry and Tactics and Army Headquarters. Waqar has also served in United Nations peacekeeping missions.
Before taking over as the Army Chief, he was the Chief of General Staff of the Army for about 6 months. On 23 June 2024, he became the Chief of Army Staff i.e. the Chief of Army of Bangladesh.
Waqar has been very close to Sheikh Hasina. According to media reports, Begum Sarahnaz Kamalika Rahman, wife of Bangladesh Army Chief, is the daughter of Sheikh Hasina’s uncle Mustafizur Rahman. Mustafizur Rahman had handled the reins of the army from 1997 to 2000. During this time, Sheikh Hasina was also the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
3 scenarios are emerging as to what the Bangladesh Army can do next…
1. Bangladesh army takes power
- After Sheikh Hasina left the country on August 5, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman said, “We will form an interim government, we will now take care of the country. Those who were killed in the movement will be given justice.”
- On the pretext of getting justice for the students, the army can take over the power itself and postpone the elections citing various chaos. However, the people of Bangladesh are angry right now. In such a situation, it is unlikely that the army will remain in power for a long time.
2. The army should prepare the way for the return of Sheikh Hasina after the matter cools down
- Experts believe that the army in Bangladesh does not want to take political power into its hands at the moment.
- The army should keep the command in its hands for a few days until the public’s anger subsides. After that, it should get Sheikh Hasina back on the Sri Lanka model.
- Indications of this are found in the fact that Hasina fled in an army helicopter. The army chief himself has announced her resignation. The army chief is close to her and till now he has not clearly spoken about holding elections.
3. Army should form a caretaker government and hold elections in 3 months
- While addressing the nation, Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar said that an interim government will be formed in the country. For this, he has also talked to different parties.
- This caretaker government can hold elections in 90 days after the situation becomes normal. After a meeting on Monday, Bangladesh President Mohammad Shahabuddin has ordered the release of Bangladesh’s main opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia from jail. This means that if elections are held, Khaleda Zia’s party BNP will participate in it.
- In the elections, BNP can benefit from the public’s anger against Sheikh Hasina. In such a situation, as a change, the public may give BNP a chance to form the government. In this scenario, Khaleda Zia or her son can become the PM.
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