Meetings in Bangladesh Highlight Tensions Between Officials
New Delhi: Recent discussions in Bangladesh have revealed significant disagreements between General Waker Uz Zaman, the Secretary of Bangladesh, and Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor of the interim government.
A high-level meeting regarding law and order took place at the Jamuna state guesthouse in Dhaka, chaired by Yunus. Attendees included foreign advisor MD Touhid Hossain, national security adviser Khalilur Rahman, and retired Lt. Gen. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.
Military representatives were also present, with Army Secretary Waker Uz Zaman, Navy Secretary Admiral Mohammad Nazmur Hassan, and Air Secretary Hasan Mahmoud Khan among them.
Reports indicate a ban on meetings, rallies, and processions related to Sena Niwas, the Army Chief’s residence, due to concerns that Muslim hardliners might utilize student protests for their agenda. Additionally, a planned visit by the Army Secretary to the United States earlier this month was canceled.
Speculation surrounding the situation includes an announcement made on May 20 for all “available officers” in Dhaka, issued by General Zaman.
This unease also relates to Lt. Gen. Mohammad Faizur Rahman, the quartermaster general, who is viewed as sympathetic to Islamist and pro-Pakistani sentiments. He’s rumored to maintain a connection with Pakistan’s interservice intelligence, acting as an ally to Yunus within the Army.
Tensions between the Army Chief and the Quartermaster stem from a recent closed-door meeting involving Khalilur Rahman, which occurred while the Army Chief was away on official visits to Russia and Croatia.
Differences have also emerged over the idea of establishing a “humanitarian corridor” to facilitate logistics to Rakhine state in Myanmar. The Yunus-led government aimed to persuade the Army Chief to support this initiative, seeking diplomatic assistance, but the Army Chief remained unyielding.
The Bangladeshi army has been on alert for potential instability and is working to preserve law and order.
On May 20, the spokesperson for Bangladesh’s Interservices announced a special operation at the Bashantek army camp, revealing the recovery of firearms and equipment during the raid. The operation was based on intelligence gathered about criminal activities sourced from the camp.
According to the statement, gang members attempted to evade arrest during the operation, but the army intervened. The army emphasized its commitment to public safety and urged citizens to report criminal behavior to nearby military or law enforcement authorities.
Meanwhile, the Yunus-led interim government faces accusations of delaying elections and not establishing a fully elected governing body. There are also claims that it moved to restrict the Bangladesh Awami League and other leading political parties, igniting protests regarding the appointment of Mohammad Azaz as the administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation.
The Nationalist Party of Bangladesh noted that the current interim regime seems to be overshadowed by a separate group led by several figures allegedly linked to a clandestine government. One such figure is Nurul Islam Bhuiyan Choton, with Azaz among the notable members.
A Bangladeshi researcher expressed surprise upon discovering Azaz’s past connections to the banned organization Hiz Yut Taharil, which faced restrictions in Bangladesh, and highlighted his previous arrests while associated with them.
