 "Is Bangladesh's army running out of patience with Muhammad Yunus?")
Is the Bangladesh army running out of patience with Muhammad Yunus?
There are rumours that the powerful army chief Waqar Zaman is at odds with Yunus, who is leading the interim government.
The two men, who had come together after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, are seemingly split on a number of issues including the need for elections to be held at the earliest, law and order and the creation of a corridor for Rohingya refugees.
But what happened? What do we know?
Let’s take a closer look
What happened?
There are reports that the interim Bangladesh government has sacked its foreign secretary less than eight months after he was appointed.
Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin – who was appointed as 27th Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh in September 2024 – had opposed the initiative of a “humanitarian corridor” and “safe zone” for Rohingya refugees that Yunus and his National Security Advisor (NSA) Khalilur Rahman have been pushing.
Jashim Uddin’s views are in sync with top military brass who fear the creation of Rakhine corridor to Myanmar could compromise the country’s sovereignty without giving Dhaka any strategic benefits.
Indeed, Bangladesh army chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman at a meeting of army officers on Wednesday rejected just such a notion, according to Economic Times.
Zaman, speaking at the Army Head Quarters (AHQ) in Dhaka, termed such a corridor ‘completely unacceptable’.
Zaman also slammed the interim government for making key decisions without consulting the military.
“Bangladesh needs political stability. This is only possible through an elected government, not by unelected decision-makers,” Zaman was quoted as saying at a meet of officers on Wednesday, as per Dhaka newspaper Prothom Alo.
“There will be no corridor. The sovereignty of Bangladesh is not negotiable,” Zaman added, calling the idea “risky and sensitive.”
“Only a political government elected by the people can make such decisions.”
Zaman also insisted that parliamentary elections be held by December.
He said only an elected government could determine the future of Bangladesh and not an unelected regime.
Zaman also said an elected government should be in power by January 1, 2026.
“The army is meant for defending the nation. Not for policing. We must return to barracks after elections,” General Zaman was quoted as saying by Telegraph India.
The differences between Zaman and Yunus were also on full display earlier this week at a high level meet in Dhaka.
As per NDTV, the meeting at the State Guest House Jamuna was chaired by Yunus.
Zaman, Navy chief Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan and Air Force chief Air Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan were among the top military officials in attendance.
Home adviser Lieutenant General (retired) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain and national security adviser Khalilur Rahman were some of the top government officials present.
Sources confirmed that Yunus and Zaman were at odds over the corridor and giving aid to Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
The interim government even tried to enlist foreign diplomats to persuade Zaman, but with no success.
According to the outlet, things are also tense between Zaman and Yunus over Lieutenant General Mohammad Faizur Rahman.
Rahman, the Quartermaster General (QMG), is seen as pro-Islamist and pro-Pakistani.
Rahman, who is said to be close to Pakistan’s powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), is said to be Yunus’ man.
How Zaman vs Yunus battle evolved
As per Business Today, while Zaman initially supported the interim government after Haseena’s ouster – chalking it up to the doctrine of necessity – things devolved after Yunus made no move to conduct elections.
“This government is only supposed to be there to organise a free, fair and inclusive election,” senior journalist Subir Bhaumik told the outlet. “In the last nine months, General Waqar has noticed that Yunus is in no hurry to organise any election.”
Lieutenant General Kamrul Hassan, who is Yunus’ military adviser, has become another thorn in Zaman’s side.
Hassan, who met with US Chargé d’Affaires Tracey Ann Jacobson, reportedly wanted to become the next Bangladesh army chief – outraging top army brass.
While Zaman tried to dismiss Hassan on May 11, Yunus is said to have vetoed the order.
As per the outlet, Yunus’ release of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) mutineers – 300 of whom were convicted for murdering 57 army officers and 16 others in February 2009 – also stirred up the armed forces.
While Islamist groups have backed the release of these men, many within the army including Zaman have been left distressed.
The release of around 400 convicted Islamist radicals including Ansarullah Bangla Team chief Jashimuddin Rahmani has further upset the applecart.
Yunus has also banned Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League from contesting polls – a move assailed by critics.
“How can you throw out the most important political party and then say you’re holding inclusive elections?” Bhaumik wondered.
Zaman, incidentally, was appointed by Hasina and is in fact a distant relative of hers, as per Business Today.
He also served as a principal staff officer in the armed forces division under Hasina.
What happens next?
Sources told India Today that Yunus might attempt to replace Zaman with Hassan.
Yunus is said to be working on a constitutional proclamation to nullify Bangladesh’s Constitution.
The proclamation could result in the post of president, who commands the armed forces, being done away with.
Waqar has reportedly sought to prepare for this by seeking the support of the heads of the navy, air force, and intelligence
In fact, the chiefs of the air force and the navy were also present at Zaman’s officer meeting on Wednesday.
Zaman during the meeting even praised the pointed the 1972 Constitution of Bangladesh and said that large-scale changes were undesirable.
The general said that he is not able to understand the proposed “July Declaration” and further touched upon the “meaningless and hollow thought” on the removal of the president – clearly a warning shot at Yunus.
According to Economic Times, those that follow Bangladesh think that Zaman may very well take “stringent steps”.
Yunus’ press secretary has refused to comment on the remarks.
“We were not among the audience when General Zaman made his comments. It is better to ask the army,” Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to Yunus, told The Telegraph Online.
India has urged Bangladesh to hold free and fair elections at the earliest.
What about Jashim Uddin?
While Bangladesh has denied that Jashim Uddin is being sacked, there is a report that Asad Alam Siam, the ambassador to the United States, as the new foreign secretary, has been appointed the new foreign secretary.
As per Business Standard, Jashim Uddin in April had demanded a formal apology from Pakistan for its conduct during the 1971 war.
Jashim Uddin had also called on Islamabad to pay Dhaka $4.52 billion as its share of undivided assets and foreign aid funds.
He also demanded $200 million – foreign aid from countries & agencies – to then East Pakistan during the extremely deadly Bhola cyclone.
His insistence on bringing up the issue is said to have created frustration amongst Bangladeshi and Pakistani officials.
It is also leading some to wonder whether this had anything to do with his sacking.
The development comes in the backdrop of India on Saturday imposing port restrictions on the import of certain goods, such as readymade garments and processed food items, from Bangladesh.
This came after Yunus made a controversial statement in China that India’s seven northeastern states, which share a nearly 1,600 km border with Bangladesh, are landlocked and have no way to reach the ocean except through his country.
In his address at a business event in which he had also said that Bangladesh was the “only guardian” of the Indian Ocean in the region, Yunus had also invited China to send goods through Bangladesh across the world.
The comments did not go down well in New Delhi. They also drew sharp reactions from political leaders in India across party lines.
With inputs from agencies
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