Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP), and Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad, secretary general of the Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), along with several others in sensitive positions, are deliberately spreading anti-state propaganda about the Bangladesh Armed Forces. They have repeatedly circulated misinformation in the media, including explosive claims that the military is allegedly planning a coup against Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government. These individuals—directly mandated by Yunus—are actively attempting to pit the public against the military.
Claiming an attempted coup, Fuad stated on Friday:
“There is growing disagreement between the military leadership and the interim government on various issues. Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman has been making politically charged remarks in multiple languages. The tone of his statements is suggestive of an impending coup.”
Fuad further added on Friday, “There has never been any patriotism within the army. Your military officers went to Delhi and came back with horses as gifts — we didn’t hear a word from you then. Nobody talked about corridors or transit at that time. After losing 1,400 lives on the 24th, we gained independence once again — and now suddenly, you’ve turned into so-called patriotic soldiers? Aren’t you ashamed? Today you’re trying to tell the people what the interim government should or shouldn’t do.”
On Saturday (May 24), Fuad also accused the army chief of conspiring to sell out Bangladesh as per India’s blueprint. “Who is the army chief to question the mandate behind government decisions? Let us be clear: the people’s uprising is the real mandate. This government holds the highest level of legitimacy — every major political party in the country has backed it. To say it lacks a mandate is to push the Indian narrative.”
Alongside Fuad, NCP’s Nahid Islam, Hasnat Abdullah, and others have made similar incendiary remarks. They allege that under the leadership of the army chief, the military’s actions are becoming increasingly political and that the military is interfering in state politics.
On March 21, Nahid publicly declared:
“The military has no jurisdiction to intervene in politics. Election-related decisions are purely political, to be made by the government, the people, and existing political parties. No military or state institution has the authority to comment, plan, or make decisions in this area. Such practices must not be allowed to take root in Bangladesh.”
On the same day, Hasnat stated:
“Since August 5, we’ve met with military officials on several occasions. But the March 11 meeting was different — we were invited, and senior officers were present on the other end. We do not support military interference in political affairs. Politics must remain in the hands of politicians.”
On Friday (May 23), Dr. Yunus’s special assistant, Foyez Ahmed Tayyeb, posted on Facebook that the military is sowing division in politics. In his post, he wrote:
“The military cannot interfere in politics. In today’s world, the armies of civilized nations do not engage in political affairs. By declaring an election deadline by December, the army chief has failed to maintain jurisdictional correctness. However, the military must be shown due respect and kept within a framework of trust. No hasty or reckless action should be taken against the military. At the same time, under the guise of inclusivity, the rehabilitation of the Awami League cannot be allowed either. The Bangladesh Army is a source of our pride and trust — and no one will be allowed to undermine that.”
