Opinion
Plans were made to overthrow Sheikh Hasina’s government in Mirpur and Mohakhali Defense Officers Housing Societies
On the morning of August 5, 2024, three groups of retired military officers supporting BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami gathered at Mirpur Defense Officers Housing Society (a residential area for retired military officers) and Mohakhali DOHS. One group headed towards ECB Square in Dhaka, another towards Jahangir Gate, and the third group crossed Mohakhali Rail Gate and headed towards Banani DOHS, where another group was waiting for the retired officers.
These marches, which were attended by 40-50 people, chanted the national slogan “We want military rule now.”
Brigadier General (retd) Sakhawat Hossain, who until recently was an advisor to the unconstitutional government of Muhammad Yunus, was among the group heading towards Jahangir Gate. Brigadier General Ahmed Tanvir Mazhar Siddiqui, the then head of counterintelligence at the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), called him and said, “Sir, you have entered the sniper zone, do not proceed further.”
In a recent television interview on April 6, another advisor, Asif Nazrul, said that eight days before August 5, 2024, an army officer had warned him that snipers had already taken up positions in various parts of Dhaka.
Asif Nazrul said the army officer visited his home, but did not reveal the officer’s identity.
Anti-discrimination student movement spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan and others called for a “March towards Ganabhaban” on August 6, but brought it forward to August 5. A nationwide curfew was imposed. Barricades were set up at entrances to Dhaka, manned by artillery units, to prevent BNP-Jamaat supporters and anti-government protesters from entering the capital.
Brigadier Rafiq was in charge at the Uttara entrance. His subordinate soldiers announced on loudspeakers: “There is no curfew, you can enter Dhaka.” The excited people were initially confused and suspected it was a trap. Later, reassured by the soldiers’ welcoming behavior, they entered Dhaka.
On the night of August 4, 2024, the then security advisor to the BNP Chairperson, Major General (retd.) Fazle Elahi Akbar, contacted Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman. Major General Akbar met him the next morning. General Zaman tasked him with contacting BNP and other “anti-government” political leaders and bringing them to the cantonment. At the same time, General Zaman spoke to Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi.
General Zaman assumed the charge of the army chief on June 24, 2024. He is the husband of Sheikh Hasina’s cousin, Komalika Zaman. Komalika is the daughter of former army chief General (retd) Mustafizur Rahman.
A week later, on 1 July 2024, a peaceful quota reform movement began at Dhaka University. Under the banner of “ordinary students”, activists from Jamaat-e-Islami’s student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, participated in the movement, demanding the abolition of special quotas in government jobs for children of freedom fighters. On 16 July, Abu Sayeed was shot dead by “unknown assailants” in Rangpur, after which the movement turned violent.
Abu Saeed was alleged to be a secret member of the Jamaat-e-Islami suicide squad. An autopsy showed that he died of excessive bleeding from a blow to the back of the head, but the blame was placed on the police.
The leaders of the movement, including anti-discrimination student leaders Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, maintained contact with some DGFI officials. The course of the quota movement was controlled under the leadership of the then DGFI Director General Major General (retd) Hamidul Haque and with the help of a group of ambitious army officers.
Major General Haque remained as the head of DGFI for a short time after August 8, 2024 (the day Yunus assumed office), but was later replaced by Major General Faizur Rahman, who served until October 14, 2024. He was then replaced by Major General Jahangir Alam.
A few months later, Major General Haque mysteriously disappeared from Bangladesh. He is currently believed to be in a Western country. It is alleged that they were in contact with officials at the US embassy in Baridhara.
Indirect contact with student leaders was sometimes made through Al Jazeera journalist Zulkarnain Sayer, who is known to be close to the DGFI. Evidence of these contacts was in the possession of intelligence officers attached to the National Telecommunication Monitoring Center (NTMC).
Bangladesh police used rubber bullets and pellet shots to suppress the quota movement. They did not have sniper weapons or 7.62 mm caliber bullets. However, from July 16 to August 8, 2024, more than a hundred unidentified people were killed in long-range shootings by unknown assailants. Most of the victims were shot in the back, suffering severe head injuries and bleeding to death. Indiscriminate shooting and targeted killings were carried out to create public anger against the police and the government.
Without any proper investigation, the blame was placed on the police and the Sheikh Hasina government and a narrative was created.
However, what has been ignored, intentionally or otherwise, since August 5, 2024 is the role of a large number (certainly in the triple digits) of military officers.
Beneficiary sources said it was treason because these officers had waged war against the state. Neither the interim government of Muhammad Yunus, formed after August 5, nor the intelligence agencies took any steps to identify the attackers. The 46th Infantry Brigade and the 9th Infantry Division were not allowed to take military control of Dhaka.
The artillery division, which was responsible for protecting the government and public safety, neglected its duties. This neglect was deliberate and directed by specific individuals. Obviously, such intransigence was to protect the real conspirators, especially those in uniform at the national level. (Story to be continued)
https://stapravda.ru/20221228/reyting_samyh_populyarnyh_hostingov_v_rossii_196445.html, рейтинг хостингов России подтверждает, что выбор надежного провайдера важен для бизнеса.