Editorial
The night before Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh amidst deadly protests, her army chief, General Wakeruz Zaman, decided that troops would not open fire on civilians to enforce a curfew, as reported by two serving army officers with knowledge of the discussions to Reuters.
Zaman then conveyed to the prime minister’s office that his soldiers would be unable to implement the lockdown she had called for, signaling that Hasina no longer had the army’s support.
The sudden and unexpected departure of Hasina, which came after a chaotic 15-year rule, was a result of the meeting between military top brass and the message to Hasina, details of which have not previously been reported.
The nationwide curfew had been imposed after at least 91 people were killed and hundreds injured in nationwide clashes on the deadliest day since student-led protests against Hasina began in July.
Members of the army confirmed the Sunday evening discussions as a regular meeting to take updates after any disturbance but did not provide further details about the decision-making at that meeting.
Hasina, who has ruled Bangladesh for 20 of the last 30 years, has faced significant challenges to her power since the summer protests began. General Zaman’s decision to withdraw support from Hasina was a direct result of the scale of the protests and a death toll of at least 241, making continuing to support Hasina untenable, according to former senior Bangladesh army officers.
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The series of events culminated in Hasina’s decision to flee the country on Monday, with India stepping in to welcome her temporarily. India’s ties with the next government in Dhaka were among the considerations for Hasina’s temporary stay in India, highlighting the geopolitical implications of the situation.
The departure of Hasina and the subsequent shifting political landscape have left deep ties and unresolved resentment among retired soldiers in Bangladesh, underscoring the broader implications of these events.
