Bangladesh has strongly refuted reports in the Indian media of a recent coup attempt by a Lieutenant General-ranked officer of the Bangladesh army.
A top official of the Indian security establishment also agreed with Dhaka’s assertion. “The reports appearing in the Indian media are grossly wrong,” a top source in the Indian security establishment told THE WEEK.
A release issued by the Inter Services Public Relations Directorate of the Bangladesh Ministry of Defence titled “Response to False Reports on Bangladesh Army by Certain Media Outlets From India” has termed the reports of a “possibility of a coup and a breakdown in the command chain as baseless and unfounded”.
“These reports are entirely false and appear to be part of a deliberate disinformation campaign aimed at undermining the stability and reputation of Bangladesh and its armed forces,” the rejoinder stated.
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Naming two Indian media outlets, it said: “Any allegations of disunity or disloyalty within the ranks are entirely fabricated and malicious... they appear to be acting as tools for spreading misinformation and creating distrust between the Bangladesh army and the people of Bangladesh.”
It was reported in the Indian media that Lt Gen Faizur Rahman, Quarter Master General (QMG), with alleged “close ties” to Pakistan had been put under surveillance for allegedly making moves to stage a coup in the Army.
In a sudden development on August 5, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted after mass public protests in Dhaka. She was whisked to a waiting military helicopter to fly her across the Indian border to Agartala, where a Bangladesh Air Force C 130 transport aircraft was parked to ferry her to Hindon air base on the outskirts of Delhi.
Three days earlier, on August 2, Bangladesh’s Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman had to face irate young officers who demonstrated their angst at the state of affairs when the Army had to be deployed to control the escalating situation sparked by the month-long student-led protest. Gen Zaman had called for a meeting to address his officers regarding the ongoing situation in Bangladesh.
Gen Zaman is an appointee of Hasina and is related to the former PM by marriage. Hasina is widely believed to be safely ensconced in a safe house in Delhi.
Since Hasina’s ouster, an ‘Interim Government’ led by famed economist Muhammad Yunus had taken charge of the government in Dhaka.
On August 9, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had congratulated Muhammad Yunus on his assumption of office.
