Bangladesh Army Headquarters’ Pivotal Gathering of Officers Set for August 3 – Northeast News
Bangladesh Army to Hold Crisis Meeting Amid Dissension Over Student Protests
Alarmed by reports of internal dissent over the direct involvement of military forces in suppressing student protests, the Bangladesh Army headquarters has scheduled an urgent "ideas exchange" meeting for officers and formation heads on August 3. This meeting is part of a broader initiative to address and calm the unrest within army ranks concerning the Sheikh Hasina government’s directive to deploy troops for managing the large-scale student movement.
An official notification, issued on August 2, mandates the presence of officers stationed in Dhaka, Mirpur, and Savar. The address will be delivered by the newly appointed chief, General Waker-uz-Zaman. Northeast News has obtained a copy of this notification, highlighting serious concerns within the military hierarchy about the government’s order.
Top army officials had initially communicated to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that there was significant opposition within the military against using force on students. This dissent came to light during the violent protests over the students’ quota movement, which resulted in numerous deaths between July 17 and 20. Despite the opposition, a sizeable contingent of 27,000 officers and troops was deployed to support civilian law enforcement in maintaining order. Notably, the 46th Independent Brigade was detached from regular army command to assist the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and Border Guards Bangladesh, who used this backup to fire on protestors in multiple regions.
Scheduled to start at 1:30 PM BST, the August 3 meeting requires all participants to be seated by 1:00 PM. Sources indicated that the decision to hold this assembly came on the recommendation of a foreign security establishment, which had previously assumed full military backing for the Awami League government.
During the chaos, police and Chhatra League cadres, equipped with bulletproof vests, helmets, and firearms, shot several protestors at close range. Meanwhile, army troops remained passive. However, there were confirmed incidents of military personnel firing at students, exacerbating public outrage as the army was perceived as a neutral entity.
The Army’s Military Intelligence unit has been tasked with documenting the meeting through videos and photographs, while the IT wing will ensure the dissemination of digital content to various units across Bangladesh, aiming to maintain transparency and build cohesion within the ranks.
Original Story https://nenews.in/politics/bangladesh-army-headquarters-to-hold-crucial-meeting-of-officers-on-august-3/12458/
Category : Politics,Bangladesh Army
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