The day before Sheikh Hasina fled the violence marred country, Bangladesh army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman held a meeting directing his officers to not open fire on the civilians protesting to enforce curfew Hasina had called for, according to a report by Reuters.
“Hasina no longer had the army’s support,” an Indian official familiar with the situation said.
Zaman also contacted Hasina’s office to inform the then prime minister that his soldiers would not be able to enforce the lockdown she had requested, the official said. The nationwide curfew was enacted following clashes on Sunday that resulted in at least 91 deaths and hundreds of injuries.
The army chief, however, is yet to publicly explain his decision to withdraw support from Hasina.
Talking about the possibility why Zaman might have withdrawn his support to Hasina, retired Brigadier General M Sakhawat Hossain said, “There was a lot of uneasiness within the troops,” adding, “That is what probably (put) pressure on the chief of army staff, because the troops are out and they are seeing what is happening.”
“Hasina no longer had the army’s support,” an Indian official familiar with the situation said.
Zaman also contacted Hasina’s office to inform the then prime minister that his soldiers would not be able to enforce the lockdown she had requested, the official said. The nationwide curfew was enacted following clashes on Sunday that resulted in at least 91 deaths and hundreds of injuries.
The army chief, however, is yet to publicly explain his decision to withdraw support from Hasina.
Talking about the possibility why Zaman might have withdrawn his support to Hasina, retired Brigadier General M Sakhawat Hossain said, “There was a lot of uneasiness within the troops,” adding, “That is what probably (put) pressure on the chief of army staff, because the troops are out and they are seeing what is happening.”
Bangladesh: Dozens Of Hasina’s Party Members Chased & Killed In Mob Attacks; 29 Bodies Found
Meanwhile, Muhammad Yunus is set to return to Bangladesh on Thursday, as per an official statement. The protestors want the Nobel laureate to lead the interim government.
Sheikh Hasina resigned from the prime ministerial post and fled Bangladesh on Monday after the deadly protests went out of control demanding her resignation.
The protest started in June as a student demonstration against preferential quota in government jobs and turned deadly claiming the lives of at least 300.
Source : Times of India
