Army HQ Dismisses Hasnat Abdullah’s Claims as ‘Ridiculous and Immature’
The Bangladesh Army Headquarters has strongly refuted claims made by Hasnat Abdullah, Chief Organizer of the National Citizen Party formed by leaders and members of Anti-Discriminatory Student Movement, regarding alleged military pressure to establish a ‘Refined Awami League.’
According to a report by Sweden-based Netra News, the Army Headquarters dismissed Hasnat Abdullah’s recent Facebook post as a "complete political stunt" and "nothing more."
On Friday, Hasnat Abdullah alleged in a Facebook post that Indian authorities were orchestrating a plot to reorganize the Awami League with leaders such as Saber Hossain Chowdhury, former Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and former DSCC Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh.
He claimed military officials at the cantonment at a meeting on March 11 at 2:30 PM presented him and two others with a plan to form this new political faction, allegedly offering a seat-sharing arrangement in exchange for their cooperation.
He further asserted that multiple political parties had already agreed to certain conditions for the rehabilitation of the Awami League.
In response, the Army Headquarters acknowledged that a meeting did occur with Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman on March 11 but categorically denied pressuring Hasnat Abdullah or any others to discuss the Awami League’s reformation.
Instead, the Army clarified that the meeting took place at the request of Hasnat Abdullah and his colleague Sarjis Alam, who had previously expressed a desire to meet Army leadership.
The Army Headquarters labeled Hasnat Abdullah’s claims as "extremely ridiculous and immature," reiterating that the meeting was initiated by Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam. The report further detailed that Sarjis Alam had contacted the Army Chief’s military advisor to arrange the meeting.
On the scheduled date, the two leaders arrived at Army Headquarters and waited for General Waker-uz-Zaman, who met them after his official duties.
Netra News, which reported on the matter, noted that while the specific details of the meeting could not be independently verified, a senior official from a special unit of the Army confirmed that the discussion took place at the request of the two student leaders.
Hasnat Abdullah, who played a significant role in the student protests against quota system in the government jobs, currently serves as a regional coordinator of the National Citizen Party alongside Sarjis Alam.
Since the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August, several leaders from that student movement have assumed roles in the interim government.
During a press conference held by the National Citizen Party following Hasnat Abdullah’s Facebook post, a journalist inquired whether the alleged meeting involved Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman. Hasnat Abdullah avoided a direct response.
When pressed about who initiated the meeting, he vaguely stated that discussions on military jurisdiction and law and order were the primary reasons for their summons.
