Bangladesh’s top military commander has urged the country’s interim civilian government to adhere to its original timeline and conduct general elections by December 2025, deepening a growing rift between the powerful military and the administration led by Chief Adviser Professor Mohammed Yunus.
General Waker Uz Zaman, Chief of Army Staff, told senior army commanders in a closed-door meeting on Wednesday that the interim government’s recent policy decisions violated the understanding under which it was formed following the collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s government last August.
“Elections must be held by December, and only an elected government should determine the nation’s course—not an unelected administration,” General Zaman said, according to sources briefed on the meeting.
The rare public divergence between the army and the civilian leadership emerged as the Yunus administration signaled that logistical and political challenges could delay elections beyond the end of the year. At a late-night emergency meeting of the Council of Advisers on Thursday, Yunus reportedly acknowledged that only a “controlled election” was possible under current conditions, casting doubt on the prospect of a fully transparent vote.
Military Discontent
General Zaman expressed concern over several decisions made by the interim administration without consulting the armed forces, including the proposed removal of references to Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War from a new school pledge. Officers at the meeting reportedly reaffirmed their support for Zaman and indicated readiness to act under his command, if necessary.
“The Liberation War legacy and national prestige are non-negotiable,” one commanding officer was quoted as saying.
Tensions have also risen over the Yunus government’s controversial initiative to establish a “humanitarian corridor” from Chittagong to Myanmar’s conflict-ridden Rakhine State, a region heavily impacted by the Rohingya crisis and controlled in part by the insurgent Arakan Army.
General Zaman reportedly described the plan as “completely unacceptable” due to its potential to undermine national security, citing risks of arms and narcotics trafficking.
Yunus Weighs Resignation
Faced with military pushback and internal dissent, Yunus convened an emergency advisers’ meeting on Thursday night where he is said to have considered resigning. A draft resignation speech was prepared, but advisers persuaded him to stay on, warning that his departure could plunge the country into deeper instability.
The interim government has been under increasing pressure since assuming power last year with a mandate to oversee elections. Political analysts say the growing rift with the military could jeopardize that mission.
The Prime Minister’s office and the military’s Inter Services Public Relations Directorate declined to comment.
With the spring semester nearing its end and political uncertainty mounting, Bangladesh’s fragile transition to democracy is now under intense scrutiny from both domestic stakeholders and the international community.
