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Countdown for Yunus? Bangladesh Army chief not ready to wait until June for election decision: Report
Bangladesh's Chief of Army Staff General Waker-uz-Zaman gestures during an interview with Reuters at his office in the Bangladesh Army Headquarters, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, September 23, 2024. File Photo/Reuters
Bangladesh Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zaman is resolved to pursue all measures to depose Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, according to senior intelligence sources who spoke with CNN-News18.
In addition to public announcements indicating this goal, the military has demonstrated its presence by attending high-profile officer meetings. According to insiders, the army chief is not convinced by the idea of waiting until June for elections.
Sources say Zaman is exploring various strategies, including exploiting constitutional ambiguities, to undermine Yunus' interim administration.
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Intelligence sources note that the legal basis of the interim government is unstable, as Bangladesh's constitution requires elections to be held within 90 days of a government's dissolution.
Reports suggest that Zaman intends to bring together the parties of Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia to contest the national elections. If he fails to wrest control from Yunus, insiders claim he favours a quiet takeover of Bangladeshi politics to manage the situation temporarily.
The military reportedly believes that delaying elections violates constitutional principles and could pressure President Mohammed Shahabuddin to declare a state of emergency.
In such a scenario, the President may be urged to dissolve the interim administration and call elections sooner.
Article 58 of the Bangladesh Constitution authorises the President to exercise emergency powers if the constitutional machinery breaks down.
The army is said to be urging Shahabuddin to invoke this clause and bypass Yunus' authority.
General Zaman is focused on maintaining military unity and safeguarding national sovereignty, portraying Yunus' proposals—such as the planned Rakhine corridor and increased foreign involvement—as threats to national stability.
Zaman has reportedly solidified his influence by securing support from the navy and air force chiefs. He is also ramping up public pressure on Yunus and may soon call for early elections.
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