Sabotaging the Bangladesh Army

A nation’s military is not just another institution—it is the ultimate guaran­tor of its sovereignty. History is replete with examples of nations that collapsed when their armed forc­es were weakened from within—wheth­er by political infight­ing, public distrust, or external manipulation. Bangladesh is no exception.

Since its bloody birth in 1971, the country has relied on its armed forces not only for defence but also as a stabilising force during times of political turmoil. Today, as Bangladesh navigates a fragile transition following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s government, the army’s role is more critical than ever. Yet, disturbingly, there are forces—both domestic and for­eign—seeking to undermine it.



From social media campaigns launched by expatriates to spec­ulative reports in the foreign press, the goal is clear: erode public confidence in the mili­tary. Once trust in the army is compromised, Bangladesh’s sta­bility itself is at risk. And histo­ry warns us that when militaries falter, nations do not transition smoothly into vibrant democra­cies; they spiral into disorder.

World Bank Group BoD okays $300m IDA loan for Punjab Clean Air Programme Over the past few weeks, a surge of targeted rhetoric has sought to discredit the Bangla­desh Army and its leadership. Social media activists—many op­erating from the safety of foreign capitals—have accused the mili­tary of manipulating the interim government. A senior leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP) recently sparked controversy by insinuating “cantonment pres­sure” on key political decisions—remarks so reckless that even his own party members distanced themselves from him.

These accusations are not mere political banter; they are part of a well-calculated strategy to erode the military’s legitimacy. The playbook is familiar. From Tur­key to Pakistan, we have seen how militaries, once delegiti­mised, become battlegrounds for competing political forces.

Ban­gladesh must avoid this fate at all costs. The fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2024 was sup­posed to usher in a new era of stability. Instead, remnants of her regime—along with opportunis­tic political actors—are exploit­ing the transition to sow chaos.

Their goal? To create conditions where the public turns against the army, either through manu­factured crises or orchestrated unrest. We have seen this before. In post-Mubarak Egypt, loyal­ists of the old guard fuelled pro­tests and violence to discredit the transitional government.

In Ban­gladesh, Hasina’s loyalists may be betting on a similar strategy: de­stabilise the country enough to force the military into a no-win situation—either crack down and lose public support or stand aside and let anarchy prevail. Pakistan’s sesame seed exports to China surge by 180pc in early 2025 The most dangerous trend emerging from this moment is the normalisation of attacking the military as just another polit­ical actor. This is a fatal mistake.

The moment a nation’s military is dragged into partisan warfare, the state itself is in jeopardy. Look at Myanmar, where the Tatmadaw’s entanglement in politics led to decades of repres­sion, international isolation, and, ultimately, a catastrophic coup in 2021. Or Venezuela, where Hugo Chávez turned the armed forces into an extension of his party, en­suring that the military served political interests rather than na­tional ones.

Bangladesh cannot afford such a scenario. Some ar­gue that militaries should nev­er be above scrutiny. That is, of course, true.

No institution should operate without account­ability. But there is a stark dif­ference between constructive oversight and outright character assassination. The recent wave of attacks against the Bangladesh Army does not seek reform—it seeks destruction.

Honda Atlas Cars celebrates start of its first-ever export of CBU units from country Beyond domestic politics, Ban­gladesh must contend with the interests of powerful neighbours. Indian media outlets, for instance, have been publishing speculative reports about unrest within the Bangladesh Army, hinting at pos­sible coups and internal dissent. The Inter-Services Public Rela­tions (ISPR) has strongly denied these claims, branding them as baseless and damaging to nation­al unity.

Why would foreign enti­ties push such narratives? The an­swer is straightforward: a divided Bangladesh Army makes the country more vulnerable to ex­ternal influence. Weakening the military opens doors for diplo­matic coercion, economic manip­ulation, and strategic concessions that Bangladesh cannot afford. For the interim government, the challenge is now twofold: resist­ing external manipulation while ensuring that internal political factions do not drag the military into their power struggles.

For Bangladesh to navigate this precarious moment, a deliber­ate effort must be made to keep the military above partisan bat­tles while reinforcing its integrity through responsible governance. Political leaders, activists, and media figures must recognise that reckless accusations against the armed forces weaken not just the institution but the nation itself. At the same time, the government and civil society have a responsi­bility to combat disinformation campaigns designed to fracture public trust in the military.

Those who deliberately spread base­less allegations—whether from within the country or abroad—should face appropriate legal con­sequences, as national security cannot be sacrificed in the name of political opportunism. Farmers advised to remove weak and extra plants from sunflower crops Yet, maintaining the military’s professionalism is equally critical. While the army must remain a pil­lar of national stability, it should not become a player in political disputes.

The more it engages in governance or partisan conflicts, the more its credibility erodes. This is why the interim adminis­tration must focus on strengthen­ing civilian institutions, ensuring competent governance that pre­vents a power vacuum. A strong civilian leadership reduces the temptation for military interven­tion, preserving the balance nec­essary for democratic stability.

Bangladesh must also be cautious of external narratives that seek to exploit internal divisions. A mil­itary weakened by infighting or discredited through misinforma­tion is a military vulnerable to for­eign pressure. Preserving its pro­fessionalism and unity is not just about internal order—it is about protecting national sovereignty in an increasingly complex geopolit­ical landscape.

Cars sale up by 44.62pc, production 41.62pc in 8 months Bangladesh stands at a cross­roads.

One path leads to stability, where the army remains a respect­ed, apolitical institution safeguard­ing the nation. The other leads to chaos, where the military is weak­ened by infighting, distrust, and manipulation. The choice is clear.

The attempts to politicise and un­dermine the army must be resist­ed—not out of blind loyalty, but out of cold, rational necessity. A country without a strong, unified military is a country that will not survive. And survival, in the end, is the only thing that matters.

M A Hossain The writer is a political and defense analyst based in Bangladesh. He can be reached at [email protected] Tags: sabotaging bangladesh.