General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh, addressed all officers at the Army Headquarters in Dhaka on Wednesday, firmly asserting that no Humanitarian Corridor will be established and no port will be made available to foreign entities until a democratically elected government assumes office.
The address was followed by an intensive interactive session, which included contributions from officers both in person and online.&nbsp;
Sources present at the event reported that General Zaman received strong applause after stating the army would not permit any action threatening Bangladesh&rsquo;s sovereignty or territorial integrity.
General Zaman raised serious concerns about the actions of the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus, claiming that the Armed Forces were being sidelined in key decision-making processes. He said: &ldquo;An elected government should be in power by January 1, 2026 after concluding free and fair polls,&rdquo; adding that the army would subsequently return to the barracks.
While acknowledging certain commendable traits of Yunus, the army chief criticised the involvement of what he referred to as &ldquo;foreigners&rdquo; within the interim setup, accusing them of acting irresponsibly and warning that they would abandon the country should the situation worsen.
He reaffirmed the significance of the Constitution of 1972, expressing opposition to sweeping reforms. Regarding current political proposals, he remarked: &ldquo;I am not able to understand the proposed July Declaration,&rdquo; and dismissed the idea of removing the President as a &ldquo;meaningless and hollow thought&rdquo;.
The army chief took a firm line on issues of public disorder, declaring that mob violence and lawlessness would not be tolerated and would be dealt with severely. He issued a warning to protesting military personnel, stating that their actions would be exposed publicly if such behaviour persisted.
No senior-ranking officers raised questions during the gathering. However, General Zaman addressed several inquiries from officers of the ranks of Captain through to Lieutenant Colonel.
Touching on proposed reforms ahead of the national elections, he urged patience within the ranks and assured officers that their views would be given due consideration.
During the exchange, one officer emphasised the critical importance of preserving the legacy of the Liberation War, asserting that national dignity and reputation must never be compromised.
It was noted that no concerns were raised regarding the ban currently imposed on the Awami League.
Insiders described General Zaman&rsquo;s demeanour as firm and unambiguous. His remarks were met with repeated applause from the assembled officers, who reportedly pledged unanimous support for his leadership and confirmed their readiness to follow his directives.
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Bangladesh’s Army Chief affirms no foreign involvement or major reforms until a democratically elected government takes office.

No Foreign Access Until Elected Govt, Says COAS

Bangladesh’s Army Chief affirms no foreign involvement or major reforms until a democratically elected government takes office.

May 21, 2025 | 19:25 IST