The Bangladesh Army has strongly denied allegations by NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah that senior military officials pressured him to accept a faction of the Awami League, dismissing the claims as "extremely laughable" and "an immature array of stories."
The controversy erupted following a viral social media post and a Netra News report.
According to Netra News, the Bangladesh Army has categorically denied allegations made by Hasnat Abdullah, chief organiser (South) of the National Citizen Party (NCP), regarding alleged military pressure to accept a so-called "refined" faction of the Awami League.
The claims, which surfaced through a viral Facebook post and were later reported by Netra News, have been dismissed by the military as "extremely laughable and an immature array of stories."
In an official statement to Netra News, the army headquarters acknowledged that its chief, General Waker-uz-Zaman, did meet with Hasnat Abdullah on 11 March at Dhaka Cantonment.
However, it rejected the notion that the meeting was arranged to pressure Abdullah into endorsing an Awami League faction.
The controversy erupted after Hasnat Abdullah took to social media, claiming that the military was attempting to rehabilitate the Awami League through political coercion.
His post gained widespread attention, triggering protests and fueling speculation about the army’s role in post-Hasina political dynamics.
Adding to the intrigue, Abdullah shared a short video featuring Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, in which Bhuiyan alleged that the army chief was hesitant about appointing Muhammad Yunus as the interim government’s chief adviser.
Asif later released the full 17-minute interview on Facebook.
Contrary to Hasnat Abdullah’s claims, the army maintains that the meeting was held at his request and was not an attempt to pressure him.
"Sarjis Alam phoned the military adviser to the army chief to arrange the meeting and was asked to come to army headquarters," the statement clarified, referring to another NCP coordinator.
The statement further asserts that Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam had long sought a "courtesy meeting" with General Waker-uz-Zaman.
The pair reportedly waited at Sena Bhaban, where the army chief met them after completing his official duties.
As the political landscape in Bangladesh remains tense, the dispute over this meeting has only added to the ongoing turbulence, raising questions about military involvement in shaping the post-Awami League era.
