Leaked letter reveals tension in RAOWA Club, abuse of power by chairman

Retired military officer Brig Gen (Retd) Md. Sayeedur Rahman has exposed various crimes and misconduct of the RAOWA Club Chairman Col (Retd) Mohammad Abdul Hoque and his gang, raising serious concerns about transparency, integrity and ethical standards of the country’s top association’s Executive Committee.

In a letter to the chairman of the Retired Armed Forces Officers Welfare Association (RAOWA) dated September 16, he cited 25 issues of concern. He threatened to resign from the post of senior vice chairman during the EC’s next meeting on September 20.

General Rahman stated that he wrote the letter because these “serious issues” were causing widespread dissatisfaction among the general members and should be discussed in the next meeting, which he would not be attending.

How Yunus is holding onto power using his mob gangs

How Yunus is holding onto power using his mob gangs

The major allegations against the chairman, a puppet of the Yunus regime, include violation of the RAOWA Constitution, corruption, abuse of power, breach of privacy, lies, disrespectful behaviour, ignoring EC’s consent in decision-making, and skipping top events like commemoration of the Pilkhana Tragedy victims.

What are the allegations?

1. Observance of 21 February 2025 and Shaheed Sena Dibosh 2025: You were absent from two major events of RAOWA namely Shaheed Dibosh (Language Movement Day) and the wreath laying at the graveyard of the Shaheeds of Pilkhana Carnage. Chairman’s absence in formal events affected the sentiments of the general members and raised questions on EC’s respect for RAOWA’s traditions and practices.

2. Using RAOWA’s Official Letter Head Pad for Personal Rejoinder: You had a conflict with Ms. Tasnuva, wife of Shaheed Maj Tanvir. There are records that you personally communicated/contacted Ms. Tasnuva several times through WhatsApp before RAOWA election as part of your election campaign. Your conduct with the lady at RAOWA was inconsiderate which resulted in a personal conflict with you. The lady raised issues against you in social media and you responded giving a rejoinder using RAOWA’s Letter Head Pad. There was no such approval for using RAOWA’s name to address your personal issues that too against a lady of a Shaheed family.

3. Your Stand Against RAOWA Bar: You voluntarily opted to run in the election for the position of the Chairman RAOWA knowing fully well that there is a Bar at RAOWA visited by some members. In your election manifesto there was no point about Bar but some of your actions have hurt the Bar users. In your manifesto, you should have been honest and made your stand clear about Bar for voters to know your actual agenda.

4. Closing RRF: Despite repeated reminders over the last eight months, you have kept the RRF ineffective which was formed in 2019. You have changed its name and taken steps to reform it without any consultation with the existing members of RRF and without any consultation with the EC.

5. RAOWA’s Space for Ladies and Children Sub Committee: The Ladies and Children Sub Committee is using a space in the sports complex. The matter was raised several times by the Member Sports, but you did not allow this point to be discussed and resolved.

6. Ladies’ Club Affairs: Spouses of two senior EC Members got involved in a conflict in public at RAOWA that crossed the limit of decency. As Chairman you should have taken initiative to amicably settle the matter. There was an incident report on which I advised to place it in the EC meeting, but you deliberately avoided the matter. This incident is a cause of VC Army’s absence from the EC Meetings which is very much in your knowledge.

7. Misconduct with Member Airforce: You have served an explanation letter (signed by another member) to Sqn Ldr Khairatun Hasan, Member Airforce in an unacceptable language without the consent of the EC, which is totally unconstitutional, disrespectful and against the norms of EC.

8. Disciplinary Actions Against Lt Col Shakhawat and Member Beverage: RAOWA has taken disciplinary actions against Lt Col Md Shakhawat Hossain, General Member and Maj Mohammed Aminul Hoque Sarwar, Member Beverage for their social media posts. You as Chairman, RAOWA have also committed similar offence by branding RAOWA members as fascist, which needs to be addressed similarly like those of other members.

9. Privacy Breach: Tracking officers’ background from CORO and records of bar users are breach of privacy which was done without the consent of EC. These actions of yours as the Chairman have raised questions about the motive of current EC.

10. Removal of Senior VC Army and Member Cultural and Entertainment: Before removal of EC Members the matter should have been discussed in the EC which was scheduled just after two days of their removal. There were valid and legitimate reasons for absence of these EC Members which as Chairman you have ignored. It is to be noted that Brig Gen Shams Alauddin Ahmed, VC Army was absent from EC Meeting following an incident related to Ladies. On the other hand, you have deliberately removed Lt Col Mir Md Motaher Hasan, Member Entertainment & Culture who was on leave following proper formalities. Before his removal he should have been given a hearing in front of EC.

11. Unwillingness to Prepare a Master Plan and Preventing Member Development to Work: Member Development was never given time to present his plan which is resulting unplanned activities causing financial loss and dissatisfaction among RAOWA members. In absence of a master plan, Chairman is making plans for Member

Development to implement. RAOWA has canceled the tenancy with Vagyokool Mistanno Vandar without any plan and as a result RAOWA is deprived of the monthly rent. Member Welfare raised the issue of Master Plan and advised EC Chairman to invest in the development of master plan for approval of general members for implementation gradually, but it has never been taken into account.

12. Preventing Member Beverage to Work: Member Beverage got elected based on the manifesto he promised before election. The Chairman is not allowing him to implement his promised works for grounds unknown.

13. Resignation of Member Welfare: In the resignation letter, Maj ATKM Iqbal, Member Welfare clarified that he was unable to work. Instead of giving him a hearing to identify the issues that prevented him from fulfilling his commitments, you accepted his resignation letter. Irony is that the day he came prepared to attend the EC meeting on that very day you have accepted his resignation, despite that 3 Senior most EC members opted not to accept his resignation. It was the duty of the Chairman to assist all the members in fulfilling their mandate which they made to the General Body which in case of Member Welfare you failed to do. Member Welfare is under the Senior Vice Chairman, and he processed his case through me. In this situation, customarily you should have discussed the matter with me before implementing your plan.

14. Complaints of Member Welfare: Member Welfare raised some issues regarding the affairs of RAOWA EC through proper channel and accordingly I requested to place the matter in the EC for discussions which you ignored.

15. Misconduct with VC Airforce: Secretary General communicated with the VC Airforce in disrespectful language in EC Forum. It is to be noted that VC Air is a very senior officer by rank and age. He represents the Airforce and well respected by officers of all three services. This kind of communication is unacceptable in military culture and in military community. You as Chairman didn’t take it in cognizance thus giving an impression of your passive support in this matter.

16. Disregarding EC Decision: It was discussed in the EC to include Lt Col Mosharrof in the Constitution review committee, but it has not been done on the plea that there are too many members in the committee. As SVC, I emphasized that Lt Col Mosharrof should be included considering his institutional memory, but unfortunately it was dishonored.

17. Meeting Adviser, Ministry of Cultural Affairs to Organize RAOWA’s Events: You along with another EC Member met the Adviser, Ministry of Cultural Affairs without any consultation with the EC. There was a false hope of getting fund to observe July event based on which EC worked out several plans without any result. This approach was unprofessional to expect money from other organization without formal correspondence and it was an embarrassment for RAOWA as a whole.

18. Tendency to lie: Before EC election, you denied your affiliation with any political party. But after getting elected you are visible in political activities. Doing Politics is not a crime but telling lies is not accepted.

19. Complaints from a General Member: There is a letter from R-4347, Lt Col Mohammad Shakhawat Hossain against the activities of EC, which should have been taken into consideration for smooth running of EC. EC should not keep such issues unaddressed.

20. Voting Topics for Mosque: During EGM the voting on the issue of construction of mosque in the proposed land in RAOWA was done publicly. It is important to know who authorized open voting and who selected the topic for voting which was hypocritic and misleading. Why the voting in this case couldn’t be done by secret ballot paper which could have minimized lot of misunderstanding among the General Members.

21. Chairman’s Absence Without Notification: During an important event of July Revolution you were absent with notification till 9th August 2025 while SVC was made A/Chairman. Thereafter, you were not traceable till 12 August 2025, that affected the administration of RAOWA which was not expected from you as Chairman.

22. Disrespectful Comment on Social Media on the Issue of Mosque: You branded the RAOWA members, as fascist who disagreed with the proposed land for the mosque. This has created serious repercussion amongst general members and I am being directly challenged by them. The rule under which RAOWA has taken actions against some members for indecent posts in social media, the same rule is equally applicable for all other members. It was an expectation from General Members that you should beg apology for your rude words.

23. Corruption Charges Against Chairman RAOWA: Lt Col Mostafiz has posted in the social media disclosing misappropriation of public funds by you while you were in service. Such claims of corruption against RAOWA Chairman are unacceptable. It is recommended that you should prove your innocence and take legal actions against the officer for defaming Chairman RAOWA.

24. Highlighting the Retired Officers’ Contribution in July Revolution: Despite repeated reminders you have not taken any step to highlight the contributions of retired officers in July Declaration. As a result, another group of retired officers took initiative and met Dr. Ali Reza, Vice Chairman of national Consensus Commission and Head of the Bangladesh Constitutional Reform Commission. It is a gross negligence on your part for failing to highlight the contribution of the retired armed forces in July Revolution.

25. Disregarding SVC’s Agenda Point: On several occasions, SVC’s suggested Agenda items were not included in the formal agenda of EC meeting, which may be considered as denying/avoiding important issues to discuss in EC meeting. Otherwise also SVC, VC Air and VC Navy tried several times to discuss important issues with you, but you have avoided showing your personal commitment elsewhere.