A march by retired military officers calling for an “army-led government” has brought new attention to the possible hidden aspects of the events of August 5, 2024.
On the morning of that day, groups of retired military officers gathered in the Mirpur DOHS and Mohakhali DOHS areas of Dhaka. They divided into three groups and moved toward ECB Square, Jahangir Gate, and Banani DOHS. Around 40 to 50 people joined the march, chanting slogans such as “We need an army government now.” Many participants were reportedly supporters of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.
One of the groups heading toward Jahangir Gate included Brigadier General (Retd.) Sakhawat Hossain, who was serving at the time as an adviser to Muhammad Yunus. During the march, a senior official from the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) reportedly called him and warned that he had entered a “sniper zone,” advising him not to move forward.
In a television interview on April 6, adviser Asif Nazrul said that a military officer had visited his residence eight days before August 5 and warned him that snipers had been positioned in different parts of Dhaka.
At the same time, leaders of the anti-discrimination student movement, including Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, announced a “Ganabhaban march,” which was later brought forward to August 5. A nationwide curfew was imposed, and artillery units were deployed to block entry points into Dhaka.
However, at the Uttara entry point, soldiers under a brigadier named Rafiq reportedly used loudspeakers to announce that there was no curfew and allowed people to enter the city. Although people were initially uncertain, they later moved into Dhaka in large numbers.
On the night of August 4, Major General (Retd.) Fazle Elahi Akbar reportedly contacted Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zaman. They met the following morning, and he was reportedly assigned to bring opposition leaders into the cantonment. Around the same time, the army chief also communicated with the Indian Army chief.
These events were linked to the quota reform protests that began on July 1 at Dhaka University. There were allegations that members of Islami Chhatra Shibir participated in the protests. The situation escalated after the death of Abu Sayeed in Rangpur on July 16.
Between July 16 and August 8, more than 100 people were reportedly killed by long-range gunfire from unidentified attackers. Many victims were shot from behind, especially in the head, raising suspicions of sniper involvement. Police sources said they did not possess such weapons, leading to claims that the killings were intended to create public anger against the government.
There are also allegations that some student leaders, including Nahid Islam, maintained contact with DGFI officials. At the time, the agency was led by Major General (Retd.) Hamidul Haque, who is accused of influencing the course of events. He later left the country under unclear circumstances and is believed to be abroad.
Sources further claim that a significant number of military officers may have been involved, either directly or through inaction. Key army units, including the 46th Infantry Brigade and the 9th Infantry Division, were reportedly not allowed to take control of Dhaka, while the artillery division remained inactive.
Due to these developments, some observers believe the events of August 5 may have been a coordinated plan or even an act against the state.
So far, the interim government and intelligence agencies have not conducted a visible and comprehensive investigation. Critics argue that this lack of action may be protecting those involved.
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