It is now common knowledge how a violent mob, had fought running battles with the police and other forces protesting against the 2024 January elections accusing the League of rigging the polls, as usual. Between July and Aug 2024, an estimated 1400 people, mostly youths had been killed in clashes against the police and suspected league supporters. Some of the victims were voters/ supporters/ activists of the ruling AL party. Also apart from the anti-quota movement students.

As the Army Chief Waqaruz Zaman clarified later, the prime Minister’s request to open fire against the thousands/strong armed mob was rejected, she had no choice but to escape to India by a special flight immediately, to save herself.

This happened on Aug 5 2024. As the Bangladeshi daily papers carried the story the following day, some papers also carried an anti US narrative behind the coup. it was common knowledge that the most militant activists of the banned Jamat-e-Islami (JEI), the Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP), the Hifazat Islam (HI), the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), the Jaish-E-Mohammed (JEM) etc united against the ruling AL and the police force , waiting for a chance to oust the Government in a violent agitation. Significantly, the mob continued to attack government offices, and houses/property of senior AL leaders for days after August 5, .as the police remained inactive.

In this context, the local press reported in detail Sheikh Hasina's last warning to her countrymen, while expressing her fears of a US/led intervention — as had happened in Libya, Ukraine and elsewhere as part of the West-sponsored regime-change programme, targeting anti/US ruling parties or coalitions, by fomenting, supporting and eventually ousting those who opposed the US or Western powers.

In Bangladesh, the hostility between Sheikh Hasina and Nobel laureate economist and founder of the Grameen microfinance bank Dr Muhammad. Yunus was common knowledge.. During the last 5/6 years before Hasina ouster, Dr Yunus had emerged as the most eminent leader of all Bangladeshi forces and parties that operated abroad, as the AL had launched a ruthless campaign against them at home.

Western diplomats and agencies had investigated some of these allegations, by sending their trusted investigators, who reported back negatively about the ruling AL on specific incidents, police excesses and other forms of suppression of democratic practices at home. The US had imposed sanctions on 8 Bangladeshi officials. According to Sheikh Hasina, some white-skinned officials had called on her in the course of July agitation in 2024 to request her to allow the US to station some American soldiers on the small St Martin's island, close to Chittagong. She was told that if she/Bangladesh agreed, the AL government would be helped in every way by the US and its allies in future and the opposition's complaints would be ignored.

Hasina claimed to have turned down the request instantly. She had told them that she or her party could never decide to hand over part of their national territory to foreign countries or agencies through secret deals etc. The unofficial 'delegation' sent apparently by the US went away dissatisfied, according to her. She then decided to report the matter to a section of the press. But the local US embassy/consular staff all vehemently denied any knowledge of the so called offer to the Bangladesh Prime Minister.

Not unknown to the governments of Myanmar or Bangladesh, the Americans have somehow sent over 100 army personnel close to the coastal areas in Chittagong region of Bangladesh, Clearly, Dr Yunus and his officials have helped them to do this. Dr Yunus plans to visit the US this week to attend the general assembly of the United Nations along with at least two representatives of political parties the BNP and the new Nationalist Citizens' Party (NCP).

Dr. Yunus has already announced the holding of elections in February 2026 confirmed later by the election body of the country. The exact schedule and the guidelines will be announced by the election body later this year. The ,main complaint is that the Government has not yet been able to implement all of its proposed programmes that were supposed to have been completed by now — matters relating to new reforms in the electioneering process and efficient administrative functioning, so that free and fair polls can be carried out. Much work is still pending, they alleged.

Meanwhile, both Dhaka press and sections of the Myanmar-based media have also reported that India too, has sent about 120 army personnel and advisers into the Rakhine province in Myanmar , following its contacts with the ruling Arakan Army. Obviously, with neither China nor India being favourably disposed towards a US military presence in the strategically important Bay of Bengal region along with its rich energy resources and locational importance of the coastal areas of India, Myanmar and Bangladesh, it may be a question of time before local tensions flare up.

In view of these developments, it seems former PM Sheikh Hasina’s claims were based on facts. Interestingly, the Russians had also warned Bangladesh officials about the possibility of coup before August 5, last year. China too may react by sending its naval troops in the area, according to a section of Bangladeshi officials. For India, the trends are ominous as India’s north eastern borders along Bangladesh and Myanmar are facing threat due to the US troops presence in the Bay of Bengal island near Chittagong hill tracts bordering Manipur. For Narendra Modi, the woes are accentuating. (IPA Service)