International Desk : VOC

Reshuffles Army Command, Keeps Hasina-Era Chief in Place

Soon after assuming office, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has moved swiftly to reorganize the upper ranks of Bangladesh’s armed forces, in what officials describe as a step to consolidate civilian authority and prevent any future military intervention in politics.

According to Defence Ministry sources, Bangladesh’s Defence Attaché in New Delhi has been recalled to Dhaka and promoted to the rank of Major General. The officer, Mohammad Hafizur Rahman, will take up a key operational role in the restructured command framework.

The reshuffle is being viewed as a message that the new government intends to reassert control over the military establishment after months of political uncertainty triggered by last year’s mass protests and regime change.

However, the most striking decision is not who was promoted — but who was retained.

Hasina-Appointed Army Chief Continues

Despite widespread speculation, Army Chief Waker-uz-Zaman will continue in his post.

Waker-uz-Zaman was appointed during the tenure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to whom he is related by family ties. His continuation has surprised political observers, given the sharp break between the new BNP-led government and the previous Awami League administration.

Analysts note that removing the army chief immediately after taking power could have risked internal instability within the armed forces at a sensitive political moment.

“This appears to be a calculated balance,” said a senior political analyst in Dhaka. “The government is reshuffling the command structure without provoking confrontation at the very top.”

A Controversial Figure

Waker-uz-Zaman’s role during the 2024 student-led uprising remains controversial.

At the height of nationwide protests, he reportedly advised Sheikh Hasina to step down amid fears of large-scale unrest and possible fragmentation within the security forces.

He also faced criticism over the military’s handling of demonstrations, after denying that troops had fired on protesting students — a claim disputed by human rights groups and independent journalists.

Following Hasina’s departure from office and her relocation to India, Waker-uz-Zaman remained in command throughout the transitional phase.

Interim Government and Continuity

When Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took charge of the interim administration, no change was made in the army leadership.

Now, even after elections brought the BNP to power, continuity at the top of the military has been preserved.

Such continuity across three successive political phases — Hasina’s final months, the interim government, and now the new BNP administration — is rare in Bangladesh’s volatile civil-military history.

International Message

Diplomatic sources believe the decision to retain the army chief is aimed at reassuring foreign governments and investors that Bangladesh will not slide into institutional chaos.

Western missions in Dhaka and regional partners, including India, have closely monitored the military’s posture since last year’s upheaval. Stability in the armed forces is seen as essential to prevent renewed unrest or the emergence of a military-backed political order.

“The signal is clear,” said a former Bangladeshi diplomat.

“The new government wants reform without rupture.”

Strategic Calculation

Political experts argue that Tarique Rahman’s approach reflects a dual strategy:

Internal control: Promoting loyal officers and restructuring key posts to ensure civilian authority.

External confidence: Avoiding abrupt removals that could alarm the international community or the armed forces themselves.

This balancing act suggests that the government’s immediate priority is consolidation rather than confrontation.

What Lies Ahead

While the reshuffle has calmed short-term speculation, deeper questions remain unresolved:

Will further changes follow within the military hierarchy?

How long will the Hasina-era army chief remain in command?

And can the new government prevent the armed forces from becoming a political actor once again?

For now, Tarique Rahman’s first major decision on military affairs reflects caution, pragmatism and a keen awareness of Bangladesh’s troubled past with coups and counter-coups.

The coming months will show whether this strategy ensures stability — or merely postpones an inevitable reckoning within the country’s power structure.

International Desk : Voice Of Calcutta