Recently, India saved Bangladesh Army Chief General Vakar-uz-Zaman from a big threat. Some pro-Pakistan generals had conspired to remove him and take over the army. According to a report in Swaraj Magazine, with this help from India, not only did the general remain safe, but Islamism flourishing in Bangladesh also suffered a major setback.
This conspiracy was hatched by the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI. ISI was angry with General Walker because he had raised his voice against the strong military ties between India and Bangladesh. Interestingly, the current Islamist rulers of Bangladesh were also supporting this plan of ISI. It is worth noting that after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left the country on August 5, the army was the only institution that did not bow down to the Islamists. General Walker had safely brought Sheikh Hasina to India that day, due to which the Islamists and ADSM (Anti-Discrimination Students Movement) leaders were very angry with him.
Quartermaster General Lieutenant General Faizur Rahman was chosen to lead this coup. Rahman is considered to be ISI’s man in the Bangladeshi army. He is close to Jamaat-e-Islami and a staunch Islamist. According to Bangladeshi intelligence sources, there was a plan to attack Hasina’s house on August 5 and take her hostage. There was also a conspiracy to publicly hang her by making false allegations against her.
In January, Rahman secretly called ISI chief Lieutenant General Asim Malik to Bangladesh. During this time, Malik met several army officers and tried to convince them to remove General Walker. Rahman held secret meetings with the GOCs (General Officers Commanding) of several major military divisions and tried to persuade them to join the coup.
In the first two months of 2025, Lt General Faizur Rahman held several meetings with Jamaat leaders and Pakistani diplomats. The Bangladesh Army Chief was flagged about these meetings, after which he became cautious and put him under surveillance.
The development comes at a time when Bangladesh is again witnessing unrest amid a surge in violence, vandalism, and rioting over the last few months.
Recent protests have seen properties linked to deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s family being vandalised, including the Dhaka home of her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
