Bangladesh’s Army: A Frankenstein’s Monster—and Can the Country Ever Trust It?

SAC

Since the Liberation War of 1971, Bangladesh’s army has lived in shades of grey. It wasn’t just the nation’s defender—it became a kingmaker, business mogul, ideological shaper, and, at times, the sole arbiter of legitimacy. From Ziaur Rahman’s rise via a coup to Ershad’s military dictatorship, from Islamist influence to internal factional war, the army has shaped—and warped—the course of the country. Let’s unpack why trust in this institution must be earned, not granted.

1. Coup Culture: Ziaur Rahman’s Climb to Power

August 15, 1975, marked Bangladesh’s first military coup when mid-ranking officers assassinated Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, toppling the nascent democracy and installing Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad as president. 1

The power struggle didn’t stop there. Just months later, on November 3, Brigadier Khaled Mosharraf executed a counter-coup, deposing Mostaq and placing Ziaur Rahman under house arrest. 2

But the final turn came swiftly. On November 7, 1975, a paramilitary uprising led by Colonel Abu Taher liberated Zia from confinement—a move that ultimately propelled him to de facto leadership as Deputy Chief of the Martial Law Administrator under President Sayem. 3. From there, Sayem resigned in 1977 due to ill health, allowing Zia to step in as president. 4

Zia’s rise wasn’t organic—it was born of gunpowder, factional plotting, and shifting allegiances. Yet he anchored his rule under a veneer of popular legitimacy through a near-plebiscite referendum and election. 5

2. Zia’s Governance: Islamist Leanings, Business Leanings

Once in power, Zia legalised religion-based parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, reintroducing Islam into state ideology and shifting the narrative from secular nationalism to “Bangladeshi nationalism.” 6   He imposed constitutional amendments to reflect this shift, sparking lasting ideological tension. 7  Civil institutions were weakened, war criminals were released, and business-friendly policies replaced radical nationalism. 8

3. Ershad’s Islamization and Institutional Tightening

In 1982, after Zia’s assassination, Hussain Muhammad Ershad seized control in a coup. He entrenched Islam as the state religion (1988) and merged military control with administrative governance, further blurring civil-military boundaries. 9

4. Islamist Shadows and Factionalism Inside the Army

The army has not been immune to ideological rifts. Islamist militias like Al-Badr and Al-Shams operated during the Liberation War. Though disbanded, their legacy persisted in sympathies and informal networks. 10

In 2011, Bangladesh escaped another coup—this time by officers allegedly influenced by Hizb ut-Tahrir, aiming to insert Sharia into law. 11 This rift underscores a persistent ideological fault line in the army. 12

5. Business, Patronage & the Army’s Corporate Grip

Beyond politics, the army established a sprawling economic empire through institutions such as the Army Welfare Trust. From hotels and banks to infrastructure and insurance, this business arm blurred lines between soldier, statesman, and businessman. 13

6. Can Bangladesh Trust Its Army—Really?

Warning Signs:

  • Its origin is built on coups and factional rivalry, not institutional integrity. 14

  • Islamization under military rule altered the secular roots of the state. 15

  • Attempts at ideological infiltration continue to surface. 16

Reasons to Hope—Cautiously:

  • No large-scale coup since the 1980s.

  • Professionalism is restored through participation in UN peacekeeping operations and internal discipline.

  • The army thwarted extremist coups, showing institutional self-preservation. 17

7. The Frankenstein Effect—and the Path Forward

This institution is a Frankenstein. Made in the chaos of war, stitched together with politics, ideological factions, and economic ambition, it looms large—too large—in the state’s fabric.

Trust must be conditional and calibrated:

  1. Depoliticise the Army—Reinforce constitutional oversight and civilian supremacy.

  2. Strip Economic Privilege—Reassess and regulate military-commercial entanglements.

  3. Reaffirm Secular Ideals—Reverse Islamist amendments that compromise the 1972 secular vision.

  4. Vet Institutional Loyalty – Monitor and curb ideological drifts within the ranks.

  5. Strengthen Civil Society—Build resilient institutions capable of counterbalancing military influence.

 

Post-Hasina Reckoning: Is the Army at Another Crossroads?

Since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2024, Bangladesh has entered another uncertain phase. The new political order—widely seen as pseudo-pro-Islamist and anti-Liberation in character—has raised serious concerns about the motives and methods behind the transition. Many suspect that the armed forces played a more active role in the political shake-up, and their conduct is now under relentless public scrutiny. The magnitude of accusations—ranging from backchannel deals to covert alliances with regressive forces—has made the army’s institutional credibility vulnerable once again. A growing segment of the public is beginning to speak in whispers, recalling the cloak-and-dagger days of 1975, 1977, 1981, and 1990. The fear is palpable: another dramatic rupture may be looming beneath the surface, and history may be on the verge of repeating itself—this time with more profound consequences.

Conclusion

Can Bangladesh trust its army? Not as it stands today—but that doesn’t exclude the possibility of future trust. Frankenstein may still roam, but governance, democracy, and reform can make it accountable—or shrink its oversized shadow.

Footnotes

  1. 15 August 1975 coup overthrows Mujib. Reuters+15Wikipedia+15AP News+15AP News+1albd.org+1

  2. 3 November coup by Khaled Mosharraf, Zia arrested. AP News+1

  3. 7 November coup frees Zia; Taher orchestrates return. The Guardian+15Wikipedia+15Wikipedia+15

  4. Sayem resigns, Zia becomes president on April 21, 1977. chatradal.com + 5 Wikipedia + 5 Encyclopedia Britannica + 5

  5. Near-unanimous referendum and election in the late 1970s. The Guardian

  6. Legalization of Jamaat, redefinition of nationalism. ResearchGate+11Wikipedia+11ORF Online+11

  7. Islam was entrenched under Ershad and later military governments. ResearchGate + 4 Wikipedia + 4 AP News + 4

  8. War criminal releases right-wing alliances. Wikipedia+1

  9. Islam declared state religion, military-administrative fusion. Dhaka Tribune

  10. Islamist militias’ wartime role and post-war shadows. The New Yorker

  11. 2011 coup attempt linked to Hizb ut-Tahrir thwarted. Reuters

  12. Institutional vigilance remains necessary. Reuters The New Yorker

  13. Army Welfare Trust’s economic empire. (Not directly cited but fits prior accounts)

  14. Persistent factionalism and coup roots. ResearchGate ORF Online

  15. Ideological shift from secular nationalism under military rule. The New Yorker

  16. Continued coup and extremist attempts. Reuters The New Yorker

  17. No coup since ’82; the army suppressed the 2011 coup by itself. Reuters

Bibliography