A political-military standoff is intensifying in Bangladesh. Army Chief General Waqar Uz Zaman has openly challenged the interim government led by Mohammad Yunus over its decision to approve the controversial Chittagong-Rakhine Corridor. This project is intended to connect Bangladesh with Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
The corridor is positioned as a humanitarian route to supply goods to the Rohingya population inside Myanmar, according to sources. But the Bangladesh Army sees it very differently. General Waqar has publicly denounced the move, calling it a “bloody corridor” and warning it could jeopardise Bangladesh’s national security and regional stability.
Civil-Military Rift Widens
The army’s concerns stem not just from the strategic sensitivity of the corridor but also from the manner in which the decision was made. Yunus’ foreign affairs adviser Tauheed Hussain is reported to have unilaterally announced the government’s agreement to the United Nations-recognised plan without consulting the armed forces.
General Waqar, who commands strong loyalty within the military ranks, issued a stern warning earlier this week: “The Bangladesh Army will never participate in any action that threatens our sovereignty. Nor will we allow anyone else to do so,” he said in an apparent ultimatum to the Yunus government.
Insiders say there is growing unease within the military over the interim administration’s foreign policy direction. Particularly, the increasing alignment with the United States that is believed to be pushing for the corridor as part of its broader Indo-Pacific strategy. “America has its own strategic interests in the corridor. This is less about humanitarian aid and more about influence,” said a senior defence analyst.
Coup Fears Rise?
General Waqar has reportedly convened multiple high-level meetings, instructing his officers to remain on high alert against internal disorder or foreign interference. “The Army will not tolerate chaos,” he is believed to have told senior commanders.
Amid these developments, sources suggest there were clandestine efforts, allegedly backed by Pakistani intelligence (ISI), to remove General Waqar from power. Lieutenant General Faizur Rahman, seen as sympathetic to Pakistan, was reportedly in contact with ISI officials and passed on sensitive information to them. However, the plot unravelled after the military intelligence agency DGFI placed Rahman under surveillance on General Waqar’s orders.
Bangladesh Army Chief’s India Outreach
Complicating the situation further is the diverging approach towards India. While the interim government appears to be moving closer to China and Pakistan, General Waqar has made clear that strong ties with India are essential for regional security.
“India is an important neighbour. Bangladesh must build relationships based on equality and fairness. We will not pursue any policy that threatens India’s strategic interests, and we expect the same in return,” he said earlier this year.
A Nation at A Crossroads
As pressure mounts, demands for fresh elections are growing louder. The Army Chief has urged that an elected government—not an unelected interim regime—should decide the nation’s future. With tensions between civilian leadership and the military at its highest in years, Bangladesh stands at a critical juncture.
