Army Chief meets political leaders amid Hasina's departure

Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman met with leaders from several prominent political parties after Awami League President Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister and left the country. The group included parties that had opposed the Awami League governments of the past 15 years, as well as representatives from the Jatiya Party, which had made agreements with the Awami League in the last four polls.

The Hasina-led Awami League government was forced to resign on the second day of a mass anti-government movement that students had begun with calls for reforms to the quota system for government jobs. Around 12:00 pm on Monday, media reports suggested that Gen Waker would address the nation at 2:00 pm and had urged patience until then. It became clear at that point that the anti-government movement had reached its crescendo. 

*    Nothing will be achieved through clashes
*    Each death will be investigated and justice will be ensured
*    Everyone's responsibility will be to help the army
*    Army, police won't open fire
*    If we work together, we will move towards a better situation

Asked who attended the meeting, Gen Waker said that top leaders from the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the Jatiya Party had been in attendance. He did not clarify exactly which party leaders were present but noted some attendees, such as Dhaka University Department of Law Prof Asif Nazrul, Qawmi Madrasa-based political party Khelafat Majlish leader Maulana Mamunul Haque, and Ganasanghati Andolan Chief Convener Junaid Saki.

In response to a question, Gen Waker said, "No, there was no one from the Awami League at the meeting." According to BNP leaders, the party's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas, Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Shafiqur Rahman, Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar) Chairman Mostafa Jamal Haider, and Bhashani Followers Council's Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu were in attendance. 

Jatiya Party Co-Chairman Anisul Islam Mahmud and Secretary General Mujibul Haque attended as well. The party had allied itself with the Awami League in the 2008 and 2018 elections and made seat-sharing agreements with them in 2014 and 2024. The party has also stood as the parliamentary opposition for the past three terms. The army chief had invited the party leaders to meet with him at 2:30 pm at Armed Forces Headquarters.