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Published : 11 May 2026, 04:59 PM
Former Jahangirnagar University professor Dilara Choudhury, who taught government and politics, has sparked a debate by criticising the Bangladesh Army’s extensive involvement in business, labelling the military and bureaucracy as "70 percent responsible" for the country's current state.
Speaking at an event organised by the National Anti-Corruption Coordination Committee in Dhaka’s Panthapath on Saturday, the political analyst voiced concerns over the lack of transparency in defence spending and the absence of a clear defence policy.
"The Bangladesh Army is no longer just a burden, it has become a 'boil on a tumour'," she said.
"We do not know their budget. When presented in parliament, it remains a secret."
She questioned the logic behind heavy military procurement, including planes and tanks, without identifying a clear external threat.
"Who is your enemy? There is no clear-cut defence policy. Who are you going to fight?" she asked.
Criticising the military’s role as a major partner in Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), Dilara argued that the institution is now more focused on commercial enterprises than defence.
"You won't find a major contract where there isn't Army involvement," she claimed.
Listing various ventures, she noted their presence in furniture manufacturing, gas stations, hospitals, universities, and even online businesses.
Sharing a personal anecdote, she recounted discovering that soldiers were producing and selling sweets.
"I have never heard of an army in any other part of the world making sweets to sell in the market," she remarked, adding that while the military is embedded in business, it remains passive when Myanmar’s aircraft or drones violate Bangladeshi airspace.
In contrast, she cited Iran as an example of a nation that achieved true sovereignty through 25 years of strategic military preparation.
Turning her attention to the political landscape, Choudhury described the 13th parliamentary election, held on Feb 12, as a "managed election" where the BNP was "made to win".
She expressed disappointment in members of the interim administration, specifically mentioning Syeda Rizwana Hasan.
Dilara argued that the decision to grant a two-thirds majority to a single party is a "curse" that renders a parliament dysfunctional.
"A two-third majority leads to parliamentary autocracy. This is exactly how Sheikh Hasina was born," she warned.
"She didn't become a fascist alone, the Army, bureaucracy, teachers, and journalists all made her one by agreeing with everything she said."
The professor expressed concern that the spirit of the July Uprising is being diluted.
She noted that while a new Constitution based on a referendum was expected, the current trajectory is weakening the government’s moral authority.
"When you break promises, people withdraw their support. The government becomes fragile when it loses the public's trust, even if it holds an election," she said.
bdnews24.com reached out to the Army for a response to Prof Choudhury's comments.
Efforts to contact former interim advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan for comment were also unsuccessful.
