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Published : 23 May 2025, 02:14 PM
The Bangladesh Army has urged the public not to pay heed to a "fake statement" making the rounds on social media, which falsely claims to represent members of the Armed Forces.
After a day of intense speculation on Thursday about Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus’s future, National Citizen Party (NCP) Convenor Nahid Islam said in the evening that the head of the interim government was “considering” stepping down.
Amid growing social media chatter, a press release purportedly issued by junior officers and soldiers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force began circulating. The Army Headquarters has now moved to distance itself from the "fake" statement and urged the public to remain vigilant.
On Friday, a post on the official Facebook page of the Bangladesh Army said: “Recently, a vested interest group has circulated a fake press release using the logo of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. This appears to be a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and create division between the Armed Forces and the people.”
Urging citizens to verify information before sharing anything, it added: “Don’t believe in rumours. Don’t be misled.”
After the quota reform movement evolved into a one-point demand for the government's resignation, the Awami League administration fell on Aug 5, 2024. Facing widespread public anger, ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India the same day.
Responding to calls from the leaders of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, Nobel laureate Yunus agreed to head an interim government. He formed the administration on Aug 8, three days after the fall of the previous government.
Almost 10 months on, political tensions have resurfaced, this time over the swearing-in of BNP leader Ishraque Hossain as mayor of the Dhaka South City Corporation. The rift between the BNP and the leadership of the NCP, led by the leaders of the July Uprising, sparked further disagreement, leading to calls for the resignations of several government advisors.
Amid growing political tensions, reports emerged that Army chief Waker-uz-Zaman had internally discussed holding elections by December.
Against this backdrop, Nahid, who had resigned from the interim government in February to lead the NCP, went to meet Yunus.
According to a BBC Bangla report citing Nahid, the chief advisor intimated that he was contemplating resignation. Yunus reportedly told Nahid that he feared he might not be able to continue in office due to the prevailing political pressures and polarisation.
Nahid urged Yunus not to take such a drastic step.
“Sir said ‘if I can’t work… I was brought here after a mass uprising to bring change and reform to the country. But in the current situation—with mounting pressure from movements and the way I’m being cornered— I can’t work like this. The political parties—you’ve all failed to reach common ground’,” Nahid was quoted as saying by BBC Bangla.
