Chief of Army Staff Waqar stated several months ago, possibly in an interview with Nagorik TV, that he was unaware of the Prime Minister leaving the country. At that time, he was in a meeting with political parties. During the meeting, he received the news that the Prime Minister had left the country.
This raises several questions.
Who then transported the former Prime Minister to India using a Bangladeshi military helicopter?
Were they members of the Special Security Force (SSF) assigned to protect the Prime Minister?
It is likely that SSF officers were responsible for safely escorting the Prime Minister to India. Although SSF officers come from the military, the SSF operates independently as an autonomous body. Their sole responsibility is to ensure the security of the Prime Minister. If necessary, they can even overrule orders from the Chief of Army Staff to fulfill their duty of protecting the Prime Minister.
From assumptions, it appears that fearing an attack on Ganabhaban, the former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, sought India’s assistance. India’s intelligence and SSF officers of the Bangladesh Army may have worked together to ensure Sheikh Hasina’s safe arrival in India.
Indian radar aircraft did not enter Bangladesh’s airspace. Instead, when the helicopter carrying the former Prime Minister entered Indian airspace, India’s Rafale radar aircraft escorted it.
The question arises: Who was piloting that helicopter? Which officers accompanied the former Prime Minister?
No interviews of these individuals have surfaced to date. Only they could reveal what truly happened on August 5.
Another question arises from the Army Chief’s statement. He mentioned that on August 5, he was in a meeting with political parties when he received the news that the Prime Minister had left the country. This means that, at least for some time during his meeting, the former Prime Minister was still in Bangladesh.
The question is: Who organized the meeting that the Army Chief was attending while the Prime Minister was still in the country?
Did the Army Chief himself organize the meeting? If so, under whose directive did he arrange it?
Or did he act on his own initiative in engaging with political parties?
At that time, the former Prime Minister was still in the country. What, then, was the reason for the Army Chief’s political involvement?
It is also possible that the Army Chief is lying to avoid being held accountable for safely sending the former Prime Minister to India. He may have been aware of everything and intentionally kept the political parties engaged in discussions while ensuring the former Prime Minister’s safe departure via a military helicopter.
These unresolved questions need answers. Perhaps one day, the truth will emerge—but that may take many more years.
