Either Sarjis or Hasnat is lying about their meeting with army chief: Hannan Masud

Either Sarjis Alam or Hasnat Abdullah, two chief organisers of the National Citizen Party (NCP) for the north and the south region, is lying about their recent meeting with Army Chief Gen Waker-uz-Zaman, said NCP's Senior Joint Chief Coordinator Abdul Hannan Masud.

Masud brought the allegation in a comment on a Facebook post made by Sarjis Alam, chief organiser (north) of NCP, where the latter said he disagreed with several claims made by Hasnat regarding the meeting with the army chief.

Reacting to the post in a comment, Masud wrote, "'What is this bhai!! I am saying this publicly - one of the two [Sarjis or Hasnat] is lying. This cannot continue. And despite holding important posts in the party, the way you are acting privately, and making it public, you are making the NCP controversial."

Illustration: TBS

"While people are seeing new dreams with the NCP, whose agenda is it to make the NCP controversial like this!!! Sorry, I could not remain silent any longer,'" he added.

Sarjis' post came just hours after the publication of a report today (23 March) by Netra News, citing an army statement, which said the Bangladesh Army denied the allegations made by Hasnat, where he claimed senior military officials pressured him and two others to accept a so-called "refined" faction of the Awami League.

According to Netra News, the Army Headquarters acknowledged that General Waker met Hasnat and Sarjis on 11 March in Dhaka Cantonment. However, the army described Hasnat's assertions as "hilarious and an immature array of stories."

It also called Hasnat's post as "nothing but a complete political stunt," reports Netra News.

Later in the day, Sarjis, in his post today (23 March), disclosed that he also accompanied Hasnat at the meeting with the army chief at Cantonment on 11 March.

Earlier on Friday, in a Facebook Post, NCP Chief Organiser (South) Hasnat claimed that he and two others were presented with a plan to rehabilitate the ousted Awami League party during a meeting at the Cantonment on 11 March.

What Sarjis wrote

"That day [11 March], Hasnat and I went to speak with the army chief. Another key party member was supposed to join us but was unable to attend due to personal reasons," Sarjis said at the beginning of his Facebook post.

He continued, "Let me make it clear from the beginning — we were not summoned to the cantonment that day. Rather, we used to exchange messages with the army chief's military adviser whenever necessary for any queries or clarifications.

"The day [on 26 February] the army chief gave a rather stern speech on the anniversary of the Pilkhana massacre and said, 'Enough is enough,' I asked his military adviser if they were sensing anything unusual or concerning from their perspective. I mentioned that the army chief's speech seemed relatively straightforward and harsh."

Sarjis further wrote, "In response, he [military adviser] asked me, 'Do you want to discuss this directly?' I said, 'we could'. Following that, we met the army chief that very day. Inside the designated room at the Sena Bhaban, there were just three of us — the army chief, Hasnat, and myself.

"As human beings, different individuals observe and interpret a person's opinions in different ways. From my viewpoint, I do not see the statement made that day as a direct 'proposal' but rather as a 'straightforward expression of opinion'," wrote Sarjis.

He further said, "There is a distinction between 'expressing an opinion' and 'making a proposal'. However, compared to previous instances, the army chief spoke in a more straightforward manner that day.

"Regarding the idea of 'pressure' for a refined Awami League, I did not perceive it as pressure being exerted. Rather, he was confidently stating that if a refined Awami League does not emerge, long-term issues will arise in the country's situation and among political parties," he added.

Sarjis stated that other topics mentioned in Hasnat Abdullah's statement—such as the roles of Saber Hossain, Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, and Sohel Taj—were indeed discussed during the meeting.

He said they talked about whether the Awami League would return, what would happen if it participated in the election, and what would happen if it did not. Discussions also covered when the party might return if it skipped the election and whether it would return at all.

"What impact these equations could have on the country, what level of stability or instability could arise—these were discussed," Sarjis wrote.

Regarding a specific exchange that Hasnat mentioned, Sarjis confirmed that the conversation took place but clarified that this exchange did not occur inside the meeting room but rather outside after the conversation had formally ended.

"Before we were about to get in the car, while standing to say goodbye, this exchange took place," he added.

He believed that even if there were disagreements over what was discussed with the army chief, the issue could have been handled internally.

Sarjis also criticised the way Hasnat made these discussions public. "The way these words came through a Facebook status, I did not find this process appropriate. Rather, it may lead to a crisis of trust in our important discussions with any stakeholder in the future."

Acknowledging his differences with Hasnat, Sarjis wrote, "In my statement, there have been disagreements with my comrade Hasnat's statements in several areas. Many may criticise me for this, but I believe that our personality was never one to go with the flow. That is why we stood in front of the guns of the Hasina regime."

Hasnat's post mannerless: Patwari

NCP Chief Organiser Nasiruddin Patwari also criticised Hasnat's post in an iftar programme yesterday (22 March). 

He said, "Hasnat Abdullah's statement should not have been on social media."

Patwari also described Hasnat's action as 'lacking manners'.

He said, "Hasnat Abdullah's statement about the various state committees he met with should not have been on social media. We think it is a mannerless post. There are various state functionaries. We see that various individuals from the cantonment are interfering in the political space, such interference is not desirable for us. Political decisions will be taken by political individuals. We request that individuals from various government institutions not be involved there.'

Hasnat's post

Earlier on Friday night, Hasnat in a Facebook post He mentioned the date 11 March and wrote, "A few days ago, I mentioned that there was a plan to introduce a new conspiracy called the 'Refined Awami League.' This plan is entirely India's. Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Shirin Sharmin, and Tapash are being put forward in this plan."

"On 11 March, at 2:30pm, this plan was presented to me and two others at the Cantonment. We were proposed that in exchange for seat sharing, we should accept this offer. We were told that multiple political parties had already been offered this proposal — and, under certain conditions, they had agreed to the rehabilitation of the Awami League. It was suggested that having multiple opposition parties alongside a weak Awami League would be better than just one opposition party. As a result, over the past two days, you will notice that many politicians in the media have begun giving statements in favour of the Awami League."

He continued, "We were further told that the 'Refined Awami League,' which would be created by them, would admit to the crimes of the Sheikh family from April-May onwards, reject Hasina, and promise to restore the Awami League of Bangabandhu to the public."

Hasnat said they immediately opposed the proposal and informed them that instead of rehabilitating the Awami League, they should work towards holding the Awami League accountable.