Bangladesh Army refused to suppress protest hours before Sheikh Hasina fled to India

“The night before long-time leader Sheikh Hasina abruptly fled Bangladesh amid deadly protests, her Army chief held a meeting with his generals and decided that troops would not open fire on civilians to enforce a curfew,” two serving Army officers with knowledge of the discussions told Reuters.

“Gen. Waker-Uz-Zaman then reached out to Ms. Hasina’s office, conveying to the Prime Minister that his soldiers would be unable to implement the lockdown she had called for,” according to an Indian official briefed on the matter.

The message was clear, the official said: Ms. Hasina no longer had the Army’s support.

Details of the online meeting between military top brass and the message to Ms. Hasina that she had lost their backing have not previously been reported.