Dhaka, 24 August 2025 – A seminar organized by the group Nexus Defense and Justice (NDJ), under the sponsorship of Face the People, has raised alarms among political observers and rights activists who describe the event as a thinly veiled attempt to undermine Bangladesh’s sovereignty and civilian institutions.
The program, titled “July Revolution: The Fall of Fascism and the Armed Forces’ Vision in Building the Future Bangladesh,” was held at Abdus Salam Hall in the National Press Club, Dhaka, with retired Brigadier General Hasan Nasir, President of NDJ, presiding. According to participants, 50–60 individuals attended the session.
Retired Officers at the Helm
The audience list read like a roll call of retired military officers. Among the notable figures were Lt Gen (Retd.) Aminul Karim, Maj Gen (Retd.) Kamaruzzaman, Maj Gen (Retd.) Amsa Amin, Brig Gen (Retd.) ABM Ziaul Ahsan, Col (Retd.) Shahunur Rahman, Lt Col (Retd.) Hasinur Rahman, Bir Protik – Secretary General of NDJ, Col (Retd.) Jaglul Ahsan, Col (Retd.) Zakaria Hossain, Maj (Retd.) Niaz Ahmed Jaber, and Maj (Retd.) Dr. Abdul Wahab Minar. Also present was journalist Saifur Sagar, Editor and Director of Face the People, which sponsored the initiative.
Allegations of Subversive Motives
The seminar’s theme, observers say, was less about historical reflection and more about promoting an agenda that questions Bangladesh’s democratic structure. Rights monitors have previously warned that organizations like NDJ, fronted by ex-military officers, are attempting to revive a narrative where armed forces play a central role in political decision-making.
By framing July’s unrest as a “revolution” and calling for the “armed forces’ vision” in shaping Bangladesh’s future, the speakers suggested an alternative political order, sidelining civilian governance. Critics argue such rhetoric lays the groundwork for legitimizing military intervention in politics, a direct challenge to Bangladesh’s constitutional framework.
Undermining National Sovereignty
Civil society representatives point out that the sponsorship by Face the People—a platform accused of amplifying anti-Awami League propaganda—underscores a deeper effort to normalize extra-constitutional forces.
Analysts warn this convergence of retired officers and sympathetic media figures is part of a larger design to weaken the elected system and erode national sovereignty under the guise of “reform.”
Political Context
The seminar comes at a time when Bangladesh is already under strain. Since the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024, the army- and Islamist-backed interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus has faced widespread allegations of human rights abuses, mob violence, and suppression of journalists.
Observers caution that initiatives like NDJ are feeding into this instability by presenting the armed forces as a political alternative, potentially paving the way for further erosion of democratic institutions.
Warning from Human Rights Groups
Human rights groups have condemned the event, saying that such gatherings embolden authoritarian tendencies. “When former officers openly discuss the army’s ‘vision’ for Bangladesh’s future, it is no longer an intellectual exercise—it is a direct attack on sovereignty and civilian supremacy,” said one Dhaka-based analyst.
The seminar’s narratives, they argue, risk fueling political instability, communal division, and a weakening of constitutional rule at a time when Bangladesh is already navigating a fragile landscape.
