Bangladesh crisis: Army refused to implement Hasina’s curfew order before her resignation

In the final hours of Bangladesh’s ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s reign, the country’s army firmly refused to implementher curfew orders, leaving the 76-year-old leader vulnerable. According to a report by Reuters, Army Chief Gen. Waker-Uz-Zaman told his generals to exercise patience and avoid open firing on civilians. Zaman then went to the PM’s official residence and made it clear the army wouldn’t be able to implement the lockdown as desired.

The withdrawal of the army’s support is considered one of the key factors that led to the collapse of Hasina's 15-year rule, forcing her to flee to India.

The nationwide curfew was imposed after 91 people were killed in protests on Sunday (Aug 4).

Reuters quoted three former senior Bangladesh army officers as saying that mounting civilian deaths made it untenable for the army officials to blindly follow Hasina’s orders.

"There was a lot of uneasiness within the troops," said retired Brig. Gen. M. Sakhawat Hossain. "That is what probably (put) pressure on the chief of army staff, because the troops are out and they are seeing what is happening," he added.

Army spokesman Lt. Col. Sami Ud Dowla Chowdhury later confirmed in a public statement that the chief told officers to protect civilian lives and not forcefully suppress the demonstrations.

Clothing industry disrupted

Meanwhile, the political unrest is taking a toll on the country’s economy, with the clothing industry being hit the worst. Global apparel retailers from H&M to Zara were bracing for major disruptions in the supply chain.

The South Asian country is the third-largest exporter of clothing in the world, following China and the European Union. Last year, the country exported $38.4 billion worth of clothes, primarily to the Western nations.

Pakistan reacts

Pakistan on Wednesday (Aug 7) said it "stands in solidarity with the people of Bangladesh".

"We are confident that the resilient spirit and unity of the Bangladeshi people will lead them towards a harmonious future," said a statement by the foreign ministry of Pakistan.

(With inputs from agencies)