The relentless campaign of rumours against the Bangladesh Army shows no sign of abating. In fact, with the election approaching, its architects and agenda-setters have become more active than ever. Fabricated stories are being spread about imagined rivalries between the Chief of Army Staff and his deputies, as well as supposed disagreements between field officers and the central command.
Sensing that the Army is closely monitoring not only mobs but also the factories of falsehood, rumour-mongers appear to have lost their bearings and have entered a desperate phase. Their prime target is the Army, which they seek to weaken with rumours and controversies. The clique recognises that the Army may play a crucial role in ensuring a free and fair election, and this prospect terrifies them.
In the present unavoidable national circumstances, the Army’s magistracy powers in the field are akin to poison for these elements. They are unwilling to see the Army shield the nation from potential crises. Alongside safeguarding independence and sovereignty, the Army’s visible role in ensuring public safety, resisting anarchy, preserving communal harmony, keeping industries operational, protecting key installations, maintaining smooth transport, seizing illegal weapons and drugs, and guaranteeing the security of diplomats and embassies is something they simply cannot tolerate.
The Army’s direction is already apparent to these groups. The call by Chief of Army Staff General Waker-uz-Zaman urging Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus not to be distracted by rumours has unsettled them further. The government’s instruction for the Army to remain integrally engaged in the election has come as a thunderbolt. Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies have quietly launched special pre-election operations, with the Army participating in its own restrained but distinctive style rather than relying on showmanship or brute force.
Since 5 August, more than 80 percent of weapons lost during the unrest have been recovered, with the remainder under active pursuit. Plans for special and combing operations against mobs are in place, and wherever credible information is received, soldiers respond swiftly. Preparations are also advanced for scaled-up actions against rumour-mongers themselves—a grim warning to those engaged in such activities.
Having failed to destabilise the Army, these groups have become reckless, fabricating outlandish tales to humiliate it. False and distasteful rumours are now being churned out almost daily, both at home and abroad, mainly through Facebook and other social media platforms. Some sections of the mainstream media are also making questionable attempts to present such rumours as news, disregarding the damage to the nation. With elections at hand, their desperation has only deepened. Even the Chief Election Commissioner has expressed alarm over rumours and AI-generated content, warning they could pose serious disruptions to the electoral process.
Despite provocations and insults, the Army has maintained extraordinary patience, continuing its field duties without resorting to force. Those who seek to create chaos are hoping to provoke the Army into overreaction, break the morale of field personnel, and manufacture distrust between senior commanders and rank-and-file soldiers. For this reason, they are regularly inventing stories about imaginary divisions at the Army’s top levels.
The Army has already clarified its stance through press briefings, making it clear that mob violence, assaults on freedom fighters, and public suffering will be met with the strongest measures if necessary. Protecting sovereignty, people’s lives and state assets is an inseparable part of its routine duty, alongside ensuring law and order, security for foreign diplomats, peace in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and safeguarding the Rohingya in camps along the Myanmar border.
The forthcoming Durga Puja adds another layer of sensitivity. The festival, though religious, draws participation across communities. With elections looming, ill-intentioned quarters may view this as an opportunity for mischief. Already, fabricated stories linked to communal tensions are being circulated online. To counter such risks, over 33,000 Puja mandaps will be under heightened security, supported by a new monitoring app enabling instant reporting to authorities. The BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman has also urged vigilance against conspiracies during the festival. The Army, which has already thwarted attempts to ignite communal strife after 5 August, is again expected to play a crucial role.
The country is navigating a fragile and complex period. Any excuse could be exploited to destabilise the situation, and with elections around the corner, such attempts are only increasing. Durga Puja will therefore serve as a pre-test for law enforcement, especially the Army. Success here will be essential to ensuring peace and unity before the polls. Protecting Puja venues is not just about safeguarding one community—it is about upholding national security and social harmony.
Author: Journalist-Columnist
Deputy Head of News, BanglaVision
