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Bangladesh President seeks ex-general’s help for patch-up between govt and Army chief
Amid reported tensions with Army chief Gen Waqar-Uz-Zaman, President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir seeks mediation through Gen (retd) Nuruddin Khan.
by Enayet Kabir
October 10, 2026
At a time when reports emerged that an attempt was made by influential sections within the Tarique Rahman-led BNP government tried to constrain the powers of Army chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman, Bangladesh President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir met a retired general on October 9.
Fakhrul arrived as a guest at Gen (retd) Nuruddin Khan’s residence in Dhaka’s Mohakhali neighbourhood around 7 pm on October 9. Gen (retd) Khan’s role was significant during the final phase of the political movement against General Hussain Muhammad Ershad’s military rule in the 1990s. Ershad, then president, was ultimately forced to resign after Gen Khan refused to cooperate with him.
Gen (retd) Khan is known as one of the principal mentors of the incumbent Army chief, General Waqar-Uz-Zaman. Gen Zaman has publicly stated on several occasions that he seeks advice from Gen (retd) Khan whenever the country faces a deadlock.
A Bangabhaban source said the President visited Gen (retd) Khan’s residence in the hope of securing his mediation to bridge a creeping distance between the government and the Army chief.
According to the source, on October 7 the government moved to send Gen Zaman, who was then on an official visit to Australia (and bound for the United States), to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on deputation. The government subsequently backed away from the move after taking into account Gen Zaman’s firm control over the Army’s chain of command.
Just a day later, Fakhrul, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, turned to Gen (retd) Khan.
Meanwhile, a reliable source at Army Headquarters said Gen Zaman, who was scheduled to return to Bangladesh on October 17, is expected to attend a special administrative meeting in the United States.
The meeting is reportedly planned as a follow-up to his discussions last week in Perth, Australia, with Maj Gen Joel Vowell, Deputy Commander of the US Pacific Command.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent Christensen and Sergio Gor, US President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, may also attend. Gor concurrently serves as the US ambassador to India.
Gen (retd) Khan is a prominent and multifaceted figure. After retiring from the Army, he joined Awami League politics and was elected a member of parliament from Narsingdi on multiple occasions. He also served as Energy and Mineral Resources minister.
During his tenure as energy minister, US oil and gas companies Occidental and Unocal signed production-sharing contracts (PSCs) in Bangladesh. Unocal’s operations in the country were subsequently transferred to Chevron, which now controls approximately 40 per cent of Bangladesh’s gas production.
Gen (retd) Khan has maintained close relations with American oil companies.
In the political landscape that emerged after August 5, 2024, Gen (retd) Khan’s name repeatedly surfaced in discussions about possible candidates to lead an interim or caretaker government.
nenews.in
Amid reported tensions with Army chief Gen Waqar-Uz-Zaman, President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir seeks mediation through Gen (retd) Nuruddin Khan.
by Enayet Kabir
October 10, 2026
At a time when reports emerged that an attempt was made by influential sections within the Tarique Rahman-led BNP government tried to constrain the powers of Army chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman, Bangladesh President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir met a retired general on October 9.
Fakhrul arrived as a guest at Gen (retd) Nuruddin Khan’s residence in Dhaka’s Mohakhali neighbourhood around 7 pm on October 9. Gen (retd) Khan’s role was significant during the final phase of the political movement against General Hussain Muhammad Ershad’s military rule in the 1990s. Ershad, then president, was ultimately forced to resign after Gen Khan refused to cooperate with him.
Gen (retd) Khan is known as one of the principal mentors of the incumbent Army chief, General Waqar-Uz-Zaman. Gen Zaman has publicly stated on several occasions that he seeks advice from Gen (retd) Khan whenever the country faces a deadlock.
A Bangabhaban source said the President visited Gen (retd) Khan’s residence in the hope of securing his mediation to bridge a creeping distance between the government and the Army chief.
According to the source, on October 7 the government moved to send Gen Zaman, who was then on an official visit to Australia (and bound for the United States), to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on deputation. The government subsequently backed away from the move after taking into account Gen Zaman’s firm control over the Army’s chain of command.
Just a day later, Fakhrul, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, turned to Gen (retd) Khan.
Meanwhile, a reliable source at Army Headquarters said Gen Zaman, who was scheduled to return to Bangladesh on October 17, is expected to attend a special administrative meeting in the United States.
The meeting is reportedly planned as a follow-up to his discussions last week in Perth, Australia, with Maj Gen Joel Vowell, Deputy Commander of the US Pacific Command.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent Christensen and Sergio Gor, US President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, may also attend. Gor concurrently serves as the US ambassador to India.
Gen (retd) Khan is a prominent and multifaceted figure. After retiring from the Army, he joined Awami League politics and was elected a member of parliament from Narsingdi on multiple occasions. He also served as Energy and Mineral Resources minister.
During his tenure as energy minister, US oil and gas companies Occidental and Unocal signed production-sharing contracts (PSCs) in Bangladesh. Unocal’s operations in the country were subsequently transferred to Chevron, which now controls approximately 40 per cent of Bangladesh’s gas production.
Gen (retd) Khan has maintained close relations with American oil companies.
In the political landscape that emerged after August 5, 2024, Gen (retd) Khan’s name repeatedly surfaced in discussions about possible candidates to lead an interim or caretaker government.
Bangladesh President seeks ex-general’s help for patch-up between govt and Army chief
At a time when reports emerged that an attempt was made by influential sections within the Tarique Rahman-led BNP government
nenews.in
