Months after the collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year tenure in August 2024, Bangladesh is undergoing a notable transformation as the military’s longstanding influence over politics and the economy faces unprecedented scrutiny. Mubashar Hasan, an academic who returned to Dhaka after more than six years in exile, observed that the pervasive fear traditionally associated with the military’s intelligence wing had markedly diminished. The Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), once a feared institution, is now openly criticized in public forums without repercussions.
An interim government has initiated a legal reckoning by summoning active military officers before civilian courts to face charges of “crimes against humanity,” despite objections from the army. Warrants have been issued for five former DGFI chiefs. Following the February 2026 electoral victory of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), a political rival to Hasina’s Awami League, the new administration acted swiftly to detain generals linked to a 2007 “soft coup.” On July 26, authorities formally charged six military officers in connection with the enforced disappearance and killing of a local politician.
Although these actions highlight a significant shift toward civilian oversight, experts and observers emphasize that ending military dominance requires dismantling its extensive economic empire and detaching it from day-to-day governance. Over the years, the army’s image has suffered, drawing criticism from human rights organizations, secular activists, and nationalist commentators alike. Some right-wing media outlets accuse the military of excessive alignment with India, while others denounce its Islamic symbolism, reflecting widespread disenchantment across diverse segments of society.
Since the popular uprising that ended direct military rule in 1990, Bangladesh’s military has gradually transformed from a ruling entity to a powerful intermediary between competing political factions, principally the Awami League and BNP. This role began to erode notably after a 2007 military-backed caretaker government detained and allegedly tortured prominent politicians, including Tarique Rahman, now prime minister.
The relationship between civilian authorities and the army was further reshaped following a violent mutiny in 2009 that resulted in the deaths of 57 officers. Prime Minister Hasina prevented direct military retaliation, instead purging dissenting officers and forging a close alliance with the military leadership. Throughout subsequent elections in 2014 and 2018, the military increasingly abandoned its neutral stance. Officers assigned to the Rapid Action Battalion—an elite, military-dominated law enforcement unit—were implicated in extrajudicial killings at rates far surpassing those of regular police forces. High-profile disappearances of politicians, journalists, and academics continued during this period.
The military's complicity in political repression has been rewarded with substantial economic benefits, especially in Dhaka, where the armed forces control five large public housing projects and hold prime real estate assets obtained through government grants. Defence spending doubled during Hasina’s administration, and the military secured approximately $6 billion in construction contracts. Uniformed officers manage about 300 educational institutions via welfare trusts, which have expanded into sectors such as real estate, banking, manufacturing, and tourism. The army also competes with civilian authorities to oversee profitable enterprises ranging from telecom regulation to port operations.
This broad economic footprint has contributed to institutional challenges within the military, including public dissent among officers marginalized during Hasina’s tenure. Many have taken to social media to criticize their leadership openly, breaking a longstanding taboo against internal criticism. Analysts warn that as long as military elites maintain their commercial interests, they will retain incentives to influence political decision-making.
Looking ahead, the vital question for Bangladesh’s democratic future is whether the military leadership can recognize the need to disengage not only from politics but also from business, thereby allowing civilian governance to take full control. The ongoing efforts to rein in the military’s involvement mark a critical juncture for the country’s quest for stable, civilian-led democracy.