Brahma Chellaney Vs David Bergman On What Transpired In Bangladesh
An exchange has erupted between prominent Indian geostrategist Brahma Chellaney and British investigative journalist David Bergman over the recent political developments in Bangladesh. Chellaney’s article, published in The Hill, argues that the ousting of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was, in reality, a “quiet military coup behind a civilian facade.” Bergman, however, has strongly refuted these claims, labelling Chellaney’s analysis as “ignorant and biased.”
In his article, Chellaney contends that the popular narrative of a student-led uprising being the primary force behind the toppling of Hasina’s government overlooks the crucial role played by the military. He describes the regime change as an orchestrated military coup that has been masked by the installation of an interim civilian government. Chellaney asserts, “The regime change in the world’s eighth most-populous country amounts to a quiet military coup behind a civilian facade.”
Chellaney further elaborates that the appointment of Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, as the head of the interim administration, has been used to obscure the military’s control over the country. According to him, the real power lies with the army chief, Gen. Waker-uz-Zaman, whom he describes as “the power behind the throne.” He suggests that the military strategically allowed the protests to escalate, thereby justifying their intervention and Hasina’s eventual departure.
Bergman, in a scathing response, challenges Chellaney’s characterisation of the events. He criticises Chellaney for misrepresenting the nature of the protests and the military’s involvement. Bergman argues, “To call them ‘violent student-led, Islamist-backed protests’ is entirely wrong. The violence was not the students but Sheikh Hasina’s law enforcement agencies that had, by the time she left the country, killed way over 300 students, protestors, and onlookers.”
Bergman accuses Chellaney of overlooking the widespread public support for the protests, which he claims were backed by various segments of society, not just Islamists. He asserts that the military was forced to intervene not out of a desire to seize power, but to prevent a massacre of civilians. “The army would much rather not have nudged Hasina out, but it had no choice unless it wanted to perpetrate a Tiananmen Square massacre on steroids,” Bergman writes.
Moreover, Bergman refutes the idea that the military orchestrated Hasina’s exile, arguing instead that the army’s involvement has been minimal and focused on stabilizing the country in the face of widespread unrest. He describes the current situation as a “student-led popular uprising, to which the army had to succumb,” rather than a calculated military coup as Chellaney suggests.
This must be one of the most ignorant and biased commentaries yet published on the current politics of Bangladesh. It is difficult to know where to begin, but this paragraph is the crux. He says:
To be clear, violent student-led, Islamist-backed protests against Hasina’s… https://t.co/n6riZCSghi
— David Bergman (@TheDavidBergman) August 17, 2024
Brahma Chellaney is a renowned Indian geostrategist, academic, and author with a focus on international relations and security issues, particularly in Asia. He is a Professor of Strategic Studies at the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi and has served on India’s National Security Advisory Board. Chellaney is known for his expertise in strategic affairs and has authored several books on the subject.
David Bergman is a British investigative journalist with a long history of reporting on Bangladesh, particularly on the war crimes committed during the Bangladesh Liberation War. He has worked for both Bangladeshi and British newspapers and has contributed to major international publications like The New York Times and Foreign Policy. Bergman is known for his critical analysis and investigative work, which has often put him at odds with political establishments.
