Sarjis Alam, Chief Organiser (North) of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has expressed disagreements with his counterpart Hasnat Abdullah's statements regarding their 11 March meeting with Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman. In a post on his verified Facebook page at 12:12 pm today (23 March), Sarjis clarified that the conversation was not as extreme as Hasnat portrayed and emphasized that the matter of a "Refined Awami League" was an opinion rather than a proposal.
Key Points from Sarjis Alam's Statement:
The discussion with the army chief was straightforward but not extreme.
They were not summoned to the cantonment but attended for a discussion.
The idea of a "Refined Awami League" was an opinion, not a formal proposal.
His statement followed a report from Netra News, which cited the Bangladesh Army dismissing Hasnat's claims of military pressure as "hilarious and an immature array of stories." The army headquarters confirmed that General Waker met Hasnat and Sarjis on 11 March but rejected Hasnat's version of events as a "political stunt."
Clarifying the Meeting's Context
Sarjis emphasized that he and Hasnat voluntarily went to discuss political stability with General Waker, after previous communications with the army chief's military adviser. He recalled seeking clarification on General Waker's strong remarks during the anniversary of the Pilkhana massacre, leading to the eventual meeting at Sena Bhaban.
"Inside the room, it was just the army chief, Hasnat, and myself," Sarjis stated. He stressed that the discussion was direct but not coercive. "There was a clear opinion that for the country's stability, a refined Awami League's participation in elections was necessary. However, I did not perceive this as pressure."
Sarjis further clarified that other figures mentioned by Hasnat, such as Saber Hossain, Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, and Sohel Taj, were part of the conversation. The discussion covered scenarios regarding the Awami League’s election participation and potential political consequences.
Disagreements on Interpretation
Sarjis noted that differences in perception could lead to varied interpretations of the same discussion. "Hasnat's Facebook post portrayed a more extreme tone than what I experienced. The conversation was certainly more direct than usual, but I did not interpret it as a formal proposal."
Regarding Hasnat's claim of a proposed power-sharing arrangement, Sarjis stated that a particular exchange did occur but outside the meeting room. "This happened while saying goodbye before getting into our car."
Criticism of Hasnat's Approach
While reaffirming his solidarity with Hasnat, Sarjis criticized the decision to publicize the discussion via Facebook rather than addressing it internally. "We could have debated it within our party or consulted with other political groups before making a collective decision. Instead, the way this was brought to light may create a crisis of trust in future discussions with stakeholders."
He also distanced his party from demands for the army chief's resignation. "That is not our position."
Commitment to Political Struggle
Sarjis reaffirmed his party's continued opposition to the Awami League in any form, referencing past political struggles against the government. "We stood against the Hasina regime, and we remain committed to our principles. However, when I believe a comrade's statement requires correction, I will speak up."
He concluded with a call for ideological steadfastness and self-criticism. "Our fight against any version of the Awami League responsible for the July genocide, the BDR massacre, and the Shapla Chattar massacre will continue."
