The Awami League, Bangladesh’s dominant political party, is facing unprecedented internal strife as key figures once loyal to Sheikh Hasina now conspire against her. With her political future in turmoil following her dramatic escape to India amid a jihadist coup, former allies – many of whom amassed immense wealth through corruption – are now maneuvering to either remove her from the party or eliminate her entirely. Among them, her former Security Advisor, Maj Gen (Retired) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, stands at the center of a web of betrayal, alleged assassination plots, and financial scandals. As power struggles intensify, the once-unified leadership of the Awami League is crumbling, raising questions about the party’s future and the forces working behind the scenes to reshape Bangladesh’s political landscape.

On August 5, amid a jihadist coup, Sheikh Hasina fled to India as a massive Islamist force, led by Muhammad Yunus – then in France and backed by Army Chief General Waker Uz Zaman – planned to storm ‘Gono Bhaban,’ the Prime Minister’s official residence, and eliminate her. Shockingly, despite being aware of this blueprint, Hasina’s trusted Security Advisor, Major General (Retired) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, took no preventive action. He was forced to alter the assassination plan when Sheikh Rehana, Hasina’s younger sister, unexpectedly arrived in Bangladesh on August 4. In a last-minute effort, Siddique orchestrated Hasina and Rehana’s escape to India via a military aircraft.

Deteriorating relations between Hasina and Tarique Siddique

Tarique Siddique’s relationship with Hasina began to sour when she grew closer to her advisor Salman F Rahman, who gradually became more influential than Siddique. In the 2018 one-sided election, Hasina allocated at least five billion takas to Siddique as an election fund, a substantial portion of which he misappropriated with the assistance of Major General TM Jubaer (Tariq Mohammed Jobaer), then Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NSI). However, in the 2024 elections, Hasina did not provide any funds to Siddique, fueling his resentment.

From that point, Siddique conspired against Hasina, with TM Jobaer’s direct involvement. He allegedly attempted an assassination plot against Hasina........

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