August 5 marks one year since the student-people uprising. Amid various developments, electoral uncertainty and possibilities, political parties have come to recognise their allies.
During this one year, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has also come to recognise its leaders, activists, and long-time beneficiaries, like-minded professionals and allies.
Some members of BNP-backed professional bodies have shocked the party over the past year with their exposure to Jamaat-e-Islami affiliations and weaknesses.
It is known that during the BNP-led four-party coalition government (2001–2006), Jahangirnagar University’s pro-BNP teacher Professor Abdul Latif Masum was appointed vice chancellor of a university outside Dhaka. During the Awami League regime, he joined the party of Charmonai Pir. Now, he is seen to be connected with Jamaat-affiliated teachers. This has sparked curiosity and surprise among BNP-backed teachers.
He is not the only one. In Dhaka University (DU), the pro-BNP teachers used to dominate the Sada Dal (White Panel), a platform for BNP, Jamaat-leaning and Islamic values-oriented teachers. But after August 5, this dominance has faded. The White Panel has broken up. The Jamaat faction has split off. However, a large number of younger teachers appointed during the Awami League’s 15-year rule have now aligned with Jamaat-oriented teachers—something that surprises pro-BNP teachers.
The fact that many of these teachers, appointed under the Awami League government, are now siding with Jamaat has not only astonished BNP-aligned teachers but has also sparked internal confusion about who within the teacher leadership truly supports BNP and who leans towards Jamaat.
A senior DU professor from the White Panel, speaking to Banglanews on condition of anonymity, said, “In the current state of Dhaka University, if someone from the White Panel speaks out against Jamaat-leaning members, they are instead branded as Jamaat and cornered within the group. And then there’s the matter of teacher association elections as well.”
Recently, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman held a meeting with DU teachers, where identified Jamaat sympathisers were also present. White Panel BNP supporter coordinator Professor Morshed (Morshed Hasan Khan) is trying to organise the BNP-aligned group to some extent, but it remains to be seen how far he can go. Some have even formed a separate “White Panel”—they too are BNP supporters.
The reality is, a large portion of current teachers were appointed during the Awami League era, and many of them now side with Jamaat-leaning teachers. This too is quite surprising.
Professor Dr. Nurul Amin Bepari, former chair of DU’s political science department, told Banglanews: “After the fall of the Awami League, there’s no need to hide one’s identity to do politics. Jamaat too wants to return to power or become an opposition force. That may be why the BNP alliance or like-minded groups are now shedding labels and revealing their true identities.”
The same kind of complex situation is evident in Chhatra Dal, BNP’s student wing. Chhatra Dal alleges that in the past, some Jamaat student front (Shibir)-aligned students managed to get lower positions in Chhatra Dal committees at some public universities outside Dhaka. To discredit Chhatra Dal, these individuals later resigned over various issues and posted their resignations on social media pages affiliated with Jamaat sympathisers and in the media. This gave the impression that Chhatra Dal leaders were resigning, which wasn’t the case.
Shibir covertly inserts its members into different political student organisations and then brings them back to its camp when the time is right.
Ariful Islam Arif, Joint General Secretary of Chhatra Dal and former General Secretary of its Dhaka University unit, told Banglanews: “Since my first year at university, I’ve endured repression for being involved in Chhatra Dal. I’ve been attacked repeatedly. We know our fellow comrades. But during the fascist Hasina regime, some students from the dormitories would occasionally contact us. They never joined Chhatra Dal’s programmes publicly. But after August 5, they’ve emerged from the shadows. Sometimes they pose as general students, sometimes as Shibir members, sometimes as leaders of social organisations. It surprises us.”
Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib told Banglanews: “During the fascist Hasina era, members of underground organisations used to be involved in Chhatra League. Now they’re part of so-called secret groups. A handful of their agents were tactically placed in very minor posts within Chhatra Dal—we’re identifying them. Some of them even staged resignations to tarnish the image of Chhatra Dal. The country’s students now know who they truly are.”
This trend is also visible in the BNP-aligned Doctors' Association of Bangladesh (DAB). Conversations with DAB leaders reveal similar patterns.
They allege that one of the Directors General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), along with the principal and vice-principal of Dhaka Medical College, are sympathisers of Jamaat. Since the political shift on August 5, many of the newly appointed civil surgeons across districts have Jamaat affiliations. Not long ago, these individuals were leaders in Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad (Swachip), the pro-Awami League doctors' association.
DAB leaders complain that whenever they raise concerns, these Jamaat-affiliated doctors claim they were the ones who tactically removed Sheikh Hasina. They maintain a powerful syndicate. They were active under the Awami League and remain united now. At Dhaka Medical College, they tear down Chhatra Dal banners, saying politics has no place there. DAB leaders ask: if politics isn’t allowed, who appointed them?
Dr Shah Mohammad Aman Ullah, former Joint Secretary General of DAB, told Banglanews: “Since August 5, seeing the people around me makes me feel unfamiliar with myself in my own space. For 17 years, we saw them as Swachip figures—people who harassed BNP-aligned professionals in various ways. Now we see they’re being appointed to senior posts. Their syndicate members are getting top postings. When questioned, they say they’re apolitical. But with a little digging, it turns out they were once Shibir members. They thrived under the Awami League and continue to do so.”
He added: “Now their voices are stronger. They organise issue-based movements. Behind their apolitical facade lies a strong syndicate. When necessary, they gradually reveal their identities.”
Dr Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, Health Affairs Secretary of BNP, told Banglanews: “Some opportunists were once with DAB. Over the last 17 years, a few of them even took lifetime memberships of Swachip. Now, some have joined Jamaat’s doctors’ organisation, NDF. It’s hard to know about those who operate covertly. We have a database of DAB members and are updating it.”
He added: “The number of such opportunists is very limited. Those who truly love BNP or work for the party never seek shelter in other organisations or parties for personal gain. They endure imprisonment and repression but remain loyal to the BNP. They are proud of their BNP identity. Not everyone may hold a position, but they never stray from the party’s ideology.”
The BNP leader further told Banglanews, “Following the political shift on August 5, we will issue show-cause notices to those against whom specific allegations have surfaced. These issues will also be considered while forming the next DAB committee.”
Mustafizur Rahman Mostak, Central Member Secretary of the pro-BNP Bankers' Association of Bangladesh, told Banglanews: “To counter opportunists, beneficiaries, and covert actors, we’ve formed our committee exclusively with former Chhatra Dal leaders and activists. At Dhaka University, we all knew each other. Still, we’ve received reports of attempts by collaborators of the autocracy and ideological turncoats from outside Dhaka to infiltrate. Once identified, they’ve returned to their true affiliations. Genuine nationalist professionals and activists are now uniting for the sake of the country. The masks of the turncoats are coming off.”
The same issues prevail in other professional bodies, from agriculturists to engineers. Leaders from various organisations admitted candidly that they feel reluctant to speak out on the matter. Some mentioned that with elections ahead, they remain silent due to calculations about voting dynamics in both general and professional body elections.
Asaduzzaman Chunnu, former Senior Joint Secretary General of the Association of Engineers Bangladesh (AEB) and Secretary of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), told Banglanews: “At the grassroots level, we’ve heard of such things. Right now, there’s no active AEB committee. Things will become clearer before the elections.”
A leader from the Krishibid (Agriculturists’) Institution, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “During the BNP-led coalition government, the Agriculture Minister was a Jamaat leader. They enjoyed all kinds of privileges from BNP. Their workers were given jobs and various benefits. Under the Awami League, they changed colours like chameleons. After the August 5 shift, many who were active during the fascist era have resurfaced in new forms. We’re waiting for the elections. These masks will be torn off.”
BNP central leader and agriculturist Shamimur Rahman Shamim told Banglanews: “It’s not just the agriculturists’ association. In every professional body, former beneficiaries of the past government are now trying to regain posts and power. Previously, they remained covert or claimed to be apolitical. Now they’re emerging under various political banners.”
