Retired military members have played an active role in the student-people uprising, contributing from their respective positions. They have participated in protests and rallies aimed at the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s regime. Officers and personnel at various levels, still serving, have also aided the movement. Now, they express their willingness to assist in the state reform movement led by the current interim government, formed after the uprising.

These discussions were voiced on Saturday at a seminar titled "The Role of the Armed Forces in the July-August 2024 Revolution and Their Post-Revolutionary Role," held at the RAOWA Complex in Dhaka. The seminar was organized by the Retired Armed Forces Officers' Welfare Association (RAOWA) with support from the RAOWA Research and Study Forum (RRSF).

Brigadier General (Retd.) Md. Nasimul Ghani, Research Director at RRSF, stated that the student-people revolution has opened up new opportunities to rebuild the nation. However, building the desired country requires patriotic, dedicated individuals and proper oversight.

He added that the goals of this revolutionary government and the student-people must be made clear. It is crucial to define the roles of the general public, students, and the armed forces in achieving these objectives. There is a need for a committed group of patriotic individuals, and the armed forces can fully align with the aspirations of the people.

He suggested that personnel could be recruited from four key groups to aid in state reforms: retired military members, retired public and private officers, expatriates, and experts from abroad.

Calling for the prosecution of criminals, Md. Nasimul Ghani said that the previous government had destroyed both the military and intelligence agencies, filling them with incompetence, resulting in chaos. They left behind numerous crises and 4 million lawsuits. Even now, money is being spread to fuel counter-revolutions. Identified criminals should be brought to justice on Bhashan Char Island.

Lt. Colonel Mosharraf claimed that the role of the armed forces was at the forefront of the revolution, with soldiers, both former and current, from all ranks contributing to the success. Yet, a month after the uprising, they still feel neglected.

He mentioned that the armed forces members contributed in two ways: the retired members directly participated on the ground, and those still in service contributed at the final critical stages. Following the murder of Abu Saeed, soldiers from all ranks joined the protest. They began their efforts on July 18 in Mirpur DOHS, marking the first physical demonstration.

In his speech, guest speaker Professor Mahbub Ullah said there have been repeated attempts to wipe out the military in the past, one such attempt being the BDR massacre, where 57 officers and their family members were killed without justice. He emphasized the need to bring those responsible for this atrocity to trial. If these major crimes are not addressed, and those involved are not brought to justice, our independence and sovereignty will remain at risk.

Professor Dr. Shahiduzzaman remarked that it was by divine grace that the country returned to reality before the Indian military could establish a permanent presence inside Bangladesh. He further commented that in media talk shows, he never referred to the previous regime as the Awami League government, but always as a “terrorist regime,” stating that the Awami League fits the definition of terrorism, having seized power through terrorist means three times.

Retired Lieutenant Abu Rushd stressed the importance of reforming the law enforcement and intelligence agencies, pointing out that several hundred officers had been dismissed for political reasons. Many of these officers were well-trained and experienced. He suggested they be rehired on a contractual basis and that new recruits be trained gradually to rebuild the security forces.

Dr. Zahedur Rahman expressed agreement with the call for a post-revolution role for the armed forces, emphasizing the importance of utilizing the capabilities of officers, JCOs, and soldiers. He stated that there had been a deliberate conspiracy to dismantle the military, but a powerful armed force is essential for the nation’s safety in the current and future global landscape.

The seminar, moderated by Lt. Colonel (Retd.) Manish Dewan, began with prayers for the souls of the martyrs of the July-August 2024 revolution. Senior retired officers of the armed forces were present, and several of them shared their thoughts on future actions and demands during the latter part of the event.