Explosive Claims by Naufel on July Protests

Baroness Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, the former deputy education minister under the Awami League government, has made explosive allegations regarding the mass protests that erupted in July–August 2024. Speaking on several virtual talk shows, he asserted that the movement was fuelled by deep-seated conspiracies, intelligence failures, and weaknesses within the government.

Intelligence Warnings Ignored

Naufel revealed that Bangladesh’s intelligence agencies had issued early warnings in July regarding a possible anti-government campaign. However, he claimed these warnings were ignored, and no preventive action, particularly to curb financial flows, was taken. Alarmingly, he suggested that some senior intelligence officials may have been complicit, knowingly or unknowingly, in the conspiracy.

Disinformation and Leaked State Data

He said:

“A faction within the government deliberately misled Sheikh Hasina with false information. Meanwhile, classified files were leaked from a government agency to protesters, who leveraged the data in media and social platforms to intensify the movement.”

Although authorities extended invitations for dialogue, the protesters rejected them and instead escalated their campaign in a more organised manner.

Allegations of Terrorist-Style Organisation

Naufel revealed that three leaders, including himself, were commissioned by Sheikh Hasina to negotiate with protesters. He observed:

“Many protest leaders were highly trained and coordinated—their conduct had a ‘militant style’.”

He drew a chilling parallel:

“If Holy Artizans came from North South University, these militants emerged from Dhaka University.”

He submitted his evidence in writing to the former Prime Minister.

Secret State Knowledge and Political Purpose

He alleged that certain student leaders had access to classified state information—information they should not have had. According to him, this indicated backing from a powerful entity, and that their goal was not pensions, job security, or justice for dead classmates, but a broader political agenda.

SIM Card Surge and Security Oversight

Naufel stated that following 17 July, around 600,000 new SIM cards were activated in Dhaka’s Mirpur and Uttara areas—activity that reportedly escaped intelligence monitoring. He argued this demonstrated serious deficiencies in surveillance and intelligence infrastructure.

Behaviour of the Injured Raises Alarm

He recounted visits to Dhaka Medical College Hospital:

“Doctors advised me to keep a safe distance from the wounded. Based on their conduct, doctors suspected they were highly trained terrorists or militants.”

Ongoing Coordination Allegations

Naufel made a startling claim:

“The principal organiser of the protests was Lamya Morshed, a senior official at the Yunus Centre, under the interim government’s chief adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus.”

According to him, the protests were not spontaneous but orchestrated under a “powerful faction’s supervision”.

Personal and Political Background

• Position: Former Deputy Minister of Education in the Awami League government
• Family: Son of the late freedom fighter and former Chittagong Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury
• Impact: His recent statements have reignited debate and scrutiny regarding the true nature and intent behind the July–August 2024 protests.

This comprehensive exposé has sparked renewed discussion on the political engineering behind the protests, intelligence incompetence, and the influence of quasi-state or non-state entities in shaping national events. The allegations demand scrutiny and a thorough official investigation.