Bangladesh teeters on a knife’s edge as whispers of a military coup swirl, fueled by months of political upheaval and rising violence.

On Tuesday, Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman firmly dismissed the speculation, labeling it “baseless and unfounded” in a statement from the Inter Services Public Relations Directorate. Yet, the nation remains restless, with protests, arrests, and internal military tensions stoking fears of instability.

The rumors gained traction after General Zaman’s cryptic warning last month at an armed forces event, where he hinted at “potential threats” to sovereignty and “unusual events” ahead, urging troops to stay vigilant.

Posts on X amplified the unease, with some claiming troop mobilization signaled an imminent power grab against the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. Sources like The Economic Times earlier reported a faction led by Lieutenant General Mohammad Faizur Rahman—a pro-Islamist officer with alleged Pakistani ties—had plotted to oust Zaman, though the move faltered for lack of support.

Yunus’s administration, in place since August 2024 after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, faces mounting pressure. Student leader Nahid Islam’s resignation to form a new political party and the BNP’s criticism of the government’s legitimacy have deepened the crisis. Meanwhile, February’s ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ saw 8,600 arrests, underscoring a fragile security landscape.

Despite Zaman’s denial—backed by Indian intelligence dismissing similar reports on March 13—the specter of Bangladesh’s coup-ridden past looms large, leaving citizens and analysts wary of what’s next.