Bangladesh’s interim govt struggles as mob violence, minority attacks undermine credible elections
Bangladesh’s Post-Hasina Chaos: Rising Mob Violence and Radical Groups Threaten Elections
After former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s dramatic exit in 2024, Bangladesh hoped for a fresh start with restored democracy. But a year later, the country faces growing lawlessness, brutal mob justice, and bolder radical groups. This turmoil under Nobel winner Muhammad Yunus’s interim government has sparked serious doubts about fair elections ahead.
Hasina’s ouster, driven by massive student protests, seemed like a chance to fix Bangladesh’s divided politics. Yet, without solid institutions to fill the gap, chaos took hold fast. Yunus’s caretaker team, meant to be a neutral, expert-led bridge to stability, now struggles amid widespread disorder.
Reports paint a grim picture of daily life. Rights groups tracked 637 lynchings across Bangladesh in the year after Hasina left, as angry mobs took justice into their own hands instead of relying on courts. A European Times report highlights how this mob violence has replaced proper legal systems, leaving communities on edge.
Even the police admit the problem’s scale. In January 2025, they released a report on 1,769 attacks against minorities. Officials tried to downplay religious motives, calling over 1,200 "politically motivated" and just 20 purely communal. But critics say this ignores the real fear gripping Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, and Ahmadi communities.
Police inaction—or worse, involvement—has shattered public trust. From August 2024 to mid-2025, watchdogs logged 2,442 cases of communal violence, including arson, murders, and sexual assaults on minorities. A February 2025 UN report slammed the interim government for not protecting these groups, pointing to deliberate attacks on minorities and indigenous people.
Local leaders complain that responses feel half-hearted. Out of thousands of incidents, only 62 cases got registered, leading to just 35 arrests. Women face rising harassment in public, while universities and media outlets deal with threats and intimidation.
Adding to the worry, radical groups are stepping up. In March 2025, thousands of Hizb-ut-Tahrir supporters rallied openly in Dhaka, calling for an Islamic Caliphate. This emboldened extremism signals a shift that could reshape Bangladesh’s secular traditions.
All this unrest raises big questions about Bangladesh elections. Analysts warn that without basic law and order, minority candidates can’t campaign safely, polling staff face risks, and voters might stay home out of fear. As the South Asian nation pushes toward polls, restoring security seems key to any credible democratic reset.
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