Bangladesh’s Shift from Uprising to Mob Rule: A Year of Chaos After Hasina’s Exit
It’s been a year since Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, sparking what many anti-Hasina groups called a fresh wave of "real" independence. These forces behind the July uprising celebrated it as Bangladesh’s true liberation, often downplaying the historic 1971 Liberation War. But today, the country grapples with a dark reality: a surge in mob violence, Islamist extremism, and attacks on minorities, women, and secular voices. Instead of democracy, Bangladesh now faces what experts call "mobocracy."
Right after Hasina’s ouster, the nation plunged into a law and order crisis—a common fallout from sudden political shifts. Criminals and Islamist extremists filled the power vacuum, something Bangladeshis hadn’t seen before. Law enforcement agencies struggle daily to keep the peace, while the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus offers only empty promises of justice. No real action follows.
Look at the patterns in this rising mob culture. It targets secularists, women, and religious minorities with alarming frequency. Islamist groups have gained bold ground, thanks in part to the interim government’s inaction. Banned outfits like Hizb ut-Tahrir now hold open rallies in Dhaka, demanding a Caliphate system. Meanwhile, radical groups like Towhidi Janata disrupt public life, protesting anything they deem "un-Islamic." They’ve shut down beloved cultural events that celebrate Bangladesh’s secular spirit, such as the Ekushey Book Fair, Basant Utsav, Lalon Mela, and Pohela Boishakh celebrations.
Women bear the brunt of this anti-women wave. Islamists push for the return of the purdah system, attack women for not following strict dress codes, and even demand the release of a Dhaka University staffer who harassed a female student over her "inappropriate" clothing. They’ve protested women’s presence at public events, threatened female athletes, and vandalized women’s sports gatherings. This isn’t just intolerance—it’s a direct assault on women’s rights in Bangladesh.
The situation for religious minorities is even more heartbreaking. With police often standing by, mobs justify their violence as "restoring justice." Since August 5, 2024, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and others have faced relentless attacks. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported a shocking 2,442 incidents of communal violence in the past year alone. Ahmadiyas and Sufis, labeled as heretics by extremists, have suffered over 100 assaults. The interim government brushes these off as mere "political attacks," especially if they hit Awami League supporters.
Even icons of Bangladesh’s founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, aren’t safe. Mobs have vandalized his murals, demolished his home at 32 Dhanmondi, and tried to desecrate his Gopalganj graveyard. The chief adviser rarely condemns these acts, instead blaming "external forces." This tolerance fuels the fire.
Recent horrors highlight how deep the problem runs. In Rajbari and Rajshahi, suspected Towhidi Janata members vandalized shrines, including the chilling exhumation and burning of self-proclaimed spiritual leader Nurul Haque—known as Nurul Pagla. Even some Islamic parties, who usually stay quiet, condemned this brutality. On the same day in Rajshahi, attackers hit Aziz Bhandari Khanka Sharif shrine right in front of police, who did nothing despite intelligence warnings. The shrine’s spiritual leader accused authorities of ignoring the threats.
Home Adviser Nahid Islam has long denied any major law and order breakdown, claiming things are improving. But after these incidents, he finally admitted the situation is "somewhat worse." It’s a rare admission, but too little, too late.
The interim government took power to fix Bangladesh’s chaos and pave the way for elections. Yet, a year on, it has failed spectacularly. As the country eyes early polls—though their feasibility looks shaky—this mobocracy, driven by inefficiency and indifference, might push Bangladesh to a breaking point. Will leaders step up before it’s too late? Bangladeshis deserve better than this nightmare.
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