A nation in peril : Bangladesh’s fight against chaos and extremism
By Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
Bangladesh stands at a crossroads, facing an unprecedented confluence of political upheaval, economic instability, and rising extremism.
Following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, the nation has plunged into chaos, with Islamist forces gaining prominence and the economy unraveling.
Amidst this turmoil, questions arise about the country’s future direction, the role of international actors, and the potential consequences for regional stability.
Since August 5, 2024, following the forceful ouster and subsequent departure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has fallen into the turbulent grips of Islamists and jihadists, including affiliates of Al Qaeda, the Islamic State, and Pakistan’s ISI.
The country’s economy – once a rising star on the global stage – is now in a nosedive. Export orders, particularly in the readymade garment sector, the backbone of the economy, are declining at an unprecedented rate. If this alarming trend continues, nearly 6.5 million workers in the garment industry could lose their jobs within three months.
Already, hundreds of thousands in economic and industrial sectors are facing unemployment. Inflation has surged to over 17 percent, banks are grappling with a liquidity crisis, and skyrocketing prices of essentials have devastated the middle class, lower-middle class, and working class.
For many in the working class, securing even one meal a day has become an almost insurmountable challenge.
To divert attention from these grim realities, Muhammad Yunus and his allies are promoting anti-Hindu, anti-Christian, anti-India, and Caliphate agendas.
Simultaneously, his regime is investing heavily in publishing reports and op-eds in international media, including Indian outlets, to glorify the Islamist uprising in Bangladesh and to target Sheikh Hasina and her family with a barrage of allegations, including financial crimes.
Yunus’ PR teams are also orchestrating frequent interviews in local and global media to project him as the “leader of Bangladesh”.
Despite publicly admitting his lack of experience in governance, Yunus has been hastily awarding lucrative energy sector deals to representatives of George Soros and the Clintons.
This has raised eyebrows domestically and internationally, particularly with the impending inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, 2025.
Yunus’ ties to the Clintons and his open disdain for Trump have not gone unnoticed. Reports suggest Yunus operates over 37 commercial enterprises, including Grameen America, in multiple countries, such as the United States and France.
During the 2024 Diwali festival, Trump condemned the ongoing atrocities against Hindus and religious minorities in Bangladesh, blaming the Biden-Harris administration for pushing the country into chaos.
Despite Trump’s strong message, Yunus and his cronies have intensified their persecution of Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, and indigenous communities.
This defiance reflects a belief that they remain empowered by figures like Biden, Obama, the Clintons, and Soros.Under Yunus’ administration, Bangladesh is now embroiled in controversies surrounding Islamist terrorism.
A recent scandal involves Major (sacked) Syed Ziaul Haque, a key figure in Al Qaeda-linked Ansar Al Islam (AAI), who orchestrated the murders of secular bloggers, including American citizen Abhijit Roy.
Ziaul, previously sentenced to death in absentia, fled Bangladesh in 2013 after a failed coup attempt and was sheltered by Pakistan’s ISI. Using a Pakistani passport, he recently returned to Bangladesh after the Yunus administration removed mandatory security clearances for Pakistani nationals seeking visas.
On December 29, 2024, Ziaul formally applied for acquittal from all charges and removal from the “Most Wanted” list.
His lawyer submitted applications to various government bodies, including the Law and Home Ministries, seeking to nullify his convictions and withdraw the bounty on his head.
Despite the US Department of State’s US$5 million reward for his capture, Ziaul has petitioned for the retraction of the reward.Yunus’ administration has a history of exonerating Islamist figures.
Jashimuddin Rahmani, leader of the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), was released earlier and subsequently called for jihad in India, advocating the implementation of ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind’.
These actions have amplified fears that Bangladesh is becoming a hub for extremist activities, undermining its commitment to counterterrorism.
The January 20 inauguration of President Trump is being viewed as a potential turning point for Bangladesh. Trump’s administration is expected to reverse many policies of the Biden-Harris era, which have been criticized for enabling the rise of radical Islamist forces globally.
Trump’s agenda reportedly includes tougher measures against illegal migration and Islamist-jihadist forces. Travel restrictions on several Muslim-majority nations, potentially including Bangladesh, may be reinstated.
Additionally, Trump is expected to investigate financial crimes involving the Clintons, which could include their associations with Muhammad Yunus.
Although Yunus and his Islamist allies are attempting to transform Bangladesh into an Islamic republic or Caliphate within weeks, their efforts may ultimately fail.
Trump, with India’s active collaboration, is likely to take decisive measures against the Yunus regime. Such actions could result in Yunus facing consequences similar to those of Mohamed Morsi or Muammar Gaddafi.
The coming months will determine whether Bangladesh succumbs to extremist forces or reclaims its path toward stability and progress. The international community – and particularly President Trump – will play a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s future.
As Bangladesh teeters on the edge of chaos, its future hangs in a precarious balance. The alarming rise of Islamist extremism, economic collapse, and targeted persecution of minorities signal a nation spiraling toward disaster.
Yet, this bleak trajectory is not irreversible. With the impending leadership of President Donald Trump, coupled with potential international collaboration, particularly from India, there is hope for a decisive intervention to curb these troubling developments.
The world cannot afford to turn a blind eye to Bangladesh’s descent into a haven for jihadist forces and its transformation under Yunus’ leadership into an epicenter of instability.
Immediate and robust measures are necessary to dismantle these extremist networks and restore the nation’s commitment to democracy, pluralism, and economic progress. If left unchecked, the current regime’s actions threaten not only Bangladesh but the stability of South Asia and beyond.
History will judge whether the global community, led by determined leadership, rose to meet this challenge or allowed Bangladesh to be consumed by forces of extremism and chaos. The time to act is now.
