In recent years, Bangladesh—a South Asian nation renowned for its rich cultural heritage and progressive history—has found itself increasingly grappling with rising Islamist extremism and growing concerns about external interference, notably from the United States. The country’s journey from its tumultuous birth during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 to its present-day struggles against violent extremism, political instability, and attacks on minorities tells a complex story. As recent leaks from the International Republican Institute (IRI) have suggested, foreign interests have played a significant role in shaping the political landscape of the country. Together, these factors present a formidable challenge to Bangladesh's future stability and democracy. While the leaks do not ultimately prove that Sheikh Hasina was ousted by the United States, they certainly suggest she was being set up to fail.
Muhammad Yunus's strong connections to Washington, D.C., don't help dispel these rumours. The growing circumstantial evidence is piling up, and the leak can't be easily dismissed. It's all there in black and white; the document calls for: "Through the approaches, IRI's program raised public awareness on social and political issues in Bangladesh and supported the public to challenge the status quo, which ultimately aims for power shift inside Bangladesh... destabilise Bangladesh’s politics."
Rising Islamist Extremism
Bangladesh has long been viewed as a moderate Muslim-majority country, known for its secular constitution and relative religious harmony. However, in the past two decades, the rise of Islamist extremism has posed significant threats to the nation’s stability and security. This radicalisation has manifested in various forms, including targeted attacks on secular bloggers, intellectuals, LGBT activists, and religious minorities such as Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians.
The attacks on secular thinkers and progressive activists gained global attention in 2013 during the Shahbagh protests, which were led by secularists demanding the death penalty for Islamist war criminals from the 1971 Liberation War. The backlash from Islamist groups was swift and violent, with prominent bloggers and activists being hacked to death in broad daylight. Groups such as Ansar al-Islam, affiliated with al-Qaeda, and the Islamic State (ISIS), though having minimal territorial control, have claimed responsibility for some of these brutal attacks. These organizations have exploited societal grievances and have been steadily working to erode the secular fabric of Bangladesh. In 2015, Pakistani diplomats were expelled from Bangladesh for financing these al-Qaeda-linked militants. They used counterfeit money and provided logistical support. The Western world didn't protest; Pakistan should have been held accountable for its behaviour.
One of the most shocking manifestations of this rising extremism was the 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery attack in Dhaka, where five gunmen armed with automatic weapons killed 22 people, mostly foreigners, in a chilling display of ideological fanaticism. This attack marked a turning point for Bangladesh, signalling that international jihadist groups were actively targeting the country, even if their local presence was limited.
Targeting Minorities
Religious minorities in Bangladesh have historically been marginalised, but they have increasingly become targets of violence amid rising Islamist extremism. The Hindu population, which has significantly dwindled since the partition of India in 1947, faces a growing number of attacks on temples, homes, and businesses. Buddhists, particularly in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and Christians, often converted from Hindu backgrounds, also find themselves vulnerable to harassment and violence.
The roots of this sectarian tension lie in the historical wounds of partition, which have never fully healed, as well as the legacy of the 1971 Liberation War, when millions of Hindus were targeted by the Pakistani military and its local collaborators. Contemporary attacks are often fuelled by rumours, political opportunism, and the Islamist agenda of creating a homogeneous Islamic state. The 2021 Durga Puja violence in Comilla, which saw dozens of Hindu temples and homes attacked following a social media rumour, is emblematic of how rapidly these tensions can escalate in today’s digital age.
The Role of Islamist Political Parties
The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), an Islamist political party, has been central to the rise of Islamist ideology in Bangladesh. Jamaat has often allied itself with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the main opposition to the ruling Awami League (AL). Jamaat’s influence extends beyond politics; its network of madrassas and charities has fostered a generation of religiously conservative individuals. Despite being banned from contesting elections in recent years, Jamaat’s ideological hold remains strong, contributing to the polarisation of Bangladeshi society along secular and religious lines. Younger figures associated with Jamaat told this author, "We aren't connected to the horrors of 1971. That was old Jamaat. We should be allowed to evolve like Erdogan’s party in Turkey." All parties in Bangladesh have radicals and moderates, and they are all now pushing for control amidst the chaos.
This polarisation has contributed to the marginalisation of minorities, with religious extremists exploiting these divisions for their own ends. The Islamist agenda, which envisions Bangladesh as an Islamic state governed by Sharia law, threatens not only the country's secular constitution but also the safety and rights of its non-Muslim citizens. We have seen Taliban flags being sold and waved in Dhaka. Islamist forces are rising.
U.S. Meddling and the International Republican Institute (IRI) Leaks
Amid these domestic challenges, Bangladesh's internal politics has also been influenced by external actors, particularly the United States. Recent leaks, originally published by Abhinandan Mishra of The Sunday Guardian, from the International Republican Institute (IRI), a U.S.-based organisation, suggest that Washington has been involved in covert plans to destabilise Bangladesh’s political landscape. The IRI leak claims that the U.S., through various diplomatic and non-governmental channels, sought to weaken the ruling Awami League and its leader, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whom they view as too closely aligned with China and India.
This alleged meddling has caused a storm of controversy in Bangladesh. The former Prime Minister Hasina’s government has long accused foreign powers, particularly the U.S., of attempting to undermine her administration, which has overseen rapid economic growth and social progress. The U.S., on the other hand, has expressed concerns about human rights abuses, particularly regarding the treatment of opposition leaders and activists, and about the growing influence of China in Bangladesh's economic and infrastructure development.
The IRI leak adds fuel to an already volatile political environment. It suggests that the U.S., while publicly supporting democracy, may have been working behind the scenes to promote instability, possibly through funding opposition groups and influencing civil society. Such tactics are reminiscent of Cold War-era interventions in South Asia, where geopolitical interests often trumped the sovereignty of smaller nations.
The Complexities of Bangladesh's Geopolitics
The broader geopolitical context cannot be ignored when discussing Bangladesh’s internal struggles. The country sits at a critical juncture between South Asia and Southeast Asia, making it a valuable strategic partner for global powers like the U.S., China, and India. As China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) expands across South Asia, Bangladesh has become a key partner in Beijing’s plans for regional connectivity. This has caused unease in Washington, which views China’s growing influence in Bangladesh as a threat to its own strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific.
The U.S. has attempted to counter China’s influence through various means, including diplomatic pressure and trade negotiations. As the IRI leaks suggest, there may also be efforts at covert political destabilisation. Bangladesh’s future, therefore, is shaped not only by internal dynamics but also by its delicate balancing act between competing global powers.
Conclusion
The battle for Bangladesh’s future is being fought on multiple fronts. Rising Islamist extremism threatens the country’s secular foundations and the safety of its religious minorities. At the same time, foreign powers, notably the United States, have been accused of meddling in the country’s internal politics, seeking to reshape its political landscape to serve their own strategic interests. These intertwined challenges present a formidable obstacle to Bangladesh’s stability and development.
As Bangladesh moves forward, Muhammad Yunus and his team must confront these threats with resilience and determination. The protection of religious minorities, the preservation of its secular constitution, and the safeguarding of its sovereignty from foreign interference will be crucial if the country is to continue its progress as a peaceful, democratic, and inclusive society. Yunus should ask his fellow travellers in Myanmar, who also worked closely with Washington, they believe they were betrayed by the USA during the crisis of 2017 when the Lashkar-e-Taiba linked Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) sabotaged the late and former United Nation's Secretary General, Kofi Annan's peace process in Rakhine. Hopefully, Washington has also learnt its lessons.
Comments