Bangladesh stands at a dangerous crossroads as radical forces hollow out democratic institutions, silence dissent, and erode the nation’s inclusive Bengali identity. What was once a model of stability now risks sliding into sustained fragility and violence.

What is unfolding in Bangladesh today is deeply troubling and unmistakably dangerous. The country is witnessing a systematic takeover by radical elements that have penetrated society, captured institutions, and begun dictating the political and social narrative. Power no longer appears to rest with democratic structures but with extremist forces operating from within the state and society. The current leadership, with Muhammad Yunus at the forefront, increasingly appears reduced to a symbolic figure—more a puppet than an autonomous decision-maker—while radical actors call the shots behind the scenes.

The violence sweeping Bangladesh is not selective; it is expansive and indiscriminate. While Awami League supporters and Hindu minorities have been prominent targets, brutality has now extended to the families of opposition political figures as well. In Lakshmipur Sadar, protestors locked the home of a BNP leader from the outside and set it on fire, killing his seven?year-old daughter, Ayesha Akter, and injuring other family members in a horrific arson attack.

What role did a child have in political contestation? None. Yet such acts have become possible precisely because radical ideologies have dehumanized society.

Erosion of rights and democratic norms

In addition to political violence, religious minorities have also become targets in Bangladesh’s recent turmoil. On 18 December 2025, a 25?year-old Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, was lynched by a mob in Mymensingh District and his body was later tied to a tree and set on fire amid allegations of blasphemy — accusations that police say were unsubstantiated. Shockingly, bystanders were recording videos of the act instead of showing any sympathy or attempting to intervene, taking sadistic pleasure in his suffering—a disturbing reflection of the extremist mindset and communal hostility driving such violence. This brutal killing has sparked protests both inside and outside Bangladesh, with Hindu organizations condemning the act as indicative of rising intolerance and the failure of authorities to protect minority communities. The United Nations has noted that Hindus and other minorities have faced repeated attacks, including on homes and places of worship, during the period of unrest, underscoring a broader pattern of targeted violence.

Yet, in a familiar response, the Yunus administration sought to underplay the incident, characterizing it as an “isolated” incident—an approach that risks obscuring the systemic nature of the violence and further eroding confidence among vulnerable communities.

Equally alarming is the assault on the media. Independent journalism—once a pillar of Bangladesh’s democratic discourse—is now under direct attack simply for reporting on political developments and providing independent analysis. On 18–19 December 2025, violent mobs stormed and set fire to the headquarters of two of the country’s most respected newspapers, The Daily Star and Prothom Alo. Assailants attempted to lock journalists inside their offices and burn them alive. It was only through the timely intervention of police and emergency services that prevented a massacre. This chilling episode reveals the extent to which intolerance has metastasized and how free expression is being violently suppressed.

Only a year ago, many of the same actors now driving unrest spoke passionately about constitutionalism, liberal democracy, civil rights, and freedom of expression. Today, those claims ring hollow. The transformation is stark: those who once invoked democratic values now seek to silence the press through intimidation, arson, and mob violence.

Political solutions have also faltered. The July Charter, intended as a corrective framework, failed to address core grievances, sparking fresh protests. While 24 political parties signed the document, key groups—including student leaders from the July 2024 uprising—refused to participate, citing legal ambiguity and inadequate commitments. Demonstrators, calling themselves the “July Warriors,” clashed with police near Parliament, demanding formal recognition of martyrs and rehabilitation for the injured. Yet students, initially hopeful, are now unwitting instruments in a larger game, exploited by radicals internally and by strategic actors like Pakistan and China externally.

External blame and the unravelling of Bangladesh’s identity

Another deeply troubling dimension of Bangladesh’s present crisis is the regime’s persistent tendency to externalize blame—particularly towards India—while evading responsibility for its own failures. Nearly sixteen months into Muhammad Yunus’s tenure as Chief Adviser, India continues to be portrayed as the convenient culprit for Bangladesh’s internal breakdown. This narrative reflects a dangerous abdication of agency. Bangladesh is not a passive victim of external forces; it is a sovereign actor responsible for its own governance choices. Yunus was entrusted with a clear and limited mandate: to maintain law and order and to prepare the ground for free, fair, inclusive, and participatory elections. On all counts, that mandate has been conspicuously unmet. Law and order has deteriorated, political violence has intensified, institutions remain paralyzed, and the electoral roadmap is increasingly opaque. Instead of addressing governance failures, economic distress, and social fragmentation, the administration has fixated on India, turning external blame into a substitute for domestic accountability. The result is a country on the back foot economically, socially, and politically—with no peace, no stability, and no credible democratic horizon in sight.

At the heart of Bangladesh’s crisis lies the erosion of its most powerful stabilizing force: Bengali cultural identity. Historically, this identity was inclusive, secular, and pluralistic. It acted as a social glue, transcending religious and political divisions. Today, that identity is under systematic attack. Cultural symbols are being erased, heritage diluted, history rewritten, and India’s role in Bangladesh’s liberation deliberately marginalized. The inclusive Bengali ethos is being replaced with a narrow, exclusionary, and radical identity—one that thrives on hate rather than coexistence.

Recent events illustrate that the assault on Bangladesh’s cultural identity is not theoretical—it is happening on the ground. Violent mobs have attacked and vandalised Chhayanaut, one of the country’s most venerated Bengali cultural institutions, and set parts of its premises ablaze amid nationwide unrest. A prominent Indian musician performing there was forced to flee for safety. These attacks prompted strong condemnations from international human rights groups, which warned that such assaults threaten freedom of expression and civic space. Beyond these incidents, there is a broader pattern of cultural vandalism and destruction of heritage sites, indicating growing hostility toward symbols of Bengali cultural pluralism and secular expression.

This ideological transformation carries profound social consequences. A stable political culture is the foundation of national stability. When that culture is dismantled, disorder and disintegration inevitably follow. Bangladesh’s achievements—once celebrated globally—are now rapidly fading. The country had reduced extreme poverty from 44.2% in 1991 to 11.3% in 2022, achieved near-universal primary education with gender parity, and emerged as the world’s second-largest exporter of ready-made garments, employing over four million workers, mostly women. It was frequently cited as a South Asian model for human development, women’s empowerment, and social progress.

Today, those gains stand imperiled. Bangladesh is drifting towards the trajectory of fragile and conflict-ridden states—marked by perpetual protests, political violence, institutional collapse, and social polarization. If this downward spiral continues unchecked, the country risks sliding into prolonged instability, if not outright state failure.

Moral collapse and extremism

Radical organisations have now tightened their grip on society. Daily threats against India, routine anti-India slogans, and open incitement have become commonplace. In the process of nurturing hostility towards India, Bangladesh is destroying its own future. Pakistan and China are exploiting this fragility, actively encouraging radical forces to advance their strategic objectives in the region. Recent brutal acts, including the killing of a Hindu man and the death of a child, reveal the moral collapse induced by radicalization, where violence is normalized and empathy diminished.

Violence, once normalized, becomes cyclical and self-perpetuating, breeding a culture of vengeance that is inherently destructive. Those who exploit violence today will inevitably face it tomorrow, as revenge replaces justice and grievances are endlessly recycled. Ultimately, it is the ordinary Bangladeshi citizen—the poor, the marginalized, and the voiceless—who will bear the heaviest cost of this spiral of retaliation and lawlessness.

Radical ideologies divide; Bengali identity once united. The replacement of the latter with the former has pushed Bangladesh onto a perilous path. Economic deterioration will only accelerate this process, as uncertainty and deprivation create fertile ground for further radicalization. Extremist preachers will exploit despair, urging society deeper into religious extremism. Radicalization, like a virus, spreads relentlessly once it infects the body politic.

Does this bode well for Bangladesh? The answer is unequivocally no. By abandoning its core identity and embracing radicalism, Bangladesh is dismantling the very foundations of its stability. Regret may come—but by then, the cost could be irreversible.

India, for its part, must remain vigilant. Strengthening border security and preparing for the spillover effects of Bangladesh’s internal turmoil is no longer optional—it is imperative. If Bangladesh chooses to dance with radicalization, it will do so at the expense of its own peace, prosperity, and future.

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The post Alarm bells for Bangladesh: Democracy hollowed, Bengali identity under siege appeared first on BLiTZ.

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Source: Weekly Blitz :: Writings