Dr. Shyamal Das (Virginia, USA):
MELBOURNE, July 17, 2025 — What unfolded in Gopalganj during the “March to Gopalganj” campaign in July 2025 was far more than a simple political clash. It was a premeditated, sustained conspiracy—where religion, history, the military, power, and propaganda merged into a terrifying new fascist reality. In this article, we’ll demonstrate how army chief Wakaruzzaman embodies the synthesis of “Mir Jafar” and “Mamluk syndrome,” and how the Gopalganj massacre echoes global historical atrocities like Hitler’s Germany, Mussolini’s Italy, the Taliban, or Syria.
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The Gopalganj Massacre: A Fascist‑Symbolic Spectacle
The July gathering, dubbed “March to Gopalganj,” was cleverly designed as a militaristic symbolic victory—reminiscent of Mussolini’s “March on Rome” (1922) or Jinnah’s “March to Lahore” (1940). The aims were:
Inciting tension near Bangabandhu’s mausoleum
Undermining the Awami League and the legacy of the Liberation War
Provoking conflict to showcase “state repression” in international media
Paving the way to cancel elections or establish long-term military‑backed rule
According to local sources, over 20 innocent civilians were killed and countless injured by army and police fire. A brutal crackdown is currently underway. Reports say some NCP leaders who came to Gopalganj, addressing nearly empty rallies, declared they’d “dig the grave of Mujib ideology” and wouldn’t return alive without doing so—even amid silence from many so‑called ‘civilized’ individuals who earlier protested similar killings. The author highlights this hypocrisy and the lurking Rajakar mentality.
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The NCP and Its Fundamentalist Structure
Although the NCP (National Conservative Party) claims to support religious freedom, in practice:
They actively support extremist groups tied to Qawmi madrasas and Jamaat‑e‑Islami
They openly threatened the destruction of Bangabandhu’s mausoleum
June–July 2025 viral videos show them calling for “Islamic revolution” against shrines and idols
Their strategy: provoke → instigate conflict → shift blame → suspend elections → invite military intervention. That scheme is now being ruthlessly executed for their own benefit.
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From Plassey 1757 to Dhaka & Gopalganj 2024–25: The Wakar–Mir Jafar Syndrome
Rather than remain politically neutral, Wakaruzzaman made pointed statements such as:
“I am warning you… army chief tells politicians their infighting risks the country’s sovereignty.”
“Army chief vowed to back the interim government ‘come what may.’”
These aren’t typical for a professional military—they reflect the portrait of an ideologically conspiratorial army chief. He is likened to General Ershad in 1982, who threatened the nation prior to seizing power. The author terms Wakar’s role as the “Mir Jafar syndrome”—blending historic betrayal with modern conspiracy. From Plassey to Gopalganj, history teaches that betrayal changes only color, not character.
Comparative Table: Mir Jafar’s Plassey vs. Wakar’s Gopalganj
Element Mir Jafar / Plassey 1757 Wakaruzzaman / Gopalganj 2024–25
Oath Swore on the Qur’an to protect Siraj Promised support to Sheikh Hasina (“I will fix everything”)
True Role Secretly allied with British to defeat Siraj Enabled jihadists, permitted killings of Awami activists
Goal Control Bengal Destroy Mujib legacy, install extremist‑leaning forces
Outcome Bengal colonized by Britain Election delayed, rise of fundamentalism, suppression of independence spirit
Historical Title “Traitor Mir Jafar” “Descendant Wakar”
Mir Jafar betrayed by oath; Wakar by uniform. His promise to the nation on August 5, 2024—to protect them—was followed by empowering fundamentalists, delaying elections, and launching mass killings that decimated the symbols of independence. In Gopalganj, his mask has been finally revealed.
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Mir Jafar Syndrome and Mamluk Syndrome: Military + Religion in Governance
The author identifies a unique synthesis in Bangladesh—a combination of Mir Jafar syndrome (betrayal from within) and Mamluk syndrome (military rulers using religion and nationalism to legitimize themselves). The Mamluks, originally slave‑soldiers turned rulers, set a historic precedent. In modern Bangladesh, the military repeatedly overrules constitutional norms, privileges religious extremists, and installs puppet regimes—even to protect foreign and neoliberal capital interests. Wakar’s role continues this tradition.
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Do Wakar and Mullah Omar Share Ideological Parallels?
While there’s no direct ideological match between Wakar and Mullah Omar, they share a “Ideological Power Seizure through Strategic Destabilization”: using religion, the military, and instability to seize authority. A side‑by‑side comparison shows:
Objective: Taliban aimed for Islamic Emirate; Wakar pushed for collapse of democracy and rise of religious‑right power
Religion: Taliban enforced Sharia and shrine destruction; Wakar enabled mobs targeting Mujib’s mausoleum and protected Islamist extremists
Method: Taliban seized via civil war; Wakar by dismantling elected government and backing a caretaker regime
Self‑presentation: Both portrayed themselves as national protectors
Actions: Taliban imposed extremist rule; Wakar oversaw Awami activists’ killings and election delays
Referencing Naomi Klein: whenever a military/ideological force promises “restoring order” but empowers religious extremists, it becomes fascist. The author asks whether Wakar’s August pledge lines up with this.
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Global Comparisons
The playbook appears across modern history:
Germany (1933): Reichstag fire → crackdown on Communists → Hitler’s dictatorship
Italy (1922): March on Rome → nationalist conflict → Mussolini’s fascism
Afghanistan (1996): Shrine destruction → Sharia rule → Taliban regime
Syria (from 2011): Incitement → repression → sectarian conflict and civil war
Bangladesh (2025): March to Gopalganj → Islamic mob + military crackdown → election delays + military control?
Today’s Wakar, Tomorrow’s Caliph?
The Gopalganj operation—inciting a religious‑political mob at Bangabandhu’s mausoleum and following with a military shooting while blaming the Awami League—embodies a “Constructive Destabilization” model. This is the same technique used by the Taliban in Afghanistan, Musharraf in Pakistan, and Sisi in Egypt. Wherever shrines fall, history vanishes—but fundamentalism persists.
A commander who warns about religion while enabling extremist violence isn’t safeguarding the constitution—he’s digging its grave. In Gopalganj, shots rang out at the heart of Bangabandhu’s dream. Wakaruzzaman has emerged as its killer. The Mamluks have returned—same old play, new costume.
