DHAKA — August 30, 2025 — A clear rift has opened between Bangladesh’s interim government and the army over the beating of Nurul Haque Nur, president of the Gana Odhikar Parishad (People’s Rights Council), allegedly by army personnel.
The interim government — in a rare move — issued a statement condemning the military for the “attack” on Nur and vowing to hold those responsible to account.
Hours earlier, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) had acknowledged that force was used “due to the situation,” saying troops and police acted against “mob violence” in line with government directives.
The government’s counter-statement rejected the military’s account and asserted that Nur was “brutally attacked,” adding that officials responsible “will not be spared.” With these dueling statements, the interim government and the army have taken plainly contradictory positions.
“The interim government assures the people of Bangladesh that a full and impartial investigation into this brutal incident will be carried out with the utmost seriousness. No one involved, regardless of influence or rank, will escape accountability. The trial will be conducted with transparency and speed.”
The Chief Adviser’s Office described the present period as a “crisis” and labeled yesterday’s military stand to prevent mob violence targeting the Jatiya Party as an “anti-people conspiracy.”
It called on “all political and social forces that participated in the July coup” to unite: “It is essential for everyone to unite to protect the achievements of our struggle, thwart all anti-people conspiracies, and ensure our successful transition to democracy.”
The government statement also used charged terms about a “conspiracy” to sabotage the election, references to “evil forces” regarding the military, and warnings about “obstructing progress on the path to democracy.”
It added: “All ‘conspiracies,’ obstacles or attempts to delay or sabotage the elections will be firmly resisted by the interim government and our democracy-loving patriotic people. The will of the people will prevail; no ‘evil force’ will be allowed to hinder our progress on the path of democracy.”
The Kakrail clashes
On Friday, clashes erupted when leaders and activists of the Gana Odhikar Parishad attacked the Jatiya Party’s central office in Kakrail, Dhaka. To prevent the attack and contain the violence, army and police members used batons, injuring many people, including Nur himself.
Before the attack, Nur was seen delivering a highly provocative, radical speech in favor of mob violence at a party rally there. In viral video, he laments that, although mobs had been mobilized to carry out attacks nationwide, they had still not attacked the Jatiya Party office or party leader G. M. Quader.
In a statement later that evening, ISPR said, “The Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of mob violence. The Bangladesh Army reiterates this decision of the government and is always ready to take a strong stand against all forms of mob violence to bring relief and security to the people. The Army is always committed to maintaining public safety, law and order and peace.”
The ISPR news release detailed the sequence of events: about 8 p.m. Friday in Kakrail, Dhaka, clashes broke out and a chase ensued between activists from two political parties. Several were injured as police arrived first and tried to control the situation; as the clash escalated, police sought army support. When police reached the scene, they were attacked and several officers were injured.
ISPR said law-enforcement repeatedly asked both sides to disperse peacefully and resolve differences within the law, but some leaders and activists ignored the requests, organized attacks on officers, escalated the unrest with a torch procession around 9 p.m., hurled bricks and stones, and attempted arson.
Public movement in the area was “severely disrupted,” ISPR said, adding that five army members were injured and that force was used to protect public safety.
Reactions and threats
After the clashes, many Gana Odhikar Parishad figures issued provocative statements against the army, including threats directed at the cantonment and calls to dismiss the army chief. The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, on its verified Facebook page, demanded that the army “return to the barracks immediately.”
Thousands of commenters criticized the stance, arguing that leaders and activists of these organizations are exercising power over ordinary people under army backing and carrying out mob violence across the country; they contend that if the army returns to barracks, those groups will be exposed and weakened.
NCP and July 21
The role of the National Citizens Party (NCP)—supported by the Yunus administration—during the “March to Gopalganj” campaign on July 21 is again drawing attention on social media.
According to these discussions, NCP figures escaped in an army armored vehicle as force was used on their behalf, with five ordinary people shot dead. The argument, widely aired online, is that the army is praised when guarding them but vilified when it acts against mob terrorism.
July–August 2024 and the rise of the interim government
In July–August 2024, various Islamist groups launched anarchic movements—including the killing of numerous police officers—that culminated in the formation of an interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus with army support.
The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Gana Odhikar Parishad, NCP, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami, and other radical Islamist groups are allies of the incumbent interim government.
The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement led the anti-government mobilization against the Awami League government of Sheikh Hasina in July–August 2024, backed by Islamist and pro-Islamist groups.
The military took the side of the agitators and, on August 5, 2024, forced Sheikh Hasina to leave the country by army helicopter.
On August 8, 2024, the victors appointed Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus as Chief Adviser — the head of the interim government — even though the Constitution of Bangladesh provides no such post or system of government.
Human-rights climate since August 5, 2024
Since August 5, 2024, mob violence has spread nationwide: hundreds of supporters of the previous government have been killed, and thousands of homes attacked, looted, and set ablaze.
Freedom of expression is being comprehensively controlled by occupying media offices and filing murder cases against more than 250 journalists. According to police reports, serious concern about the human-rights situation has deepened amid reports that an average of at least 43 bodies are recovered from rivers each month.
