Police in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, used tear gas and sound grenades on Friday to disperse hundreds of members of the banned militant group Hizb-ut-Tahrir, who were seeking to march in a rally demanding that the country’s secular democracy be replaced with an Islamic caliphate.
Hundreds of activists, chanting “Khilafat, Khilafat,” gathered for the ‘March for Khilafat’ procession at the Baitul Mukarram Mosque after Friday prayers, defying police barricades. Despite warnings from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police against public meetings and rallies by banned organizations, the demonstrators pushed forward, resulting in a tense standoff with law enforcement.
Police, overwhelmed by the crowd, resorted to tear gas and sound grenades to disperse the marchers. Witnesses reported scenes of chaos as the activists clashed with the authorities. This marks yet another instance of Hizb-ut-Tahrir’s defiance of a government ban on public gatherings, as the group, which has been banned in Bangladesh since October 2009 for posing a threat to national security, continues to organize protests.
The London-based Hizb-ut-Tahrir has long advocated for the establishment of a pan-Islamic state, though it claims its methods are peaceful. However, the group has faced allegations of instigating unrest and violence in pursuit of its objectives.
Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority country with a population of 170 million, has been grappling with political instability following the 2024 student-led protests that resulted in the ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s government. Many sources claim that Hizb-ut-Tahrir played a covert role in fueling the unrest, which saw violent incidents, including arson attacks and massacres, escalate after August 5, 2024. These militant-style actions have left a scar on the nation’s political and social landscape.
The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, continues to face challenges in maintaining stability in the country. The rally by Hizb-ut-Tahrir highlights ongoing tensions as the nation navigates its path forward amidst political uncertainty and security threats.