Bangladesh is currently in the midst of a political turmoil. On August 5th of the previous year, amid a so-called “student-led revolution” — which was, in fact, a well-planned color revolution — Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country. She is currently in India. Following her departure, Bangladesh has turned into a battlefield under the rule of Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Yunus has emerged as the mastermind behind the country’s growing extremism, and various Islamist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami, Hefazat-e-Islam, and Hizb ut-Tahrir have found refuge under his leadership. Islamist militant attacks have become commonplace, with incidents like the attack on the house of Bangladesh’s founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and sightings of ISIS flags.
Meanwhile, the joint military operations like “Devil Hunt” and the creation of mobs to suppress dissent have been led by Yunus and his government allies. These student protesters who claim to fight for justice have, in reality, been manipulated by the Islamist factions who were tightly controlled under Hasina’s rule.
Since the defeat of Pakistan in 1971, both Yunus’ government and Islamist extremists have continuously belittled the struggle and sacrifice of the Liberation War and its martyrs. Every day, people are killed, and crimes like theft, rape, and violent attacks have increased significantly. Even internationally recognized terrorists, such as Sweden-based Aslam, Sanjid Hasan Imon, and Pichchi Helal, have been released without trial. Expatriates such as Pinaki Bhattacharya, Ilyas Hossain, and Zulkarnain Samira, based in France and the U.S., continue to incite extremism and lead mobs from abroad. Bangladesh’s largest cultural event, the Amar Ekushey Book Fair, was marred by an attack on publishers by Islamist extremists, with the government showing no concern. This growing extremism has left the people of Bangladesh in a state of fear.
In the aftermath of the August 5th events, questions are raised about why Sheikh Hasina fled to India and why she was not arrested. Some believe that Hasina was the victim of an illegal military coup, orchestrated under the pressure of Islamist factions. The coup was allegedly led by General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the then Chief of Bangladesh’s Army. However, there are questions about why, despite having the opportunity, the military did not arrest Hasina.
The most popular explanation is that it was due to pressure from India’s Modi government, which did not want Hasina to be arrested or harmed. Several Indian media outlets have cited intelligence reports claiming that India’s army chief himself had pressured General Waker-Uz-Zaman to ensure that Hasina was safely sent to India.
On January 13th, India’s army chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, publicly acknowledged his communication with General Waker-Uz-Zaman during the events of August 5th. In a statement, he mentioned that there had been constant contact with the Bangladesh military, and their relationship remained normal even after the events.
Sources indicate that there were plans by extremist groups to assassinate Sheikh Hasina at her official residence, Ganabhaban. Indian intelligence was reportedly aware of these plans, and thus they acted quickly to ensure her safety. Had Hasina been left in danger, it could have triggered international military intervention, especially from India.
On August 5th, Hasina left the country on a military aircraft, arriving at Hindon Airbase near Delhi. She has been in India ever since. General Dwivedi’s comments further confirm that this entire operation was coordinated between the military of both nations.
Some sources suggest that the political climate in Bangladesh was too volatile for the military to risk either Hasina’s death or arrest, fearing the potential for civil war. Thus, the military opted to avoid further bloodshed. However, some of the protestors involved in the movement believe that Hasina’s departure, though risky, has left open the possibility of her return to power. Should she return and reclaim her position, it is expected that she would prosecute those involved in the revolution for treason.
The situation surrounding Hasina’s escape has raised numerous questions. Former Information Minister Mohammad A. Arafat explained that Hasina never intended to flee the country. Initially, she had hoped to take refuge in her ancestral home in Tungipara, Gopalganj. However, after being informed that armed mobs were closing in on Ganabhaban, she was forced to leave for her safety.
Arafat elaborated, “She wanted to go to Tungipara, not to India. There was no plan to flee the country. She was practically forced into leaving, and she wanted to stay in Bangladesh. The situation was complex, and many were trying to persuade her to leave as the security forces were under immense pressure.”
The narrative of Hasina fleeing the country is increasingly questioned, with many seeing her departure as a forced decision under extreme political and security pressure. As the truth slowly unfolds, it is becoming clear that the situation was far more complex than initially reported.
Moreover, it has emerged that international forces, especially those aligned with the Soros family and under the Biden administration, have been trying to destabilize Hasina’s government since 2018. Initially, the opposition party BNP was seen as a vehicle for this mission, but after its failure, Islamist extremist groups became the new focus. These groups found support in universities and student movements, ultimately leading to the color revolution of July.
The growing power of Islamist groups, like the Jamaat-e-Islami student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir, has fueled the situation further. These groups have been involved in terrorism since 1971, and their influence has increased in recent years. The weakening of Hasina’s intelligence network allowed these extremists to operate with impunity.
At the heart of it all, Bangladesh is now witnessing a delicate balance between the past and the future, with a population divided on how to restore peace and ensure stability. Sheikh Hasina’s fate remains uncertain, but her departure has certainly shifted the course of the nation’s politics.