Bangladesh must stand firm against plots to sow chaos
Bangladesh is facing a dangerous convergence of political conspiracy and targeted violence, as recent events reveal a pattern of calculated efforts to destabilise the nation.
The trial in absentia of deposed despot Sheikh Hasina for crimes against humanity – centred on last year’s student-led uprising that claimed over 1,500 lives – has exposed not only allegations of past atrocities but also a troubling present-day network of disruption.
Intelligence reports suggest that from exile in Delhi, Hasina has been directing loyalists to regroup and prepare for a political resurgence.
Leaked recordings and insider testimony paint a disturbing picture of a former leader allegedly urging confrontation and unrest, as reported by The New Nation on Monday.
The activities of banned affiliates such as the Bangladesh Chhatra League, accused of orchestrating violence, are further evidence of an organised attempt to undermine the state’s stability.
The most recent revelation – a foiled plot to attack five journalists in Feni – underscores the severity of the threat.
Coordinated through a WhatsApp group chillingly named Ektaai Shakti (“Unity is Strength”), conspirators allegedly discussed machete attacks and arson, echoing the brutal killing of journalist Asaduzzaman Tuhin in Gazipur only weeks earlier.
The explicit targeting of reporters is more than an assault on individuals; it is an attack on the public’s right to information and the very foundation of a free society.
These plots are not isolated acts of criminality. They are deliberate, politically motivated attempts to create fear, disrupt democratic processes, and weaken state institutions ahead of national elections.
In such a climate, journalists, civil society members, and ordinary citizens become pawns in a ruthless struggle for power.
The government’s swift action in arresting suspects in recent cases is commendable, but prevention is as crucial as prosecution.
Intelligence-sharing, community vigilance, and decisive law enforcement intervention must be sustained and strengthened.
Those who seek to destabilise Bangladesh – whether through violent plots, disinformation, or intimidation – must be confronted with the full force of the law. The people of Bangladesh have endured enough political turmoil.
At stake now is not only the integrity of the upcoming elections but also the nation’s ability to protect its democratic values in the face of orchestrated chaos.
The choice is clear: stand united against those who seek to tear the country apart, or risk allowing violence to become the language of politics once again.