Abu Jakir & Syed Shemul Parvez :
In the aftermath of the July uprising that led to the ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s government, Bangladesh has been gripped by a surge in crime and social unrest.
Reports of mob killings, gender-based violence, theft, extortion, and organised attacks have escalated, raising concerns about the country’s stability under the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
According to analysts, elements of the former ruling Awami League (AL) and its student wing, the Chhatra League, have played a significant role in fuelling these disturbances.
Security officials claim that remnants of the deposed regime are orchestrating acts of violence and disorder in an attempt to destabilise the current administration.
“The defeated forces of 2024 are actively engaged in criminal activities to create anarchy in the country,” said Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus in a recent statement.
Security sources indicate that senior Awami League leaders who fled to India following their removal from power are involved in planning and financing efforts to incite unrest in Bangladesh.
Intelligence reports suggest these exiled politicians have been collecting funds abroad and funnelling them into the country through allied networks, using professional criminals and militant groups to execute targeted acts of disruption.
Authorities believe these activities are being coordinated through encrypted messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Messenger, making it difficult for law enforcement to intercept communications.
Police officials report that professional criminals, teenage gang members, and drug traffickers have been recruited to carry out thefts, robberies, and violent attacks in various regions, particularly in the capital, Dhaka.
Speaking to this correspondent, Rezaul Karim Mallick, Chief of the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), stated, “There is undoubtedly involvement from the defeated forces of 2024 in the recent spate of thefts, robberies, and violent attacks across the country.
However, I can assure you that there will be no room for the defeated fascist forces in Bangladesh.”
In response to the rise in violence, Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam has directed security forces to intensify operations against suspected instigators.
Police have been tasked with monitoring the movements of banned political groups, investigating their networks, and tracking social media activities linked to planned disruptions.
“All necessary measures are being taken to control the law-and-order situation,” Alam stated.
The government’s crackdown has also extended to Chhatra League, which was officially banned on 23 October last year following pressure from student activists who spearheaded the mass uprising.
Despite the ban, intelligence reports suggest that Chhatra League members are regrouping underground, attempting to re-establish their influence through covert means.
A recently leaked audio recording has further fuelled concerns about organised efforts to destabilise the country.
In the recording, former Gazipur City Corporation Mayor Jahangir Alam, a fugitive Awami League leader, is reportedly heard instructing associates to orchestrate unrest in Dhaka.
“If our activists cannot move freely during the day, then no one will sleep at night in that city,” he allegedly said.
The resurfacing of political operatives, combined with increasing social unrest, has raised fears of prolonged instability.
While the Yunus administration has so far managed to prevent large-scale violence, law enforcement agencies remain on high alert.
Officials continue to investigate suspected links between exiled political figures and the recent spike in criminal activities, as the interim government seeks to restore order amid an increasingly volatile political landscape.
