Abu Jakir and Reza Mahmud “
Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5, Bangladesh has been engulfed in a wave of orchestrated unrest aimed at destabilizing the country.
Political analysts, prominent citizens, and key figures believe that recent violent clashes in Khagrachhari and Rangamati, along with strikes and chaos in the garment sector, are being fueled by forces loyal to the ousted Hasina government.
They argue that the goal is to disrupt the efforts of the interim administration led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus and plunge the nation into further disarray.
In a calculated attempt to spread fear, Hasina’s loyalists are allegedly collaborating with international actors to stoke violence.
Local unrest, mob justice, and labor strikes are part of a broader conspiracy to undermine the current government and derail its plans to restore peace and stability.
Particularly, Hasina’s allies and their foreign counterparts are believed to be inciting tensions in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and the vital garment industry, a cornerstone of Bangladesh’s economy.
On Thursday night, a deadly clash in Khagrachhari left three people dead and many others injured, intensifying tensions in the hill districts.
Violent confrontations between hill people and Bengali settlers erupted in Dighinala upazila, sparking fears of a wider conflict.
The victims, identified as Junan Chakma (20), Dhananjay Chakma (50), and Rubel Chakma (30), succumbed to injuries sustained during overnight gunfire and clashes.
Residents remain in panic as gunfire continued in Khagrachhari’s Narankhaia and Swanirvar areas.
This violence followed an earlier mob beating in Khagrachhari town, where a Bengali man, Md Mamun, was killed on suspicion of stealing a motorcycle.
In retaliation, Bengali settlers attacked indigenous homes and businesses in Dighinala, burning approximately 30 houses and shops.
Eyewitnesses reported that provocative speeches from pro-Hasina elements during a protest incited further violence.
Political analysts view these incidents as part of a larger plot by Hasina’s allies to destabilize the country.
Badiul Alam Majumdar, Secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan), pointed to a clear pattern of chaos aimed at discrediting the interim government.
“This is a conspiracy to destabilize the country,” Majumdar said. “The ousted forces are trying to derail the Yunus government, but they will not succeed.”
The garment sector, one of Bangladesh’s largest industries, has also become a flashpoint for unrest.
Strikes and factory shutdowns have been attributed to pro-Hasina forces, whose aim is to undermine the economy and stoke dissatisfaction among workers.
Labor unrest in key industrial hubs has already resulted in significant economic losses, raising fears of a broader crisis.
Senior BNP leader Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal suggested that foreign intelligence agencies are aiding Hasina’s allies in inciting unrest.
“The remnants of Hasina’s government, with backing from abroad, are trying to destabilize the nation through violence in CHT and the garment sector,” Alal stated.
“Their aim is to weaken the interim government and push Bangladesh into chaos.”
BNP Senior Joint Secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi intensified the allegations, claiming that several high-ranking government officials are actively involved in instigating unrest.
Speaking at a city event on Friday, Rizvi accused certain secretaries and officials of collaborating with the deposed Hasina government to sabotage the country.
“The beneficiaries and associates of the Awami League remain in key positions within the administration,” Rizvi said, urging the interim government to act swiftly.
“Immediate steps must be taken to remove these individuals and hold them accountable for their attempts to destabilize the country.”
Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has called for calm amid the escalating violence.
In a statement on Friday, he expressed sorrow over the killings in Khagrachhari and Rangamati and urged citizens to refrain from mob justice.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining peace, emphasizing that law enforcement agencies have been directed to ensure the safety of all residents.
Dr. Yunus also addressed unrest in the garment sector, promising swift action against those responsible for inciting strikes and unrest.
“The government will not allow anyone to disrupt the peace or harm the economy,” Dr. Yunus declared, vowing that the culprits will face justice.
A high-level government delegation, led by the Home Affairs Advisor, is set to visit Khagrachhari and Rangamati on Saturday to assess the situation.
Advisors on Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, Local Government, and Defense will accompany senior law enforcement officials to ensure the violence does not spiral further.
In response to ongoing clashes, local authorities have imposed Section 144 in Khagrachhari and Rangamati, restricting public gatherings to de-escalate tensions.
However, protests continue across the country, with students and indigenous activists blocking the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka on Friday, demanding justice for attacks on indigenous communities.
The garment sector remains volatile, with strikes disrupting production and causing economic strain. Factory owners have expressed concern that pro-Hasina forces are deliberately stoking labor unrest to destabilize the Yunus administration.
In a tragic instance of mob justice, a mentally unstable man, Tofazzal Hossain, was beaten to death by students at Dhaka University’s Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall on the night of September 19.
Despite his familiarity on campus, students suspected him of theft and took the law into their own hands. The university administration’s delayed response led to his untimely death.