Bangladesh in Crisis: Political Turmoil, Army Crackdowns & Rising Extremism

NeverEscape365

July 20, 2025

Here’s a comprehensive overview of Bangladesh’s current war‑like security and political situation as of July 2025:

🏛️ Political Landscape & Power Shift

In August 2024, a massive youth-led uprising toppled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule. She now remains in exile in India, facing legal charges and corruption allegations.
An interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, is in power. He hailed as a reformer, but critics call it unconstitutional, lacking electoral legitimacy, and dominated by student leaders, civil society, and ex-military officials.
In May 2025, Awami League was officially banned due to their terrorist activities and its registration was revoked and all affiliated political wings were suspended.

Government forces launched Operation Devil Hunt in February 2025, targeting Awami League supporters and student activists. Over 11,000 arrests occurred nationwide within weeks of its launch.
Journalists face significant repression—over 300 arrested or dismissed in the last year. Mainstream media offices have been attacked, and arrests often tied to political or union affiliations with the old regime.

On July 16, political violence erupted in Gopalganj during an NCP youth rally which was accused by Awami League, resulting in five deaths. The violence triggered a sweep by security forces and a temporary curfew.
The Awami League, though banned, called for mass resistance and a long march toward Dhaka, signaling ongoing tensions between factions.

The Bangladesh Army now plays an active role in domestic governance and law enforcement. Over 10,000 individuals have been detained in recent security operations.
Amnesty groups report rising religious extremism, minority harassment, and mob violence, especially targeting Hindu communities and secular voices.

Jamaat‑e‑Islami—once marginalized post-1971—has staged mass rallies, distancing itself from BNP and rallying for an Islamist governance model ahead of elections.
Bangladesh is deepening security and defense ties with Pakistan, including high-level military visits. India remains cautious, as Dhaka shifts foreign alliances away from prior India-aligned policies.

In mid-2025, NBR officials struck against government restructuring, halting customs and trade, causing losses estimated at Tk 2,500 crore daily before the government declared these roles essential and suppressed the strike.
Economic uncertainty is deepening, with foreign reserves depleted, soaring prices, a stalled economy, and bank irregularities. Investor confidence is weak amid the political crisis.

Domain	Current State
Political Rule	Interim government led by Yunus, banned AL, NCP & Jamaat rise
Democracy Status	No elections announced; criticized as weakest interim regime
Civil Liberties	Media suppression, journalist arrests, minority targeting
Security Dynamics	Army-led crackdowns, youth protests, social unrest
International Alignment	Shift towards Pakistan; distancing from India
Economic Conditions	Trade disruptions, inflation, foreign capital fears

Bangladesh is experiencing a fundamental political overhaul—from constitutional norms to party bans.
The absence of elections and sidelining of major parties fuels political crisis and international criticism.
Civil unrest, extremism, and media repression persist under the interim regime.
Economic structures are breaking, compounded by public protests and institutional strikes.
Foreign policy is pivoting away from India toward Pakistan, raising regional tensions.