Amid the deep crisis and a hostile environment of lawlessness and anarchy in the neighbouring nation, Bangladesh's interim government spearheaded by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus on Friday said it will contain vandalism and arson taking place across the country.
The government's statement came amid concern from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) headed by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and neighboring India over the recent attacks on the historic house of Bangladesh's independence leader and ex-PM Sheikh Hasina's father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Dhaka.
Citing an intelligence official the Associated Press reported that there were reports of some 70 attacks across Bangladesh since Wednesday following the vandalism and arson in Rahman's home. Moreover, Bangladesh's leading English-language newspaper Daily Star also reported on Friday that acts of violence targeting Hasina's supporters took place in at least 20 districts.
Besides Mujubur's home, the outrageous mob also targeted the residence of a veteran politician from Hasina's party, and former Bangladesh president, Abdul Hamid.
Since the ouster of Hasina in August 2024, mobs have repeatedly declared their protest plans in advance and the actions have been aired live on social media or on many mainstream television stations. At least 80 Islamic sufi shrines have been attacked, allegedly by hard-line Islamists, according to rights groups.
What Did The Interim Government Say?
Besides issuing warnings that stern actions would be taken against acts of violence, the Yunus-led interim government also held Hasina's “provocative” remarks accountable for the outrage.
Late on Friday, another statement attributed to Yunus said the interim leader called on all citizens “to immediately restore complete law and order and to ensure there will be no further attacks on” properties associated with the family of Hasina and her supporters.
The statements came more than 24 hours after the attack on the building from where Rahman declared Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971.
Attack On Mujibur's Home
The Wednesday night attack on Mujibur's home came after a daylong campaign on social media by Hasina critics and student leaders. They declared a “bulldozer procession” toward Rahman's house, which was turned into a museum by Hasina. As the protesters stormed the building, police stood by. A team of soldiers later attempted to stop them but then left.
This week's violence also followed allegations by a leading minority rights group that the interim government has failed to protect them, a claim denied by the authorities, who say the incidents have occurred for “political reasons” and are not related to community issues.
In a statement early Friday, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party headed by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Hasina's main political rival, urged the Yunus-led government to “bring the situation under control.”
“Otherwise, anarchy will spread across the country,” it said.
MEA Summons Bangladesh Envoy
In another development, India summoned Bangladesh's acting high commissioner in New Delhi on Friday. The move came a day after the Yunus-led government demanded that India stop Hasina from making “provocative” statements from exile. The relationship between the two neighbors has been strained in recent months.
In a statement, India's Ministry of External Affairs said Friday that recent comments attributed to Hasina have been made in her individual capacity, in which India has no role to play.
"It is, however, regrettable that regular statements made by Bangladesh authorities continue to portray India negatively, holding us responsible for internal governance issues. These statements by Bangladesh are in fact responsible for the persistent negativity,” it said.
Bangladeshi political analyst Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah said Thursday that such violence could pose a serious threat to the aspiration of a democratic transition through an election.
Yunus has said a new election will be held either in December or by June 2026.
