Indian Council of World Affairs

The ongoing political instability after the dismissal of the Awami League government has intensified religious persecution and Islamic radicalism. The paper will try to provide recent statements made by international actors, its reactions, the reality and the future impact of such radicalism. 

Since last year, India has been raising concerns about rising Islamic radicalism and persecution of ethnic and religious minorities in Bangladesh. The interim government in Dhaka had countered that no such persecution was taking place. However, the recent statements made by Tulsi Gabbard, the US Director of National Intelligence, with regard to rising Islamic radicalism and persecution of religious minorities in Bangladesh, have brought back the issue into the open. This paper brings forth the concerns raised, the ground realities and their probable impact. 

The Concern

The Ministry of External Affairs of India has expressed concern about rising persecution and intolerance against the religious minorities in Bangladesh. While replying to a query raised in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian parliament, it was stated that “India’s concerns regarding rising radicalism and the need to ensure safety and protection of Hindus and other minority communities in Bangladesh have been conveyed and reiterated to the authorities of the Interim Government of Bangladesh on various occasions, including at the highest level.”[i] A report titled “Bangladesh Minorities Under Siege: A Wake-Up Call for the International Community,” prepared by the Centre for Democracy, Pluralism and Human Rights (CDPHR) in New Delhi, pointed out that after the dismissal of the Hasina government on 5 August till 9 August 2024, there were 190 reported cases of looting, 32 homes set on fire, 16 temples desecrated and two incidents of sexual violence.[ii] This concern was raised by the Indian government and the Indian media which has been criticised by the interim government in Bangladesh, stating that India was falsely exaggerating such alleged persecutions.[iii] The interim government of Bangladesh also accused the Indian media of propagating a false narrative. 

However, during her recent visit to India, Tulsi Gabbard, the US Director of National Intelligence, while replying to an Indian media channel about the present situation in Bangladesh, stated that, “The long-time unfortunate persecution, killing, and abuse of religious minorities like Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and others has been a major area of concern for the US government and President Trump and his administration.”[iv]

She further stated, “The threat of Islamist terrorists and the global effort of different terror groups are rooted in the same ideology and objective, which is to rule or govern with an Islamist caliphate,” adding that “This affects people of any other religion, other than the one that they find acceptable, and they choose to carry this out with terror and very violent ways and means.”[v] Bangladesh has stated that such concerns raised by Gabbard are factually incorrect and are dangerous, as they might trigger sectarian violence in Bangladesh.[vi]

The Ground Reality

In February, a new student-led political party called the National Citizen Party (NCP) or Jatiya Nagorik Party (NJP) was launched in Dhaka. This party was established by members of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement (also known as Students Against Discrimination). They have publicly acknowledged the central role of the Islami Chhatra Shibir (students’ wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami) in leading the July–August 2024 movement for regime change and the important role it has played in the formation of the new political front.[vii] The role and influence of Mahfuz Alam, a leading member of the Islami Chhatra Shibir, presently Information Advisor to the Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus and one of the main leaders of the National Citizen Party, needs to be noted. On 25 September 2024, while speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative during the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor to Bangladesh’s interim government, described Mahfuz Alam as “the mastermind” behind the Student-People’s uprising that led to the downfall of Sheikh Hasina’s administration.[viii] It should be noted that members of the Hizb-ut Tahrir, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and Hefazat-e-Islam have been included as advisers to the special advisor.[ix]

On 16 December 2024, Mahfuz Alam showed the Indian states of Tripura, Assam and West Bengal a part of Bangladesh in an image shared in his Facebook post while declaring the need for “a new geography and system.” He further stated in the post that India has pursued a programme of “control and colonisation” over Bengal and the northeastern regions. Due to protests within Bangladesh and from India regarding posting such comments, he deleted the post.[x] Similarly, in an interview with Prothom Alo, he had stated that many (in Bangladesh) are now discussing the demand for establishing a caliphate. Even Jamaat-e-Islami seeks a caliphate, but the question is how. It’s important to understand that in the present era, the state has become such an oppressive institution that it doesn’t align with any religion.”[xi] Alam also posted on X (now deleted) about their desire to establish a caliphate in Bangladesh based on Sharia law and has even spoken about a civil war to achieve this goal.[xii] Recently, a rally titled “March for Khilafat,” demanding the establishment of an Islamic caliphate in the country led by the banned Islamist group Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT), was taken out, which later clashed with the police in Dhaka.[xiii]

Impact

The birth of the third political front under the garb of members of the students who were responsible in the regime change, which is being portrayed as reliving the days of 1971, can turn into a major political voice for the Jamaat, which was a regional political alliance partner both for the Awami League (AL) and the Bangladesh National Party (BNP) in the past. The NCP to date does not want the participation of AL in the forthcoming elections[xiv], and can turn into a front-runner, keeping BNP as a junior partner. Mahfuz Alam stated, “People are tired of the two political parties (obviously the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party). They trust in (sic) us.”[xv] When one comes to know the intent of the top brass of the new political party and the rising influence of banned Islamic radical outfits and the frequent rewriting of Bangladesh’s political history after each regime change, the present political dynamics in Bangladesh may make an indelible impact on its social fabric. While there seems to be no respite for any religious minority from being targeted or randomly persecuted in the short term, the entrenchment of the radical elements within Bangladesh, including through cross-border linkages with like-minded outfits abroad over the long-term remains a serious cause of concern for the Indian sub-continent.

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*Dr. Dhrubajyoti Bhattacharjee, Research Fellow, Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA)
Disclaimer: The views expressed are personal.

Endnotes  

[i] Question No. 2783 Condition Of Minorities In Bangladesh, Rajya Sabha, Unstarred Question No- 2783, Answered On– 19/12/2024, Ministry of External Affairs, December 19, 2024, https://www.mea.gov.in/rajya-sabha.htm?dtl/38818/QUESTION+NO+2783+CONDITION+OF+MINORITIES+IN+BANGLADESH accessed on March 20, 2025.

[ii] Centre for Democracy, Pluralism and Human Rights (CDPHR), https://www.cdphr.org/index; “Report highlights growing persecution of minorities in Bangladesh, calls for international action,” Deccan Herald, 13 December 2024, https://www.deccanherald.com/world/report-highlights-growing-persecution-of-minorities-in-bangladesh-calls-for-international-action-3316879 accessed on March 20, 2025.

[iii] “'Highly Exaggerated': Dhaka on MEA,s Data on Attacks on Hindus, Other Minorities in Bangladesh,” The Wire, December 21, 2024, https://thewire.in/south-asia/bangladesh-mea-india-hindu-minority-attack accessed on March 20, 2025.

[iv] “US Intelligence Chief's 'Islamic Caliphate’ Remark On Crisis In Bangladesh,” NDTV, March 17, 2025, https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/us-intelligence-chief-tulsi-gabbards-islamic-caliphate-remark-on-crisis-in-bangladesh-7942220 accessed on March 19, 2025.

[v] “US Intelligence Chief's 'Islamic Caliphate' Remark On Crisis In Bangladesh,” NDTV, March 17, 2025, https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/us-intelligence-chief-tulsi-gabbards-islamic-caliphate-remark-on-crisis-in-bangladesh-7942220 accessed on March 19, 2025.

[vi] ‘Misleading and Damaging’: Bangladesh slams US Intel Chief Tulsi Gabbard remark on minority persecution,” Times of India, March 18, 2025, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/misleading-and-damaging-bangladesh-slams-us-intel-chief-tulsi-gabbard-remark-on-minority-persecution/articleshow/119141353.cms accessed on March 20, 2025.

[vii] Veena Sikri, “The Geo-Strategics of Regime Change in Bangladesh,” National Security Vol. 7, No. 4, 2024, p. 241.

[viii] “Dr Yunus introduces Mahfuz Alam as mastermind of student movement,” Dhaka Tribune, September 25, 2024, https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/foreign-affairs/359658/dr-yunus-introduces-mahfuz-alam-as-mastermind-of accessed on March 19, 2025.

[ix] Veena Sikri, “The Geo-Strategics of Regime Change in Bangladesh,” National Security Vol. 7, No. 4, 2024, p. 240.

[x] Bangladesh Adviser’s Provocative Comments on Victory Day Spark, The Northeastern Chronicle, December 18, 2024, https://www.northeasternchronicle.in/news/bangladesh-advisers-24/ accessed on March 19, 2025.

[xi] “Mahfuz’s Interview: People are looking for a new political space,” Bangladesh Centre, October 4, 2024, https://bangladeshcentre.org.uk/2024/10/04/people-are-looking-for-a-new-political-space/ accessed on March 19, 2025.

[xii] Veena Sikri, “The Geo-Strategics of Regime Change in Bangladesh,” National Security Vol. 7, No. 4, 2024, p. 240.

[xiii] “Bangladesh police used tear gas to disperse Islamist march in Dhaka,” Reuters, March 7, 2025 https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/bangladesh-police-use-tear-gas-disperse-islamist-march-dhaka-2025-03-07/ accessed on March 20, 2025.

[xiv] “Student-led National Citizen Party doesn't want Bangladesh Awami League's participation in polls,” The New Indian Express, March 19, 2025, https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2025/Mar/19/student-led-national-citizen-party-doesnt-want-bangladesh-awami-leagues-participation-in-polls accessed on March 20, 2025.

[xv] “Bangladesh’s National Citizen Party: A new dawn or fleeting revolution?” The Pioneer, March 10, 2025, https://www.dailypioneer.com/2025/columnists/bangladesh---s-national-citizen-party---a-new-dawn-or-fleeting-revolution-.html accessed on March 20, 2025.