Published: 11:48 PM, 01 August 2026
Unmasking the Conspiracy: How Law, Order and Political Maturity Are Countering State-Destabilizing Extremism
Efforts to grant equal rights to Muslim women faced heavy pushback from radical factions in Bangladesh. Photo: AP
Bernard Priyam
Bangladesh’s path to sovereignty was forged through a costly struggle for independence, yet the structural threats to its secular and democratic foundation remain a defining challenge. Since the Liberation War, fundamentalist forces have posed the single largest obstacle to national stability. Historically, these groups have manipulated religious sentiment to prop up autocratic regimes, trading ideological dominance for political patronage.
This dangerous trend reached a critical point under previous administrations, where religious extremism expanded with implicit state backing. Despite clear anti-constitutional propaganda and anti-democratic maneuvers, these elements operated with virtual impunity.
A Legacy of Orchestrated Anarchy
The historical trajectory of this phenomenon is well-documented. From the August 17, 2005 nationwide serial bombings, the Udichi attack, the Ramna Batamul Blitz
Holey Artisan Bakery Tragedy to the foiled pressure cooker bomb plots in Ashulia, each event formed part of a coordinated strategy to install fundamentalist control through fear.
Following the upheaval of 2024, the administrative framework and everyday public life in Bangladesh descended into unprecedented chaos. Statements delivered in Parliament by the Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed revealed the extent of the crisis, noting that dominant extremist groups had forcibly occupied the interior and surrounding grounds of 'Jamuna'—the official residence of the head of government. During that turbulent period, public suffering mounted as the state apparatus buckled under a surge of syndicated crime and mob violence.
In response, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), under the tactical guidance of Tarique Rahman, navigated the crisis with political acumen to secure elections, consolidating a broad coalition of pro-Liberation forces around a shared democratic mandate.
The Modern Threat Landscape
Curiously dormant during previous tenures, these self-serving radical factions have re-emerged with aggressive, destabilizing demands. Their current agenda seeks to dismantle social harmony through cultural aggression, openly advocating for:
The establishment of a Caliphate and rigid enforcement of Sharia law.
The immediate cessation of women’s education and socio-economic empowerment.
The systematic demolition of historical shrines (mazars) and cultural landmarks.
Compounding this domestic threat is the renewed activity of international and regional terrorist networks. Intelligence indicators highlight widespread covert operations, including the planting of improvised explosive devices in public areas, the proliferation of unregulated institutions used as bomb-making cover, heightened border smuggling, illicit arms procurement, and attempts to establish Bangladesh as a transit hub for global narcotics trade.
Setting the Record Straight on Anti-Terrorism
Historically, political opponents have sought to link the BNP with the rise of extremism whenever the party assumes office. During the 2001–2006 administration, notorious militant leaders such as Bangla Bhai and Shaykh Abdur Rahman attempted to establish terror networks. However, mainstream political narrative often overlooked the decisive state apparatus response. Through coordinated operations involving the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), police, and armed forces, the government effectively dismantled those networks at their roots. Despite hundreds of subsequent official investigations, no organizational link between the BNP and these terror cells was ever established.
A similar pattern of destabilization has emerged recently. Explosives were discovered along the path of the Hindu community’s traditional Rath Yatra procession, while criminal syndicates seized territory in Chittagong’s Jungle Salimpur. Simultaneously, coordinated campaigns targeted public entertainment such as the FIFA World Cup 2026 by hoisting radical flags nationwide.
This visual campaign relied on a dual-track strategy: one faction incited devout citizens to raise the banners under religious pretexts, while another orchestrated media narratives claiming the symbols belonged to Al-Qaeda or ISIS. Observers note that these two narratives work in tandem to orchestrate international panic and undermine domestic governance.
A Firm Hand and Regional Backing
Despite these coordinated pressures, the administration under BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has adopted a measured yet uncompromising posture. Moving past historical grievances, the party leadership has prioritized institutional stability, rule of law, and zero tolerance for religious extremism or mob violence.
Concrete security measures have already yielded key results:
High-Profile Apprehensions: Top criminal figures, including David Imon, have been taken into custody.
Judicial Expediting: Fast-track legal proceedings have been instituted for sensitive crimes, particularly sexual violence.
Territorial Control: Full government authority has been restored in Jungle Salimpur, alongside heightened intelligence surveillance across the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
While political adversaries at home and abroad continue to utilize outdated narratives alleging state tolerance of extremism, current security metrics suggest a stable broader environment. Neither fugitive political factions nor hostile foreign intelligence services retain the capacity to destabilize the nation under the guise of terror. Supported by strong diplomatic alignment with regional neighbors and widespread public resistance, attempts to subvert Bangladesh's constitutional order face an insurmountable barrier.
Bernard Priyam is a
freelancer and a columnist.
