In a disturbing new episode of politically motivated violence in Bangladesh, a young Jubo League activist was abducted and tortured by members of the BNP-affiliated Chhatra Dal in Magura, revealing the alarming nexus between political extremism and criminal enterprise that has deepened under the Yunus regime.

On the evening of April 9, 2025, 24-year-old Mohammad Sohan had gone to a tea stall near the Chhoto Bridge area in Magura—an everyday routine in small-town Bangladesh. But this ordinary act turned into a nightmare when he was suddenly abducted by a group led by Ishtiaq Rabbi, Joint General Secretary of Chhatra Dal’s Private University Wing.

According to witnesses and family accounts, Sohan was subjected to hours of brutal physical assault. The attackers forcibly took control of his online freelancing accounts—his only source of livelihood—and extorted over BDT 1 million (approx. USD 9,000) via mobile banking platforms. They then deleted his freelancing accounts, wiping out years of work and financial independence in a calculated attempt to destroy his future.

This incident isn’t just a case of individual violence; it is emblematic of a growing pattern in Bangladesh where political wings of opposition parties, notably the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, are increasingly resorting to coercion, digital extortion, and abduction to intimidate government supporters and activists. Under the protection—or neglect—of the current regime, these forces operate with impunity.

What makes the Magura incident particularly chilling is the dual violation it represents: a violent physical assault, and the calculated dismantling of a young man’s digital and economic life. In a country where youth unemployment is high, online freelancing has been a rare source of empowerment. The deliberate destruction of that livelihood speaks to a broader war on self-reliance, expression, and freedom of association.

Yet, there has been no public condemnation from the government or calls for an impartial investigation. The silence from international human rights organizations is equally disquieting. It raises urgent questions about global consistency on issues of political violence and economic rights.

The Yunus regime’s tolerance of such acts—and its failure to ensure justice—signals an erosion of both rule of law and digital rights in Bangladesh. When political affiliation becomes a reason to destroy someone’s economic future, democracy itself begins to falter.