Given what has been happening in Bangladesh since August 5, it is only natural for anyone to raise questions. Can a country function like this, where people are dying at the hands of mobs every day? Beatings to death on suspicion of theft, bodies burned over allegations of blasphemy, women publicly humiliated—can these be the images of a civilized society?
There is no denying that since the so-called interim government led by Yunus came to power, the country’s law and order situation has deteriorated alarmingly. Repeatedly, stern warnings are issued in strong language, yet no concrete action is visible on the ground. The question is: is this truly incapacity, or deliberate silence?
Many believe that the same forces that were behind the riots in July are now continuing to create chaos in the country. The forces that illegally ousted an elected government and seized power—do they genuinely want to establish the rule of law? Or is this disorder convenient for them?
According to statistics from Ain o Salish Kendra, 199 people have been killed by mob lynching over the past year. This figure is not just a statistic; behind it lie the unbearable suffering of 199 families and the stories of hundreds of lives being completely upended. The Human Rights Culture Foundation says this terror is increasing at an alarming pace. So are the government’s promises of tough measures nothing more than empty rhetoric?
The remarks of human rights activist Noor Khan are deeply significant. He says mobs are being created to instill fear in society. No one can speak freely; everyone is paralyzed by fear. Is this then the face of the new Bangladesh? In a country where even freedom fighter Latif Siddiqui is not allowed to safely attend a discussion meeting, what must the condition of ordinary people be?
Dhaka University professor Jobaida Nasreen has rightly said that mobs are a politically used weapon. The question now is: who is using this weapon, and why? If the administration and the police truly wanted to, would it not be possible to stop this mob violence? Or are they more interested in remaining silent spectators?
Anu Muhammad’s questions are even more direct. Who is breaking sculptures, attacking shrines, injuring freedom fighters? Everyone knows the answers to these questions. Then why is no action being taken? Has the Yunus government accepted this chaos, or was this their plan from the very beginning?
TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman has rightly said that the government has failed to properly resist or protest. Issuing perfunctory statements achieves nothing. But the question remains: did they truly try? Or is this the situation they actually desire?
Perhaps it is foolish to expect democratic values from those who came to power by unconstitutionally overthrowing an elected government. The violence and brutality witnessed during the July riots are simply continuing now. The only difference is that then the objective was to topple the government; now the objective is to keep society gripped by fear and terror.
The police’s silent role is the most alarming. These incidents are happening right in front of them, yet they remain passive spectators. Is this their incapacity, or instructions from above? When a country’s law-enforcement agencies fail to protect the people, what does that mean for the country’s future?
Under the current circumstances, ordinary people’s lives have become unbearable. No one knows what will happen, where, or when. A small suspicion, a rumor, a difference of opinion—anything can become the pretext for forming a mob. Teachers, students, doctors, journalists, even police personnel are not safe.
No matter how much the Yunus government talks about zero tolerance, there is no reflection of it in reality. Rather, it appears they want this disorder. Because it would be difficult for their illegitimate rule to survive in a stable, peaceful Bangladesh. Perhaps they believe they can hold on to power only amid fear and terror.
The consequences of the coup carried out with the support of foreign powers, backing from militant organizations, and the endorsement of some wayward military officers are now visible to all. The path the country is heading down is terrifying. Mob terror has taken the form of a pandemic, and by allowing this pandemic to spread, the Yunus government is proving that the lives and security of the people hold no value for them.
Source: Ekattor TV
