In the wake of orchestrated violence in Bangladesh, perpetrated by the Al Qaeda-linked Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the ultra-Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), and their jihadist allies, with covert support from foreign forces, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has accused these groups of attempting to undermine the country’s development and tarnish its international reputation.
She called on the citizens to aid in apprehending those responsible and bringing them to justice, emphasizing the need to capture terrorists and subversive elements hiding throughout the country.
Since July 17, 2024, the international community and media outlets have been portraying the countrywide mayhem as protests by students demanding reforms in the government job quota system.
In reality, thousands of members of the Al Qaeda-connected BNP and ultra-Islamist Jamaat, along with their armed cadres and Pakistani spy agency Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI)-trained terrorists, were continuing extreme notoriety and terrorist acts targeting public-private properties, key-point installations, police stations, prisons, members of law enforcement agencies, religious minorities – especially Hindus – and unarmed civilians.
Meanwhile, media reports indicate that the BNP-Jamaat nexus and its Islamist-jihadist cohorts organized protests against Sheikh Hasina and her government in several Western cities, including Rome, Paris, Manchester, London [at Trafalgar Square], and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
A report published in a portal named ‘Muslim News Network,’ which claims to be the “Voice of American Muslims”, stated that a massive protest was organized by the American Bangladeshi Empowerment Initiative, South Asian Solidarity Foundation, South Asian Policy Initiative, and Human Rights and Development of Bangladesh at Times Square in New York City.
It is worth mentioning that ‘Muslim News Network’ is a project of Ansary Academy USA Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization [EIN: 87-2243207] located at 8559 168 Street, Jamaica, NY 11432.
Mohammad Imran Hossain (Ansary), a Ph.D. candidate at Robert Morris University, PA, and an active member of BNP, is running these entities.
Interestingly, none of the mainstream US media covered this so-called massive protest, as it was already clear to them that such acts were funded and planned by BNP’s acting chairman and convicted terrorist Tarique Rahman.
Following this protest, several American journalists contacted me on my regular phone (as the Internet was shut down) and asked if this matter was also reported in the local press in Bangladesh.
Some prominent American journalists also wanted to verify reports they heard about members of law enforcement agencies, including Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), being brutally murdered and hung on flyovers.
They also informed me that a few policemen were executed through beheading by the BNP-Jamaat and its Islamist-jihadist cohorts in a pattern similar to that of Al Qaeda and Islamic State (ISIS).
Meanwhile, West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, known for her extreme support for Islamists and jihadists, stated in a public address in Kolkata that she would “keep the doors of West Bengal open for people in distress from the neighboring country” and offer them shelter. She also posted similar comments on her account on platform X.
Bangladesh expressed dismay at such actions by Mamata Banerjee. The Bangladesh High Commission in India called Mamata Banerjee’s remark “provocative”, with “false elements concerning the internal affairs of Bangladesh”.
On July 26, 2024, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement strongly warning Mamata Banerjee, stating that no provincial chief minister has the right to interfere in the domestic issues of any foreign nation.
Following the countrywide mayhem in Bangladesh, media commentaries are already questioning the organizational capabilities of the ruling Awami League. They state that leaders of the party and its front organizations, such as Jubo League (youth front), Chhatra League (students front), and Swechasebak League (voluntary front), have become lethargic in focusing on strengthening the organization.
Instead, they are busy with numerous forms of financial crimes, including extortion, property grabbing, tender manipulation, and mugging, using their positions in their respective organizations as tools for accruing wealth.
During the past fifteen-and-a-half years, a large number of “highbred” leaders have emerged into various positions with no commitment to the party.
For Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the ruling Awami League, another major issue is their total inability and failure to counter propaganda on social media and international media outlets.
While well-orchestrated propaganda has been ongoing on Meta (formerly known as Facebook), YouTube, and TikTok for years, the Awami League has no mechanism or capability to effectively counter such acts. Although the ruling party has entrusted some organizations to deal with the matter, their efforts have been worthless and have often backfired.
Similarly, the Awami League government is unable to counter the propaganda campaign run in international media for years. The press department of Bangladesh’s missions abroad, which is supposed to play a vital role in this case, has also been a total failure because, in almost all cases, the press departments are filled with loyalists of the ruling party without evaluating their ability to interact with journalists, establish relations, and regularly provide them feedback about issues related to Bangladesh.
During the last fifteen-and-a-half years, Sheikh Hasina has given licenses to dozens of private television channels and daily newspapers, hoping these media outlets would play a role in favour of national interest. Unfortunately, none of the local private television channels or vernacular dailies have any non-Bengali audience in the world.
The ruling Awami League has miserably failed in establishing a genuinely effective English newspaper during these years. Although several English newspapers are known as loyalists to the ruling party and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, they fail to perform expected roles during each crisis period.
Instead, they often follow so-called popular opinions as part of their desire for clickbait. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government do not have a single effective English newspaper that would defend the ruling party. During the recent mayhem caused by the BNP-Jamaat and Islamist-jihadist conglomerate, the ruling Awami League has realized its lack of a strong media outlet to effectively counter propaganda campaigns and publish the truth, thus exposing the anti-Bangladesh elements. However, once this challenging time is over, they are likely to forget the matter, as has happened in the past.
Another extremely important matter missing attention from local media and policymakers is the case of Hizb ut-Tahrir – an anti-democracy pro-Caliphate outfit that has deeply penetrated all college and university campuses in Bangladesh.
Hizb ut-Tahrir has attracted attention for its activities on university campuses in Bangladesh. While promoting itself as a peaceful organization seeking to establish a global Islamic caliphate, its methods and ideology have raised concerns among government authorities and academic institutions.
This group advocates for the unification of Muslim-majority countries under a single Islamic state ruled by Sharia law. The organization has been banned in several countries, including Bangladesh, due to its controversial tactics and goals. It often uses campus platforms to disseminate its message, targeting young minds with its vision of a caliphate and promoting its interpretation of Islamic principles.
Hizb ut-Tahrir’s activities on university campuses in Bangladesh include distributing pamphlets, organizing lectures, and conducting discussions on various topics related to Islam, politics, and the establishment of a caliphate. The group often focuses on criticizing the existing political system in Bangladesh, alleging corruption and a departure from Islamic principles. It calls for the overthrow of secular governments and the implementation of its vision for an Islamic state.
During the recent student protests in Bangladesh, Hizb ut-Tahrir activists must have played an effective part, yet this matter remains under the radar of the media and law enforcement agencies.
While Bangladesh will soon recover from the injuries of the mayhem witnessed since July 18, to ensure the stability and progress of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government must address these challenges head-on.
Strengthening the organizational structure of the ruling party, enhancing the effectiveness of their media outreach, and countering extremist ideologies must be prioritized. The government’s resilience in the face of such orchestrated chaos will not only restore confidence among the citizens but also send a clear message to the international community that Sheikh Hasina remains a strong and capable leader. By taking decisive action now, the government can fortify its position and continue to guide Bangladesh towards a prosperous future.
