Rise of Extremism in Bangladesh: Hizb ut-Tahrir Marches Openly Under Yunus-Led Interim Government

Sanjoy Kumar Barua

Panic and trepidation gripped Dhaka and several other parts of Bangladesh on Friday as the banned terror outfit Hizb ut-Tahrir orchestrated a massive rally in the capital—an ominous signal of the rapidly deteriorating law and order under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.

Defying a long-standing ban, over a thousand operatives of the extremist group mobilized in broad daylight, marching through Dhaka as part of their “March for Khilafat” (March for Caliphate) campaign.

The demonstration, held immediately after Friday prayers at the National Mosque, unfolded in full view of law enforcement, exposing the growing impunity afforded to radical elements under the current administration.

In a shocking turn of events, extremist groups such as Hizb ut-Tahrir—banned in Bangladesh since October 22, 2009, due to their serious threat to public safety—have begun operating openly under the Yunus-led interim government.

This alarming resurgence of radical elements has raised critical concerns about national security and the government’s priorities.

Hizb ut-Tahrir, a group outlawed in multiple Muslim-majority countries for allegedly spreading extremism, was previously restricted by Bangladeshi authorities.

However, on August 10 last year, members of the banned outfit brazenly organized a procession from Baitul Mukarram to the National Press Club in Dhaka, where they even staged a brief rally—an audacious display of defiance against the country’s longstanding counterterrorism efforts.

Criticism has intensified over the Yunus administration’s controversial policy shifts, particularly its decision to unban Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, while simultaneously banning the Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the country’s oldest political party, the Awami League.

Beyond fomenting violence, Hizb ut-Tahrir and its ideological allies have systematically targeted Bangladesh’s national symbols.

Since the Hasina government’s fall amid a mass uprising, various sculptures commemorating the country’s history—particularly those of Bangladesh’s founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman—have been desecrated.

The attack on liberation war memorials underscores a broader agenda to erase the secular and nationalist fabric of the nation.

Hizb ut-Tahrir first took root in Bangladesh during the tenure of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-Jamaat-e-Islami coalition, advocating for an Islamic Caliphate in direct opposition to the country’s democratic framework.

Recognizing the grave threat posed by the group, the Awami League government formally banned Hizb ut-Tahrir on October 22, 2009, citing national security concerns.

However, as the Yunus-led interim government assumed power, terror groups like Hizb ut-Tahrir have started marching openly in Bangladesh.

The march unfolds against the backdrop of escalating violence against minorities and a surge in attacks on cultural, religious, and diplomatic sites across Bangladesh.

This alarming trend was further underscored by a UN report released in January, which exposed the widespread human rights abuses suffered by members of Bangladesh’s Hindu, Ahmadiyya Muslim, and indigenous communities during the anti-discrimination protests that culminated in the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2024 and its turbulent aftermath.

Despite authorities reportedly making 100 arrests in connection with these assaults, the report highlighted a concerning reality—many perpetrators of revenge violence and targeted attacks continue to evade justice, perpetuating a climate of impunity and fear in the South Asian nation.