Bangladesh in Collapse: Lawlessness, Fear, and the Failure of Muhammad Yunus

Dr Milton Hasnat

Bangladesh is in crisis: brutal murders in broad daylight, imams attacked during Friday prayers, political activists slaughtered, extortion and rape are surging across the nation. And at the centre of it all is a Nobel Laureate, now the Chief Advisor of an unelected government, watching in silence as the country burns. Over the past eleven months, the country has witnessed an alarming rise in public violence: murders, attacks on religious leaders, political killings, and terror in the streets.

We ask the question that millions of Bangladeshis are now whispering, some even shouting: Has Dr Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Peace Prize winner, become a silent spectator to chaos? Or worse, a willing enabler of the breakdown of Bangladesh? We examine the sharp and frightening collapse of law and order in Bangladesh under the interim government. We expose the alarming rise of extortion, rape, political killings, and the growing public sentiment that Sheikh Hasina’s elected government, once criticised, was far better than the tyranny we now see.

Dhaka: Man Stoned to Death Near Mitford Hospital

Just days ago, in the heart of the capital city, near the historic Mitford Hospital in Old Dhaka, a man was brutally killed in broad daylight, using stones. His only “crime”? He allegedly refused to pay extortion money to local goons. Eyewitnesses say the assailants showed no fear, no urgency. They attacked with such ferocity that even seasoned emergency workers were shocked by the victim’s injuries.

This wasn’t a robbery gone wrong. This was an open message. A show of power by those who believe they now control the streets. This was not a one-off incident. It is now the new normal.

Chandpur: Imam Hacked for Friday Sermon

On the same day, hundreds of kilometres away in Chandpur, another deeply troubling incident occurred. During the sacred Friday prayers, a mosque imam was attacked and hacked with sharp weapons simply because someone in the congregation didn’t like his khutbah, the sermon.

Yes, you heard that right. A religious leader, delivering a peaceful message during the holiest moment of the week, was attacked inside the mosque. This was not just an assault on a person; it was an assault on the sanctity of religion, on the freedom of belief, and the tradition of peaceful worship in Bangladesh.

Khulna: Youth Leader’s Tendons Severed

In Khulna, the violence took an even darker political turn. A local political leader, affiliated with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s youth wing, was first attacked, and then his Achilles tendons were slashed. He was left bleeding to death, another reminder that political dissent in today’s Bangladesh may come at the cost of your life.

Reports say he was targeted as part of a revenge attack, possibly orchestrated by rival political forces or internal factions. What’s clear is that no region, no party, no group is safe anymore.

A Surge in Extortion and Sexual Violence

Across towns and villages, reports of extortion and rape are rising at an unprecedented level.

• Local traders are being forced to pay protection money to armed gangs.

• Women are increasingly falling victim to gang rape, with survivors reporting threats and police indifference.

• Human rights groups that once released daily reports have gone eerily silent.

Bangladeshis today fear not only criminals, but also the silence of the state.

The Interim Government’s Deadly Silence

At the centre of this crisis is the unelected interim government, formed under the guise of national interest. Its chief advisor is Dr Muhammad Yunus, once celebrated globally for fighting poverty, now accused of failing to protect his people. Despite the bloodshed, Dr Yunus has remained silent, issuing no public statements, implementing no reforms, and showing no accountability. Instead of restoring peace, he is accused of playing political games, delaying elections, and tightening his grip on power.

Delaying Democracy: A Dangerous Game

When this government took over, it promised free and fair elections. But months have passed, and no election schedule has been announced. Political observers say Dr Yunus is deliberately delaying the election to consolidate control. His unelected regime has no mandate from the people and no right to rule indefinitely. Bangladeshis now ask: Was the dream of reform and democracy nothing more than a deception?

Manipulating the Masses: How the Awami League Was Removed

This interim government did not come to power through the ballot box. It tricked the public with promises of reform and fairness, manipulated institutions, and used global allies to discredit the Awami League government, painting it as autocratic. However, many people now claim they were misled. They say Sheikh Hasina’s government, though not perfect, was far more peaceful, functional, and accountable than what they are experiencing now. Markets were stable, and Streets were safer. The economy was growing. Under Hasina, you could criticise the government and live to tell the tale. Today, you might not.

The Return of Jamaat and Political Islam?

Some experts also point to the resurgence of Jamaat-e-Islami, the Islamist political party that has historically partnered with BNP and funded student militancy.

The recent violence against an imam may not be an accident. It may reflect deeper ideological rifts between moderate Islam and political Islamism. Bangladesh, a country known for its religious tolerance, is once again facing the ugly spectre of extremism, this time dressed as political opposition.

A Coordinated Pattern of Terror?

These aren’t isolated incidents. From Dhaka to Chandpur to Khulna, and other regions across the country, a familiar pattern is emerging:

• Street-level violence

• Public executions

• Targeting of religious and political figures

• The rise of lawless extortion gangs

• And most worryingly, impunity for the perpetrators

Many of these acts are being attributed to factions linked to BNP, Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal, Jamaat-Shibir, and the newly formed king’s party, the National Citizens Party (NCP), reportedly patronized by Dr Muhammad Yunus. These are political and radical religious groups with long-standing reputations for violence and disruption.

Observers warn that this appears to be an orchestrated campaign to destabilize the country, a return to the dark days of political terror, campus killings, and ideological warfare.

Public Sentiment: A Dangerous Shift

Bangladeshis are beginning to speak out: “We didn’t fight for this. We were promised reform, but we got violence.” “Sheikh Hasina’s era was far better than this. At least there was stability.”

The shift in public opinion is growing fast. Dr Yunus, once admired, is now seen as disconnected, unaccountable, and complicit in a political disaster.

The Hypocrisy of the Global Community

And yet, foreign diplomats and international NGOs remain silent. These are the same actors who were once hyperactive under the Awami League:

• Issuing statements for every arrest.

• Condemning police action over minor protests.

• Demanding accountability in the name of democracy.

But now? When people are being murdered, raped, and silenced, they say nothing. Is this silence driven by bias? Or by geopolitical strategy? Whatever the reason, it is hypocritical, unethical, and dangerous.

Collapse of Institutions–A Nation in Freefall

Bangladesh’s law enforcement agencies appear paralyzed. Either unwilling or unable to respond. The justice system has slowed.

Political thugs roam free. There is no parliament, no accountability, no election schedule, only fear. Bangladesh is now a country ruled by uncertainty and violence, under a Nobel laureate who refuses to act.

What Must Be Done–Urgently:

• Immediate restoration of constitutional order through a transparent, inclusive election under a neutral, caretaker government.

• End to political violence and arrest of all perpetrators, regardless of affiliation.

• Accountability from Dr Muhammad Yunus and his advisors for failing to govern.

• Re-engagement from the international community, not selective silence.

• Revival of democratic institutions and respect for public voice.

Bangladesh today is not what it was promised to be. It is not a peaceful transition. It is not reform. It is fear, it is lawlessness, it is betrayal. Dr Muhammad Yunus has failed the people. And unless action is taken now, the country may fall deeper into darkness.

It is time to speak, time to act. It is a call to accountability. Injustice does not happen in silence; it thrives in it. If we fail to speak now, we will pay the price later, in blood, in trauma, and in the destruction of everything a free society stands for.

We urge the people of Bangladesh: Don’t stay silent. Demand safety, demand justice. And to the international community, this is not the time for strategic silence. This is the time to act. Because the truth, no matter how inconvenient, must be told.

Dr. Milton Hasnat, Author, Physician, Public health researcher, Political Analyst.