The return to freedom of expression, after the fall of the former prime minister, also gives voice to extremist movements and groups. Banners reminiscent of ISIS have appeared in street demonstrations in recent days. Police and law enforcement agencies are working to prevent a fundamentalist escalation, but there is concern among minorities, including Christians.
Dhaka () – With the fall of former Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina and her exile, one of the most significant consequences for the population of Bangladesh has been the return to freedom of expression, repressed during the previous government. Indeed, for more than a decade political, social and religious organizations were censored by the state apparatus and are now expressing themselves openly again. The other side of the coin, according to some critical voices, is that this renewed openness has also allowed extremist entities and groups, until now persecuted and repressed by force, to gain visibility, demonstrate publicly and show their distinctive features, such as case of the “black flags” that recall the sadly famous ones of the Islamic State (IS, former Isis), with its massacres from the Middle East to South and Southeast Asia.
Local sources report that several organizations that were previously persecuted are now re-emerging with new strength and vitality, and promoting a wide range of activities. Students from major educational institutions in Dhaka also took to the streets to participate in rallies and meetings, especially on religious issues. After years of silence, these movements reflect a renewed sense of freedom and civic engagement, which could be considered an optimistic sign for the future of Bangladesh if there were no fear of a fundamentalist drift.
Last week hundreds of students from various universities and colleges, including leading Christian missionary institutions such as Notre Dame College (NDC) and St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School, staged protest rallies. Participants also called for an end to the genocide in Palestine (the West Bank and Gaza), condemned the insults against the Prophet Muhammad and called for the establishment of an Islamic caliphate governed by sharia, Islamic law.
These demonstrations have caused tensions, especially between progressive Muslims and religious minorities, who fear for their survival in the event of a rise to power – or even simply a growing visibility and diffusion – of extremist sectors. Some argue that the black flags resemble those used by Islamic militant groups such as DAESH [acrónimo árabe de ISIS]. It is also suspected that these protests may have been instigated by a political party intent on fomenting chaos.
A Notre Dame College student’s banner read: “Found the Caliphate and safeguard the honor of the Prophet Muhammad.” In several areas of Dhaka, messages promoting the radical Islamic model of the State have been written on the walls. In the Farmgate neighborhood of the capital, the student group “Anjumane al Bayyinat” chanted the slogan “The only path to true freedom and liberation is the Caliphate system.” For their part, law enforcement suspects that the protesters are members or affiliates of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Mainul Hasan clarified that “Hizb ut-Tahrir is a banned organisation. They cannot operate openly, so they are trying to act quickly. “At this moment a police operation is already being carried out against them.”
A video posted by a journalist on social media shows high school and college students marching with black flags in front of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Dhaka on October 6. The demonstration was organized under the banner of a banner that reads: “Conscious teachers and students. San Giuseppe Higher Secondary School”. Students carried black flags with inscriptions along with flags of Bangladesh and Palestine. A video circulating on social media shows a march in Kishoreganj on October 4, organized by “Tawhidi Jantar”. While participants They were protesting against the insults to Muhammad and calling for the creation of an Islamic caliphate. Some foreigners also joined in, several of whom carried black flags and large colored scarves.
Fact-checker and news verification expert Kadruddin Shishir carefully analyzed the video and noted that the black flag used resembled those associated with ISIS. Shafi Md. Mustafa, a professor at the University of Dhaka, adds that the use of these flags in Bangladesh can lead to links to the extremist movement. Meanwhile, the banned militant group Hizb ut Tahrir attempted to have the ban lifted, positioning itself within a political movement aimed at overthrowing the government. Security experts warn this could fuel the spread of radical militancy, while police are already taking steps to try to prevent it. Religious minorities, particularly Christians, have expressed concern for their safety and fear further attacks or an escalation of violence.
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