Is the Muhammad Yunus-led government in Bangladesh losing its grip over the people?

Is it becoming increasingly unpopular among the masses that catapulted him and his colleagues to power in an uprising six months ago?

Who are the forces behind those who put on fire the historic house of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman after vandalising and looting it on Wednesday, February 5?

Political observers were not shocked after thousands of people, armed with sticks, hammers, iron rods and other things attacked the historic, but dilapidated museum located at 32, Dhanmondi in the capital Dhaka.

Who Did Ransack Sheikh Mujib’s House?

Pro-government Students Against Discrimination announced the “Bulldozer Procession” hold after Chhatra League, the students wing of Awami League, announced that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would address the people online through Facebook.

Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024, after thousands of people vandalised and looted her official residence Banga Bhavan after a popular and massive uprising against her.

After supporters of Students Against Discrimination looted and destroyed the iconic house, a part of the building was pulled down using a bulldozer on Thursday morning.

If media reports are to be believed, a few military personnel appeared on the site and urged the crowd not to vandalise the house from where Sheikh Mujib declared independence from Pakistan.

However, they did nothing to stop them. The police personnel too just kept on watching the loot, arson and vandalisation.

Planned Attack By Islamic Forces?

Political analysts believe it was not a sudden and spontaneous outburst of the masses in general. Rather, it was a planned attack to send strong signals to Sheikh Hasina.

They also think that the Students Against Discrimination and the advisors of the government are becoming increasingly unpopular and they planned the attack to divert attention from the failures of the interim government.

The people are disillusioned and angry at the interim government of Bangladesh as it has failed miserably to control the soaring prices of essential commodities.

Why Are Bangladeshis Disillusioned?

Dhaka buys essential commodities like petroleum products, onions, spices, sugar, rice, lentils, oil meals, and vegetables from India, besides cotton yarn and cotton, major components of Bangladesh’s textile industry.

After the uprising and escalation of anti-India sentiments, the government closed many of the border check points along India, from where the trckloads of goods could enter.

After recognising the gravity of the situation, it removed the barricades and allowed the Indian trucks to enter. However, the bilateral trade is yet to be normal.

Soaring Inflation, Unemployment

Consequently, the prices of essential commodities skyrocketed. On the other hand, many traders and the people associated with them suffered immensely after they lost their businesses and jobs.

Unemployment soared considerably after many of the garment manufacturing factories were closed down due to a lack of quality cotton yarns imported from India.

Most of the powerhouses of Bangladesh are either defunct or working at much-reduced capacity due to a lack of coal and diesel imported from the neigbouring country.

The country particularly the rural areas remains plunged in darkness like never before.

Dismal Law And Order Condition

People are also upset with the lack of law and order. Reports of attacks on minorities and political opponents particularly workers and supporters of Awami League have become routine.

Analysts also believe, after hundreds of police stations were gutted and many policemen were attacked and killed during the uprising, the entire police force of Bangladesh is so a demoralised that they are not as enthusiastic as before.

It is taking toll on the law and order situation of the country and the masses feel unsafe and threatened.

Political observers also believe, that radical Islamic forces have made deep inroads into the society over years and have dominated almost all universities.

Is Islamic State Making Inroads?

If media reports are to be believed, flags of the terrorist outfit Islamic State were also waved when the crowd was busy vandalising Mujib’s house.

Local journalists and other people believe the people who vandalised the museum were members and sympathisers of Islamic outfits like Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh and Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh.

They want to establish Shariat rule in the country and make it a caliphate. It is believed that the IS has succeeded in making its foothold in Bangladeshi society.

The South Asian country is standing at a crossroads. Only time will say what way it has chosen.