Since Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus assumed leadership of Bangladesh’s interim government following the ouster of the Awami League, the country has witnessed a troubling surge in radical Islamist activities. More than 250 Hindu and Buddhist temples, Christian churches, and shrines dedicated to liberal Sufi Muslim saints have been vandalized. Institutions that promote secular Bengali culture have been systematically targeted, with even the annual fair commemorating the legendary saint Lalon Fakir being shut down.
Now, the annual book fair in Dhaka, an event deeply rooted in Bangladesh’s history and organized to honor the 1952 Bengali language movement, has become the latest victim of Islamist extremism. Rather than standing firm against these forces, the Yunus-led administration appears to be appeasing them, further emboldening their influence.
The Dhaka Book Fair, a cherished cultural institution, celebrates Bengali heritage, intellectual freedom, and the power of literature. However, under the unelected rule of Yunus, the fair is facing unprecedented threats from extremist factions determined to erode the nation’s secular identity. Following months of violent attacks on religious minorities, radical Islamist groups have now turned their focus on the fair itself.
In a shocking development, Islamist militants targeted a stall selling sanitary napkins, branding it as “immoral” and demanding its removal. Instead of protecting the stall operators and upholding women’s rights, the Director General of Bangla Academy, Professor Mohammad Azam, chose to pacify the extremists by recommending the closure of the stall, which was operated by the Pran-RFL Group.
Historically, the book fair has been an inclusive space welcoming businesses and organizations advocating for social progress, feminism, and health awareness. However, under the current administration, even basic healthcare products essential for women’s well-being are under attack. The decision to dismantle the stall is not just a blow to women’s rights but also a sign of the government’s tacit approval of the growing fundamentalist influence.
The alignment of the Yunus administration with extremist elements is no longer subtle; it is overt and alarming. By siding with religious hardliners rather than defending free expression and gender equality, this government is not only failing its citizens but actively facilitating the rise of radical Islamism.
As Bangladesh slides further into the grip of militant Islamists, the question remains: how much more of the nation’s heritage, rights, and freedoms will be sacrificed before the people rise against this oppression?
There is growing concern that this year’s observance of February 21st—Ekushey February—could be muted. This day, a solemn occasion for Bengalis who honor the martyrs of the 1952 language movement, is regarded as the genesis of Bangladesh’s eventual independence from Islamist Pakistan. However, under Yunus’ leadership, relations with Pakistan have notably warmed, and there seems to be a deliberate attempt to downplay the significance of the Bengali language movement and the 1971 Liberation War.
In a further sign of the government’s capitulation to radical forces, over 700 Islamist militants have been either prematurely released from prison or forcibly freed despite their ongoing sentences. Meanwhile, the administration remains a passive observer as Islamic State flags are increasingly seen at rallies and during mob-led attacks on libraries and museums dedicated to preserving the history of Bangladesh’s struggle for independence.
Earlier this month, a particularly shocking act of cultural destruction took place—the ancestral home of Bangladesh’s founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which housed a museum commemorating his legacy, was bulldozed and destroyed. This incident, among many others, has fueled fears that the Islamist factions backing Yunus’ interim government are laying the groundwork for transforming Bangladesh into a Taliban-style Islamist state.
The ongoing attacks on secular institutions, historical sites, and even women’s healthcare awareness initiatives illustrate the rapid radicalization Bangladesh is undergoing under the current administration. If these trends continue unchecked, the country risks losing its hard-won progress in secularism, gender equality, and intellectual freedom. The time for resistance is now, before the nation’s very identity is irreversibly altered by the forces of religious extremism.
