Since Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus assumed leadership of Bangladesh’s interim government following the removal of the Awami League, the country has witnessed an alarming rise in radical Islamist activity. Over 250 Hindu and Buddhist temples, Christian churches, and shrines dedicated to liberal Sufi saints have been vandalized. Institutions that uphold Bangladesh’s secular cultural identity have also been systematically targeted, with even the annual fair honoring the revered saint Lalon Fakir being shut down.

Now, the Dhaka Annual Book Fair, a significant cultural event commemorating the 1952 Bengali language movement, has become the latest target. This cherished festival, which celebrates Bengali heritage, intellectual freedom, and progressive thought, is under siege by extremist forces. Instead of taking decisive action against these groups, the Yunus administration appears to be appeasing them.

In a shocking turn of events, Islamist radicals attacked a stall selling sanitary napkins, branding it as "immoral" and demanding its removal. Rather than defending free enterprise and women's rights, Bangla Academy’s Director General, Professor Mohammad Azam, recommended that the stall—operated by the Pran-RFL Group be shut down. This move emboldens extremist forces and signals the government’s alignment with a regressive agenda that threatens gender equality and public health awareness.

Historically, the book fair has welcomed businesses and organizations advocating social progress, feminism, and health awareness. However, under the current regime, even fundamental healthcare products for women are being demonized. The decision to remove the stall highlights the growing influence of radical ideologies, undermining Bangladesh’s hard-earned advancements in gender rights and social progress.

The Yunus-led government’s alignment with Islamist extremism is becoming increasingly evident. Instead of upholding free expression and protecting its citizens, the administration is actively enabling the spread of fundamentalist ideology. As Bangladesh inches closer to religious radicalization, many fear for the nation's democratic and secular foundations.

Concerns are also growing that the upcoming observance of Ekushe February (21st February) which honors the martyrs of the 1952 Bengali Language Movement may be subdued. The language movement is regarded as a pivotal moment that eventually led to Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan. However, under Yunus’ administration, there seems to be a deliberate effort to downplay its significance, as well as the legacy of the 1971 Liberation War. Meanwhile, diplomatic ties with Pakistan have strengthened under this government, further fueling suspicions of an ideological shift.

Adding to these concerns, more than 700 Islamist radicals have been prematurely released from prison, with authorities largely turning a blind eye. Reports of Islamic State flags being displayed at rallies and during mob attacks on libraries and museums dedicated to the Liberation War have raised alarms. Earlier this month, the ancestral home of Bangladesh’s founding leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which housed a museum, was demolished another sign of the erasure of national history.

Many fear that extremist groups backing Yunus’ interim government are laying the groundwork for Bangladesh’s transformation into an Islamist republic akin to the Taliban regime. The question now looms: How much more of Bangladesh’s heritage, freedoms, and secular identity will be sacrificed before the people rise to resist this growing oppression?

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Eurasia Reviews