A new report warns that Bangladesh is regressing under Muhammad Yunus’s interim government, citing rising religious intolerance, curbs on political freedom, and suppression of secular culture following Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, threatening the nation’s democratic and secular foundations.
Bangladesh appears to be slipping backward on multiple fronts since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government in August 2024, according to a recent international report. The interim administration led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, now serving as the Chief Advisor, is facing mounting criticism over rising religious intolerance, weakening democratic institutions, and a visible erosion of the nation’s secular cultural fabric.
A detailed report, as cited by the Times of Oman on Tuesday, draws upon findings from human rights groups, minority advocacy organisations, and independent journalists. It highlights a sharp rise in attacks on religious minorities, suppression of secular expressions, and widespread fear among liberal voices.
The report underlines that symbols of Bangladesh’s pluralist identity — from folk traditions and cultural festivals to secular murals and statues — have become targets of extremist forces emboldened under the new regime. Several prominent cultural icons and institutions have faced vandalism or censorship, reflecting a disturbing departure from the secular ideals embedded in Bangladesh’s liberation ethos.
Minority Communities Under Siege
Citing data compiled by the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, the report reveals an alarming 2,442 instances of communal violence between August 2024 and mid-2025. These include murders, sexual assaults, attacks on temples and churches, looting of minority-owned shops, and seizure of properties.
“In the first six months of 2025 alone, there were 258 attacks on religious minorities, including 27 murders and 59 assaults on places of worship,” the report stated. “Entire families — men, women, and children — have been forced to flee their homes in terror.”
Human rights monitors argue that the Yunus-led administration has failed to act decisively against perpetrators, despite many being publicly identified. Activists claim the state’s silence has emboldened radical groups, including the re-emergence of Jamaat-e-Islami and other extremist factions in the political landscape.
Concerns Over Rising Extremism
According to the report, the growing Islamist rhetoric and shrinking space for secularism suggest a deliberate or negligent drift towards appeasement of hardline forces. Several secular cultural events have been cancelled under the pretext of “maintaining public order,” while progressive artists and journalists face surveillance or threats.
“The return of religious symbolism in state functions, coupled with a visible retreat from secular governance, signals a reversal of the progress Bangladesh had made over the past decade,” the report observed.
Analysts note that this regression threatens not only Bangladesh’s social harmony but also its international reputation as a moderate, inclusive nation.
Democratic and Institutional Decline
The erosion of minority rights, the report adds, is paralleled by a broader crackdown on political freedoms. The interim government has reportedly restricted Awami League activities and discouraged political gatherings across several districts. Independent media outlets face censorship, and new regulations have been introduced allowing bureaucrats to be dismissed without due process.
Journalists are increasingly vulnerable to intimidation, with several losing their credentials or facing arbitrary detentions. Political analysts warn that these steps mirror authoritarian tendencies, undermining the promise of neutrality that an interim administration is expected to uphold.
Economic Confidence Faltering
The report also connects this political and cultural downturn to Bangladesh’s economic fragility. Foreign investors and international businesses have expressed growing uncertainty over policy continuity and security. Tourism — once bolstered by Bangladesh’s rich cultural diversity — has taken a hit, with several Western embassies issuing advisories citing instability.
“Economic confidence is waning due to political uncertainty, administrative overreach, and rising sectarian violence,” the report stated. “Unless the government restores law and order and reassures investors, the fallout could severely hamper the nation’s growth trajectory.”
A Nation at a Crossroads
Observers believe Bangladesh now stands at a pivotal juncture. The report concludes that only a return to democratic norms, restoration of secular freedoms, and accountability for communal crimes can restore stability. However, with the interim government’s tenure marked by increasing authoritarian control and ideological polarization, hopes for swift recovery appear uncertain.
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Bangladesh’s founding principles of democracy, equality, and secularism — once its greatest strength — now hang in the balance.
