BBC detailed how extremist groups, marginalized during Sheikh Hasina’s regime, have become emboldened again under the interim government led by Prof. Muhammad Yunus.

Concerns: Revocation of the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, and the release of Jashimuddin Rahmani, leader of Ansarullah Bangladesh (ABT), now known as Ansar al Islam.

Several individuals accused of links with extremist groups have been granted bail recently.

DETAILS:

In a report dated 19 February 2025, the BBC detailed how extremist groups, who had been marginalized during Sheikh Hasina’s regime, have become emboldened again under the interim government led by Prof. Muhammad Yunus.

The analytical report, which includes interviews, opinions, and incidents of radical activities, raises concerns about decisions made by the interim government since it assumed power in August, particularly about Islamist hardliners.

Among the controversial decisions are the revocation of a ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, the country's largest Islamist party, which was introduced in the final days of Sheikh Hasina's administration. Additionally, Jashimuddin Rahmani, the leader of the banned Islamist militant group Ansarullah Bangladesh (ABT)—now known as Ansar al Islam—was released in August after a court granted him bail. Rahmani, who was sentenced to five years in prison for the 2013 killing of a secular blogger, had remained behind bars due to other pending cases.

Local media reports indicate that several other individuals accused of having links with extremist groups have also been granted bail in recent months. "Though security forces say they will monitor those released, it will be difficult for them to put everybody under surveillance given the limitations," Dr. Tawohidul Haque, a crime analyst from the University of Dhaka told BBC.

The BBC report references several recent incidents, including the cancellation of women's football matches and the inauguration of a department store by a renowned actress amidst protests from Islamist extremists.

The report highlights that football serves as a source of female empowerment for young Bangladeshi women. However, Islamists argue that the matches contravene their religious values and are determined to prevent future games. "If women want to play football, they should cover their entire body, and they can play only in front of female spectators. Men cannot watch them play," Maulana Ashraf Ali, the leader of Islami Andolan Bangladesh in the Taraganj area of Rangpur, told the BBC. Mr. Ali also asserted that the group wants hard-line Islamic Sharia law in Bangladesh.

The cancellation of the women's football matches sparked an uproar on social media, prompting authorities to reorganize one of the matches. They have launched an investigation into the incidents but claim the fear of radicalism is exaggerated. "There is no truth in the allegations that the government is pandering to Islamists," an official stated.

In the meantime, one of the country's best-known actors, Pori Moni, said she was prevented from inaugurating a department store in the northern town of Tangail following objections from religious groups. "Now I'm really feeling helpless, as well as insecure. It's part of my job to take part in opening a showroom or a similar event. No one has stopped me all these years," Ms. Moni told the BBC Bengali service. Similar events involving two other actors, Apu Biswas and Mehazabien Chowdhury, have also been cancelled following threats from Islamists.

The report notes that women's football games are not the only targets of recent extremist actions. Last week, dozens of Islamist students vandalized a book stall at Dhaka's famous Ekushey Book Fair. The protesters were angered by the display of a book by exiled feminist author Taslima Nasrin, who has previously received death threats from Islamist groups for her allegedly blasphemous writings.

Minority groups like Sufi Muslims report increasing attacks on their places of worship, as Islamist extremists view Sufism as heretical. "About a hundred of our shrines [mazars] and centres have been attacked in the past six months," Anisur Rahman Jafri, Secretary General of the Sufism Universal Foundation, told the BBC. "We have not seen this kind of sudden extremist attack on us since the country's independence in 1971," he added, warning that the country risks "Talibanisation" if the situation persists. Police reported that only 40 shrines were damaged and that they have increased security around religious sites.

In the wake of Sheikh Hasina's departure, the authorities have struggled to maintain law and order. Earlier this month, thousands of protesters vandalized homes and buildings connected to Hasina and senior leaders of her Awami League party. Demonstrations in Dhaka and across the country included participants from various groups and parties, including Islamists.

The authorities have defended their decision not to intervene in these incidents, citing potential loss of life. Rights groups have expressed concern over the security situation. "If the government fails to act, then Islamists are going to feel emboldened. There will be more self-censorship for women and girls, and they will be more intimidated about participating in public events," Shireen Huq, a prominent women's rights activist, told the BBC.