Too Late for Democracy? Bangladesh Army Chief’s Remarks Raise Speculations of Military Coup as Anarchy Spreads

Dhaka, Bangladesh - The situation in Bangladesh has spiralled into lawlessness, with the nation teetering on the edge of complete collapse. Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman has raised the alarm, calling for elections by December 2025, as the country is ravaged by political infighting, police inaction, and a surge in radical Islamist influence.  

But beneath the surface, a far more sinister force is at play—Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The notorious agency, long known for its meddling in South Asia, is now pulling the strings in Dhaka, exploiting the vacuum left by the ousting of the Awami League government.

The ISI’s Blueprint for Bangladesh: A State in Turmoil

In a shocking turn of events, Bangladesh’s once-stable security apparatus has crumbled under pressure. General Zaman openly admitted that the country’s police force is paralyzed, afraid of “facing allegations and charges” while the streets descend into chaos. The interim government under Muhammad Yunus, rather than restoring order, has instead facilitated a dangerous tilt towards radical Islamist factions—many of which have direct links to Pakistan.

Recent intelligence reports indicate that Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM), a Pakistan-backed terror group previously active in Jammu and Kashmir, is now regrouping in Bangladesh with state-backed complacency. The arrest of TuM operative Javed Munshi near the Indo-Bangladesh border is a glaring indicator of how Bangladesh has turned into a free passage for radical operatives under the Yunus regime.

Bangladesh’s Lawlessness: From Infighting to Anarchy

General Zaman’s blunt admission that the country is in a “self-manufactured crisis” is a rare moment of truth from a high-ranking official. The army chief openly stated that the security forces, consisting of just 30,000 army personnel against 2 lakh paramilitary and police officials, cannot single-handedly maintain order. And yet, the police remain crippled, unwilling to act due to politically motivated witch hunts against officers.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directly accused Yunus of fueling this crisis. “He dissolved all inquiry committees and unleashed terrorists to butcher people. They are destroying Bangladesh,” she said in a virtual interaction with families of police officers killed during the violent anti-government protests in July-August 2024.

The statistics paint an even grimmer picture—450 out of Bangladesh’s 639 police stations have been attacked or destroyed since the fall of the Hasina government. The numbers do not lie: Bangladesh is on the verge of absolute lawlessness.

ISI’s Playbook: Turning Bangladesh into a Terror Hub

While the interim government looks the other way, Pakistan’s ISI is actively fanning the flames. Intelligence reports suggest that terror networks in Bangladesh are receiving funds through Pakistani hawala operators, with a special focus on reviving the networks of Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) and Jamaat-e-Islami.

The removal of a special security desk for Pakistani passengers at Dhaka airport in October 2024—previously used to screen for ISI-linked operatives—has now made it laughably easy for terrorists to enter the country. The relaxation of trade restrictions between Pakistan and Bangladesh under Yunus has further fueled speculation that Bangladesh is being transformed into a launchpad for ISI-backed destabilization efforts in India.

Bangladesh’s Radical Shift: A Threat to Regional Security

Perhaps the most concerning development is Bangladesh’s slow yet deliberate drift into radical Islamist influence. Under Yunus’ government, pro-Pakistan narratives have gained traction, with alarming instances such as:

• Rewriting history: Dhaka’s National Press Club hosted an event celebrating Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan’s founder—a stark contrast to the Hasina government’s staunchly pro-India stance.
• Strengthening military ties with Pakistan: Bangladesh has placed large-scale ammunition and explosives orders from Pakistan’s Ordnance Factories.
• Downplaying violence against Hindus: Reports of Hindu minorities being targeted under the new regime have been dismissed as “exaggerated,” signalling a dangerous shift in Bangladesh’s secular fabric.
• Deepening ties with China: Beijing, through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has invested billions into Bangladesh’s energy sector, further complicating India’s strategic interests.

The docking of a direct Pakistani cargo vessel in Chittagong for the first time since 1971 is another red flag. This seemingly innocuous development marks a broader strategic realignment, one that sees Bangladesh pivoting away from India and toward Pakistan and China.

India’s Growing Concerns: A Two-Front Dilemma

For India, the writing on the wall is clear—Bangladesh’s descent into chaos serves Pakistan’s long-standing strategy of encircling India with instability. A stronger Bangladesh-Pakistan-China axis presents security risks such as increased terror activity along the Indo-Bangladesh border, particularly targeting the Northeast.

The Pakistan-Bangladesh maritime link and China’s deep economic penetration into Bangladesh risk sidelining India’s regional influence. Furthermore, A rise in fundamentalism threatens not just Bangladesh’s secular identity but also the security of India’s eastern states.

General Zaman’s call for elections by December could be the country’s last shot at restoring stability. But with the ISI tightening its grip and radical Islamist elements gaining strength, the question remains—will Bangladesh reclaim its secular and democratic identity, or will it succumb to becoming Pakistan’s proxy in South Asia?

One thing is certain: If Dhaka does not act now, the consequences will not be limited to Bangladesh alone.