Resisting the Orchestrated Chaos

Slain Maulana Aminul Haque Nomani, khatib of the Sadar Upazila Parishad Mosque and a teacher at Bhola Darul Hadis Kamil Madrasa

Bangladesh stands at a pivotal moment in its democratic journey. Yet, the recent eruption of violence—from the desecration of a grave in Goalundo to the brutal murder of religious figures in Bhola and the sectarian clashes in Hathazari—threatens to derail the fragile path toward peace and constitutional restoration.

The exhumation and public burning of the corpse of Nurul Haque, known locally as “Nural Pagla,” in Rajbari’s Goalundo is a grotesque aberration in Bangladesh’s social history. Never before has the nation witnessed such a macabre act—one that violates not only religious norms but the very essence of human dignity. The mob, self-identifying as “Tawhidi Janata,” claimed religious provocation, yet their actions were anything but pious. This was not spontaneous outrage. It was a coordinated assault involving thousands, resulting in one death, dozens injured, and the desecration of a grave styled after the Kaaba. The interim government rightly condemned the act as “inhuman and despicable,” but condemnation alone will not suffice.

Just days later, Bhola was shaken by the hacking to death of Maulana Aminul Haque Nomani, a respected Khatib and Islamic scholar, inside his own home. His murder follows a disturbing pattern—another Khatib was recently attacked in the same district. These are not isolated incidents. They are calculated strikes against voices of religious moderation and community leadership. The timing is suspect. The victim was alone, the attackers lay in wait, and the brutality was surgical. The message is clear: dissent or deviation from a particular orthodoxy will be met with bloodshed.

In Chattogram’s Hathazari, a Facebook post showing a youth making obscene gestures near the revered Hathazari Madrasah sparked violent clashes between madrasa students and Sunni processionists. Over 100 were injured, vehicles torched, and Section 144 imposed to quell the unrest. The digital trigger was swiftly followed by physical violence. The youth was arrested, but the damage was done. The incident underscores how social media is being weaponized to provoke sectarian fault lines—at a time when unity is paramount.

These three incidents—occurring within days of each other—are not random. They bear the hallmarks of a deliberate campaign to fracture social harmony and derail the democratic transition slated for February 2026. Political leaders have rightly termed them conspiracies aimed at sabotaging the electoral process. The July Uprising of last year marked the end of nearly 16 years of authoritarian rule that gutted institutions, plundered the economy, and laundered billions abroad. The people of Bangladesh now seek stability, not chaos. They yearn for a return to normalcy—where business, worship, and civic life can resume under the rule of law.

Swift and impartial investigations into all three incidents must be launched, with perpetrators brought to justice regardless of affiliation. Digital platforms must be monitored for incitement, but without infringing on free expression. Religious institutions and civil society must unite to denounce violence unequivocally and promote interfaith dialogue. Political parties must resist the temptation to exploit these tragedies for electoral gain and instead reaffirm their commitment to peaceful transition.

Bangladesh has endured too much to allow itself to be dragged back into the abyss. The desecration of graves, the murder of clerics, and the incitement of sectarian hatred are not just crimes—they are assaults on the soul of the nation. Let this be a moment of reckoning. Let the people, the press, and the parties rise above fear and faction to defend the promise of democracy. The road ahead is perilous, but with vigilance and unity, Bangladesh can—and must—prevail.