Zakir Hossain / Dhaka
Police in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka used tear gas, batons, and sound grenades on Friday to disperse thousands of members of the banned militant group Hizb-ut-Tahrir, who attempted to march demanding the replacement of Bangladesh’s secular democracy with an Islamic caliphate. The ‘March for Khilafat’ procession began after Jummah prayers at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, where between 3,000 to 5,000 protesters gathered, chanting slogans like “Khilafat, Khilafat” and “Naraye Takbir, Allahu Akbar”. Ignoring police warnings, they tried to march towards Bijoynagar, breaking through police barricades set up to block them.
As the situation escalated, police fired tear gas shells and sound grenades, temporarily scattering the protesters, but many later regrouped and resumed the march. Demonstrators retaliated by hurling bricks and stones at law enforcement officers. The violent clashes resulted in scores of injuries, and several protesters were arrested, according to Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Masud Alam.
Hizb-ut-Tahrir’s growing presence despite ban: Hizb-ut-Tahrir, banned in Bangladesh since October 2009 for being a “threat to national security”, has continued to defy the government’s prohibition on public gatherings, frequently organizing rallies and demonstrations. The London-based Islamist group, which has been banned in multiple countries, advocates for uniting all Muslim-majority nations under a single Islamic Caliphate, governed by Sharia law. Despite its proscription, Hizb-ut-Tahrir has been increasingly active in Bangladesh, using social media campaigns, distributing leaflets, and putting up posters to mobilize support. This latest rally has raised concerns over the government’s ability to control the resurgence of Islamist extremism.
Dhaka University Professor Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, in a recent interview, stated that banned Islamist outfits in Bangladesh are operating more freely since former premier Sheikh Hasina’s removal from power last year. He alleged that several outlawed groups have been holding press conferences and organizing public demonstrations, suggesting a relaxation in law enforcement against extremist elements.
Political instability fuels Islamist resurgence: Bangladesh has been experiencing growing political unrest since an interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, took over in August last year, following mass student-led protests that forced former PM Hasina into exile in India.
The political turbulence has created an environment of uncertainty, allowing extremist groups to re-emerge. In January 2025, a UN report highlighted widespread human rights abuses during the anti-discrimination protests that led to Hasina’s fall. It particularly noted that Bangladesh’s Hindu, Ahmadiyya Muslim, and indigenous communities faced targeted violence, and while authorities had made around 100 arrests, many perpetrators of revenge attacks and communal violence continue to enjoy impunity.
India has been closely monitoring developments in Bangladesh, especially following recent attacks on cultural, religious, and diplomatic properties.
Indian officials have raised concerns about rising violence against minorities and the resurgence of radical Islamist groups in the country. Notably, India declared Hizb-ut-Tahrir a terrorist organization in 2024, citing its involvement in radicalizing youth, recruiting for terror outfits, and raising funds for extremist activities. The group remains banned in several other countries as well.