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Mob depredation and anti-Hindu violence are being encouraged by the Bangladesh Army.
Since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024, Bangladesh has descended into a period of widespread violence and lawlessness, with minorities—particularly Hindus—bearing the brunt of targeted attacks. Despite Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman’s public pledge to protect the nation, the months that followed saw over 2,000 incidents of violence against minorities, including brutal assaults, rapes, and murders, as documented by the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council. The interim government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, has been criticized for its silence and inaction, while the military has largely failed to intervene, allowing mobs to operate with impunity. The rise in radical Islamist sentiment and the conflation of anti-Hindu and anti-India rhetoric have further marginalized secular voices, leaving Bangladesh’s minority communities increasingly vulnerable and the rule of law in tatters.
India prohibits importing jute and other goods from Bangladesh via land routes.
Amid escalating diplomatic tensions, India has imposed a ban on the import of specific jute products and woven fabrics from Bangladesh through all land routes, restricting their entry to the Nhava Sheva seaport in Maharashtra. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade clarified that these restrictions do not affect Bangladeshi goods transiting to Nepal or Bhutan, though re-exports to India via these countries are prohibited. This move marks the third instance of trade curtailment with Bangladesh in recent months, following earlier restrictions on ready-made garments, processed food items, and the withdrawal of export transshipment facilities. The latest trade curbs come in the wake of controversial remarks by Bangladesh’s interim leader and growing Indian concerns over Bangladesh’s diplomatic closeness with China and Pakistan. With bilateral trade valued at $12.9 billion in 2023-24, these measures underscore the impact of political and economic challenges on India-Bangladesh relations, particularly in the vital textile sector.
The July Movement ordinance is condemned by the Awami League as political propaganda.
Bangladesh’s Awami League has sharply criticized an ordinance introduced by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, which officially recognizes the July 2024 movement as an “uprising.” The party accuses the ordinance of distorting history and undermining the legacy of the 1971 Liberation War by creating new categories such as “July Fighters” and “July Martyrs.” The Awami League alleges that the movement was not a genuine mass uprising but a foreign-backed conspiracy aimed at destabilizing the elected government. They have called for the immediate repeal of the ordinance, a ban on the new terminology, and insist that national recognition be reserved for those who contributed to Bangladesh’s independence.
Before being arrested, a mob in Dhaka assaults former Bangladesh Chief Election Commissioner Nurul Huda.
Bangladesh’s former Chief Election Commissioner, Nurul Huda, was assaulted by a mob at his Dhaka residence on Sunday and subsequently detained by police following a case filed by the BNP over alleged electoral irregularities during his tenure. Viral videos showed Huda being beaten with shoes before authorities intervened. This unprecedented arrest marks the first time a former CEC in Bangladesh has been detained over election-related issues. The interim government condemned the violence, urging citizens to uphold the rule of law and promising legal action against those involved in the attack.
A delegation from the Bangladesh Army and Air Force is travelling to the UK to look for air defence equipment.
The Bangladesh Army is advancing its air defence ambitions by exploring new procurement avenues with the United Kingdom, following interest in Chinese-made surface-to-air missile systems. A high-level delegation led by Major General Mohammad Kamrul Hassan is attending the 19th Full Spectrum Air Defence Summit in London to address modern battlefield challenges and foster international collaboration. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Air Force has bolstered its surveillance capabilities with the recent commissioning of a state-of-the-art GM 403-M long-range radar, underscoring the nation’s commitment to robust, integrated air defence in response to evolving aerial threats.
Time for peace: US attacks three Iranian nuclear sites and enters a conflict zone
The United States has launched airstrikes targeting three of Iran’s most significant nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan—President Donald Trump announced on Saturday. In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump confirmed that the operation was completed successfully, with a full payload of bombs dropped on Fordow as the primary target. All US aircraft safely exited Iranian airspace following the attack. The move marks the US’s direct entry into the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, with Trump calling for peace and urging Iran to end hostilities. The president is scheduled to address the nation regarding this historic military operation.
Officers from the US Army and Pacific Air Forces start travelling to Bangladesh for two joint drills.
Since June 20, a notable influx of US Army and Air Force personnel has arrived in Dhaka, later heading to Chittagong to participate in the planning conference for Operation Pacific Angel-25, set to commence on June 25. The arrival of these American officers—flying in from Qatar, Thailand, and other international destinations—has drawn close attention from the Bangladeshi security establishment, especially as plans for a “humanitarian corridor” to Myanmar’s Rakhine State remain on hold. Alongside Operation Pacific Angel, US defense personnel will also engage in Exercise Tiger Lighting-2025, focused on enhancing peacekeeping readiness and strengthening regional security cooperation between the US and Bangladesh. The exercises are being coordinated by the Bangladesh Army’s Armed Forces Division, highlighting growing military ties between the two nations.
The absence of the Awami League in elections will exacerbate instability in Bangladesh
The general election planned by the Yunus regime, in association with Bangladesh’s political parties, is unlikely to gain public trust or meet the accepted standards of a democratic process. With the Awami League—the nation’s largest political party—excluded from participation, the question of whether this election can truly be free and fair is at the forefront of both domestic and international concern. Observers warn that an election without the Awami League will lack legitimacy, invite instability, and fail to resolve the country’s deepening political crisis. The call for a credible, inclusive, and transparent election remains a critical demand for Bangladesh’s future.
A retired major general from Bangladesh who is connected to the 2004 Chittagong arms haul case pays a discreet visit to Guangzhou.
Six months after his early release from a life sentence, former Bangladesh DGFI Director Major General (retd) Rezzakul Haider Chowdhury made a 12-day trip to Guangzhou, China, returning to Dhaka on June 18, 2025. Chowdhury, who was acquitted by the Bangladesh High Court in December 2024 for his role in the notorious 2004 Chittagong arms haul case, is now the focus of renewed speculation about his ongoing activities. The 2004 case involved the seizure of ten truckloads of arms, allegedly destined for Indian insurgents and traced to a Chinese state-controlled company. Bangladeshi intelligence agencies are investigating the purpose of Chowdhury’s recent visit, amid concerns about possible links to regional security dynamics.
