In a scathing critique of Bangladeshโs ongoing political and institutional decay, UK-based barrister and political analyst Nijhoom Majumder has warned of a systematic collapse of the nationโs core pillarsโjudiciary, parliament, executive, education, healthcare, and economy.
During a virtual discussion, titled โThe Political Lens,โ hosted by actor and rights activist Rokeya Prachy on Monday, Majumder highlighted the public humiliation of senior military officers, the erosion of the rule of law, and rising violence against civil society as symptoms of a broader crisis threatening national stability.
Majumder condemned the recent arrest and public display of senior army officers, their hands tied, in front of the iconic Anti-Terrorism Raju Sculpture, which is a symbol of the 1969 student movement and national resistance. He described the act as a deliberate violation of the presumption of innocence, noting that no formal arrest warrants were issued by the International Crime Tribunal (ICT-BD), and the detentions lacked transparent judicial processes.
โThese officers, who dedicated their lives to national defense, are being subjected to public disgrace,โ Majumder said, questioning the silence of the armyโs command and urging them to defend the institutionโs dignity.
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The legal framework surrounding these detentions was also criticised as illegitimate. Majumder pointed out that post-August 5 legal changes and tribunal orders lack parliamentary sanction, violating Bangladeshโs Constitution and international covenants like the ICCPR.
He labelled the judicial process as politically motivated, with judges allegedly appointed under political influence, rendering the judiciary compromised.
Beyond the military, Majumder painted a grim picture of institutional decay. Parliament is non-functional, with opposition members detained or silenced. The education system faces severe repression, with teachers and students attacked, exams disrupted, and intellectual freedom curtailed by politically affiliated cadres.
Healthcare workers are enduring violence, with hospitals and clinics destroyed or shut down, exacerbating public health crises. Economically, mismanagement and political interference have led to collapsing banks and industries, fueling unemployment and poverty.
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Majumder also highlighted internal divisions within the army and police, with some members reportedly sympathising with Islamist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami or the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir, raising concerns about state security.
He contextualised the crisis within Bangladeshโs history of political violence, referencing the assassinations of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1975), Ziaur Rahman (1981), and General Abul Manzur, as well as foreign efforts to delegitimise the nationโs independence, such as Zulfikar Ali Bhuttoโs 1971 book The Great Tragedy.
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He warned that the current suppression of military officers and civil society reflects a campaign by Islamist militants and political actors to rewrite history and exact revenge for the Liberation War.
The discussion underscored the violent repression of teachers, students, and activists, with women and minorities particularly vulnerable to harassment. Despite this bleak scenario, Majumder struck a hopeful note, urging Bangladeshis, especially the youth and military, to unite and resist oppression.
โThe spirit of the Liberation War lives on,โ he said, calling for solidarity to restore justice, peace, and national pride. He warned that without action, the country risks an explosion of unrest.
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