Uncovering The Black Dress Of The July-August 2024 Crisis in Bangladesh

The narrative promulgated by the CIA, ISI, Yunus, the Bangladesh military, Jamaat-e-Islami, BNP, and other extreme right-wing Islamist factions regarding the events of July-August 2024, which they have framed as a 'Revolution' or 'Mass Uprising,' presents them as paragons of virtue in a perilous and violent region, particularly within the context of Bangladesh.

In truth, however, they are no more than scoundrels at best, and malevolent forces at worst—a David confronting an odious Goliath. This narrative, far from being innocuous, was skillfully disseminated and amplified by various international entities, who leveraged their platforms to propagate the dichotomy of good versus evil. Yet, the unvarnished reality is that it was, in fact, a concerted and nefarious assault on the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, aimed at her forcible removal from power in Bangladesh.

Their fabricated account has now been unequivocally debunked, exposing the falsehoods that were peddled to the global community regarding their so-called virtuous intent in overthrowing Sheikh Hasina on 5 August 2024.

I bear witness, as an eye to history, to the unforgivable atrocities perpetrated by the Jamaat-e-Islami during our War of Liberation in 1971. These mass-murderers, aligned with the oppressive Pakistani military, took up arms to quash our struggle for independence, while we fought for our very lives to establish the sovereign nation of Bangladesh.

In my own sight in 1971, I observed the horrendous massacres carried out by the infamous Jamaat-e-Islami Al-Badr operatives—men who distorted the sacred tenets of Islam to justify the wanton slaughter of countless innocent Bengalis. Chanting “Naray-e-Takbir, Allah-hu Akbar, Pakistan Zindabad, and Pakistan is the sacred land of Islam,” they slaughtered our freedom-loving citizens mercilessly. They denied the dead even the dignity of burial; instead, they callously left the corpses to be devoured by vultures, jackals, and scavenging animals. The impunity with which they engaged in these atrocities is matched only by their refusal to acknowledge the sovereignty of Bangladesh or to apologize for their grotesque crimes. They remain to this day unrepentant, clad in the guise of religious piety while perpetuating falsehoods.

As an observer of Bangladesh's political landscape since 1966, including the tumultuous period of July-August 2024, I feel compelled to share my firsthand account of the events, risking my own safety to uncover the truth. Let it be clear: I have no ties to any political or socio-cultural organization, and my sole aim is to present the facts as I have witnessed them.

In the shadow of covert operations, the overwhelming majority of the tragic deaths in July-August 2024—an estimated 98%—were orchestrated by the Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliated Shibir militants, with the active support of Pakistan’s notorious ISI and the American ill-famed CIA. These operatives, in collusion with other extremist right-wing Islamist groups, targeted vulnerable populations—primarily madrasa students, street children, and impoverished members of society—whom they lured with promises of money. Once these individuals were coerced into abandoning their traditional attire and donning Western-style clothing, they were manipulated into violent confrontations with law enforcement. However, the true nature of their deaths lay in the hands of these heartless perpetrators who, under the cloak of darkness, murdered these individuals to advance their own sinister agenda. Their ultimate goal was to weaken the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by spreading bloodshed and inciting public outrage, thus paving the way for her unlawful removal from office.

This vile conspiracy, which culminated in the Bangladesh Army coup of August 5, 2024, was a meticulously planned operation, engineered by a nefarious coalition involving the CIA, the ISI, and the enemies of the Awami League, including figures like Professor Muhammad Yunus, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The coup sought to undermine the democratically elected government and install a more compliant regime—one that would acquiesce to foreign interests, particularly in relation to the US military presence in Bangladesh. Let it be known that no amount of wealth or prestige could have altered the trajectory of this dark plot, which unfolded precisely as it was designed.

Let me make this clear once more: the perpetrators of the 1971 genocide—those who sought to obliterate the very essence of our independence—are not only criminals but also charlatans. They are profiteers of religion, rapists, arsonists, and pathological liars, masking their malevolence behind a veneer of Islamic orthodoxy. Their crimes in 1971 were not sporadic acts of violence; they were part of a deliberate, systemic effort to crush our quest for liberty. And even in 2024, their actions remain a stain on our nation’s history.

The student-led anti-quota protests in July-August 2024 did not cause the downfall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, as is often claimed. Rather, this narrative is a carefully constructed myth, propagated by a malevolent nexus of foreign and local actors’ intent on destabilizing Bangladesh. The truth, unvarnished and irrefutable, has now come to light, and it is impossible to suppress it any longer. The student protests, while genuine in their grievances, were cynically manipulated by these forces to serve as a pretext for the larger coup that ultimately overthrew the government.

In response to this, an independent and transparent investigation is urgently needed. The true identities of those responsible for these heinous crimes must be brought to light, and they must be held accountable before the people of Bangladesh and the world. The masterminds behind this malevolent campaign—whether they be Jamaat-e-Islami cadres, Pakistani operatives, or foreign intelligence agencies—must face the full weight of justice.

The entire plot was a strategic and highly coordinated effort, fueled by billions of dollars in resources. The perpetrators behind the coup were not just domestic actors but were deeply entwined with international players, most notably the CIA and ISI. The conspiracy aimed to reshape Bangladesh’s political landscape by removing a government that refused to bow to foreign demands—particularly those related to the establishment of a US military base in the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh’s refusal to comply with these demands, particularly the proposed airbase on St Martin's Island, set off a chain of events that led to the destabilization of the nation.

Let us be clear: those responsible for the events of July-August 2024—Jamaat-e-Islami, Shibir, the ISI, and their foreign backers—are not just political adversaries but war criminals, and their actions will not be forgotten. The blood of the innocents they murdered will forever stain their hands.

The ongoing political crisis in Bangladesh is a manifestation of a deeper, more complex struggle, one that involves both domestic power struggles and international geopolitical machinations. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s refusal to allow the establishment of a US military base on St Martin’s Island—a strategically located part of the Bay of Bengal—was seen as a significant blow to American interests in the region. This refusal has, in turn, triggered a wave of foreign interference, orchestrated by the United States, which has sought to undermine Hasina’s government through various covert means.

The interim government that replaced Hasina's administration in 2024 is widely seen as pro-American, with prominent figures such as Muhammad Yunus playing key roles. Yunus, a Nobel laureate and the founder of Grameen Bank, has long been linked to American interests, including organizations such as USAID, the Ford Foundation, and, reportedly, the CIA. His political maneuverings, particularly his attempts to create an alternative political platform in 2007, had further strained his relationship with Hasina, who views Yunus’s ambitions as a direct challenge to her leadership.

The geopolitical dynamics surrounding this crisis are further complicated by the involvement of other external actors, all of whom have interests in Bangladesh’s political trajectory. However, it is clear that the United States has played a central role in destabilizing the Hasina government, using its influence to manipulate political outcomes and further its strategic interests in South Asia.

The violent student protests in Bangladesh, which were initially centered around issues of discrimination and educational quotas, were co-opted by these external forces into a broader political movement aimed at ousting Sheikh Hasina. Through a web of NGOs, universities, and media outlets, these actors have stirred up public dissent, sowing division and confusion among the population.

After the unlawful removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from office, a period of unabated violence and destruction ensued, perpetrated by fiercely communal and reactionary forces who had long opposed the very creation of Bangladesh in 1971. These forces, emboldened by the political vacuum, launched a systematic campaign of looting, arson, and occupation of the homes and properties of Hindus and members of other religious minorities. Places of worship, such as temples and churches, were desecrated and destroyed, targeting the sacred symbols of communities that had long coexisted in the country.

In an appalling display of lawlessness, thousands of students, many acting independently, looted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's residence. A young couple, with brazen pride, flaunted sarees they had stolen, while another student held up an item of clothing that once belonged to the Prime Minister’s grandmother. The destructive rampage extended beyond personal property to include public infrastructure and development projects, worth billions of dollars, that had been established for the collective benefit of the entire population under Hasina’s government. These developments had transformed Bangladesh’s landscape, bringing it closer to the standards of developed nations across the globe.

The forces behind this wanton destruction were determined to erase any vestiges of the monumental progress achieved during Hasina's tenure. These actions were, in part, the result of a nefarious collaboration between foreign and domestic agents—particularly the CIA, Pakistan’s ISI, and local factions such as the Jamaat-e-Islami, BNP, and their affiliates—whose collective goal was to destabilize Bangladesh and undo its remarkable achievements.

The Yunus led ‘Interim Government,’ or the ‘Puppet Government’ installed in Bangladesh by CIA, ISI and their local collaborators which now holds power in Bangladesh, is fundamentally illegitimate. It lacks constitutional authority and is devoid of moral legitimacy. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina did not resign voluntarily; rather, she was forcibly exiled, under duress, at gunpoint, by an army chief and his cohorts—puppets of the CIA, Pakistan’s ISI, and other local forces. This orchestrated coup sought to transform Bangladesh into a puppet state, one resembling the authoritarian regimes of the Taliban or ISIS—a nation devoid of democratic values, ruled by an autocratic regime akin to a Banana Republic.

Ultimately, the events of 2024 represent not just a political struggle within Bangladesh, but a broader contest for the nation’s sovereignty. The future of Sheikh Hasina, now in exile in India, will depend on the unwavering determination of the Bangladeshi people to protect their independence and resist the pernicious forces attempting to control their nation’s destiny. It is imperative that we remain vigilant in the face of these malevolent forces, who have left no stone unturned in their efforts to plunge Bangladesh into an abyss of darkness, despair, and decline.

Sheikh Hasina stands as a monumental figure in the advancement of Bangladesh, embodying a leadership of unparalleled significance not only for the nation but also for the broader region and the global community. Her governance is integral to the nation's prosperity, guiding it through complex challenges with adept and visionary direction. In light of these considerations, it is imperative that we strive with unwavering resolve, without error, to secure a brighter future for Bangladesh. This future, under her capable and dynamic leadership, promises the emergence of a flourishing and progressive nation. It is essential that we decisively reject the forces that oppose the spirit of Bangladesh’s liberation, along with their domestic and foreign collaborators, who have unlawfully and illegitimately gained a foothold within the country.

Sent- In by: Anwar A. Khan

Author's Bio: The writer was a frontline freedom fighter in the 1971 war for Bangladesh's independence and is an independent political analyst, writing on current political affairs and international issues.

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