Bangladesh is witnessing a quiet but potent revival of Islamist mobilization through the Tawhidi Janata movement, which a new report warns could redefine public life under the guise of moral enforcement. Published in The Interpreter from Canberra, the report describes this as ‘coercive populism’—a grassroots pressure tactic that flourishes amid institutional decay and eroded trust in governance.
Under Sheikh Hasina’s long rule until August 2024, the Awami League skillfully neutralized Islamist threats. Elections were tightly controlled, security forces kept a firm grip, and secular Bengali identity was promoted as a counter-narrative. Radical groups were sidelined, forcing religious politics into the shadows of informal networks and apolitical domains.
Hasina’s regime tolerated visible piety but rigorously contained any challenge to its authority from faith-based politics. The result? Simmering undercurrents rather than open clashes. Her dramatic exit shattered this equilibrium, unleashing a dual vacuum: political and ethical. Tawhidi Janata swiftly filled the gap, rallying under banners of religious obligation to influence everyday conduct.
This isn’t a hierarchical outfit but a fluid convergence of actors who patrol streets, censor behaviors, halt cultural programs, and intimidate women-led events. Its elusiveness is its power—operating via spontaneous mobs and ethical shaming, evading easy suppression. Violence has erupted too, with attacks linked to its followers in multiple regions.
The report underscores how such movements exploit post-authoritarian chaos, openly targeting ‘un-Islamic’ practices as a sacred mission. This strategy allows them to mold society without immediate backlash. For Bangladesh’s interim leadership, confronting Tawhidi Janata demands more than security measures; it requires rebuilding legitimate institutions and restoring public faith to starve this populism of oxygen. Failure risks a slide toward theocratic overtones in a nation born from secular ideals.
