Mob culture pushing country towards ‘popular fascism’: Speakers tell discussion
Bangladesh may be shifting from the “state fascism” of the previous regime to “popular fascism”, where social media mobs influence justice, and people remain silent out of fear, warned speakers at a discussion yesterday.
They said the interim government has not broken from old power structures and has largely maintained the “old settlement” of governance, leaving the country vulnerable to instability.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The discussion, titled “Next Elected Government and Citizen Expectations”, was organised by the Bangladesh Research Analysis and Information Network (BRAIN) at Bishwo Shahitto Kendro in the capital.
At the event, economist Zia Hasan said authoritarianism is changing form.
He said the previous regime’s “state fascism”, enforced through policing and enforced disappearances, has collapsed, but the ground has now been set for “popular fascism” driven by fear, division and what he described as “extreme anti-India sentiment”.
He said speaking against state repression once showed courage, but now speaking against mob pressure leads to attacks on credibility.
He urged the government to form a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, citing Rwanda’s post-genocide process, and called for national healing instead of a politics of elimination.
If I have to constantly worry about facing an online mob or demands for my dismissal while teaching sociology or transitional justice, then academic freedom does not exist.
Prof Samina Luthfa of Dhaka University’s sociology department called political parties’ record on women “disgraceful”, noting that women received only 4 percent of nominations and at least 30 parties did not nominate a single woman.
“You have invisibilised the women of the July uprising,” she said, adding that women who led protests have been excluded from decision-making.
She said Bangladesh is not ready to meet global standards on gender equality.
“If I have to constantly worry about facing an online mob or demands for my dismissal while teaching sociology or transitional justice, then academic freedom does not exist,” she said.
She also criticised changing textbooks and history with every change of government.
On justice, she said expectations for accountability for the July killings remain unmet. “Instead of justice, a culture of revenge is prevailing. Filing vague cases against thousands of people has become a tool for extortion,” she added.
Writer Firoz Ahmed warned that “mob politics” could become a permanent tool to silence opponents.
He also criticised the interim administration for continuing bureaucratic secrecy, citing opaque dealings over the Chittagong Port lease.
Supreme Court lawyer Manzur-Al-Matin said the rule of law is being replaced by “viral justice”.
He said public trust in institutions has collapsed, pushing people to seek action through social media campaigns. The interim government has stepped back from reforms out of fear of online mobs, he added.
The administration appears fearful and submissive to powerful forces, and that the promised “new settlement” has not emerged. Instead, the government is repeating the old system of partisanship and revenge.
Prof Sayeed Ferdous of Jahangirnagar University said the administration appears fearful and submissive to powerful forces, and that the promised “new settlement” has not emerged.
Instead, he said, the government is repeating the old system of partisanship and revenge.
Economist Prof Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir said although the previous regime’s misinformation networks have collapsed, the risk of violence remains high as defeated forces resort to hard power.
Prof Mirza Taslima Sultana of Jahangirnagar University criticised attempts by some groups to claim sole ownership of the uprising.
She said the country appeared more stable during the brief power vacuum in early August, when ordinary people controlled the streets.
Political analyst Zahed Ur Rahman said institutions have been so hollowed out that rebuilding them will be extremely difficult.
Activist Sayeed Abdullah warned that without job creation and social diversity, unrest could turn into long-term instability.
He said continued discontent could push Bangladesh toward a situation where no government can complete a full term.
Prof Bulbul Siddiqi of North South University, columnist Nahid Hasan, and veteran journalist Chinmoy Mutsuddi also spoke at the programme.
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