Fri Jan 17 18:25:40 UTC 2025: ## Exiled Bangladeshi Minister Warns of Extremist Threat Under Interim Government

**Kolkata, India –** A key member of Bangladesh’s deposed Awami League government has warned of a growing extremist threat in the country and expressed concern over the influence of the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, former Education Minister, told The Hindu that Bangladesh risks becoming a haven for Islamic extremists if the current situation isn’t addressed.

Nowfel, who played a role in negotiations during last summer’s student-led uprising that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, voiced apprehension about the incoming Trump administration’s potential impact on the interim government. He noted Yunus’s past criticism of Trump and suggested this could lead to repercussions.

The minister highlighted the rising influence of extremist groups like Hizbut Tahrir and Jamaat-e-Islami, referencing a recent call by Hizbut Tahrir for an Islamic state in Bangladesh. He stressed that these groups pose a threat not only to the region but also internationally.

Nowfel also criticized the interim government’s handling of the situation, accusing Yunus of failing to maintain law and order and protect minorities. He said the government’s proposed constitutional reforms lack legitimacy, stating Yunus has “no mandate” to reshape Bangladesh’s ideological trajectory. Nowfel emphasized the importance of secularism and Bengali nationalism, principles he says Yunus disregards.

The upheaval began in July 2024 with a student-led uprising against Hasina’s government. Nowfel revealed that plans were underway for a peaceful transfer of power to Parliament Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, but the situation escalated, forcing him into hiding. He attributed the current economic turmoil and industrial unrest to the deteriorating law and order situation under the interim government. The article concludes by emphasizing Nowfel’s urgent warning about the potential for Bangladesh to become a new base for global Islamic extremism.

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