But I shall never forget my people, especially at a time when the rise of extremist ideologies and violent political and religious persecution puts Bangladesh at serious risk of a period of decline from which it will take many years to recover.

Recently, the unelected Interim Government of Bangladesh, headed by Muhammad Yunus, announced that elections would be held on February 12th, 2026. The country’s largest secular political party, Awami League however, has been eliminated from the political process through violent persecution – including numerous lynchings, unjust imprisonment and torture – and arbitrary administrative measures.

This troubling chaos and political vacuum has given extremist political parties with a fanatical religious ideology – the Jamaat-e-Islami in particular – free rein to assume power, in the absence of a secular counterpart that historically stood against and prevented its rise. This alarming situation will inevitably give rise to years of instability and serious threats to regional security. It is imperative that the international community, and the United States in particular, ensure that any elections are free, fair, and all-inclusive.

As many human rights organizations have reported, since the overthrow of the constitutional government in August 2024, there have been numerous violent attacks against Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, and other religious minorities and their places of worship. These reports document patterns of collective punishment in districts associated with secular and opposition political parties, and districts with a sizable minority population.

Several opposition political figures, including myself, have been sentenced to death in widely-condemned trials before the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh, and there is a serious fear that arbitrary executions may follow.

Ironically, the Tribunal was created in 1973 to prosecute the collaborators who assisted the Pakistani army in the genocide during the 1971 War of Independence under the leadership of my father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, during which some 3 million Bangladeshi civilians were murdered and countless women and girls became victims of horrific sexual violence. These are the same political forces that are now seeking a come-back with the apparent support of the Interim Government.

When I was elected in 2008, Bangladesh was a hotbed of extremist forces and terrorism. In its tenure of 16 years, my government worked, under enormous pressure, to keep these fanatical movements contained and to protect the secular constitution of the country.

As a result, Bangladesh saw long periods of stability and unprecedented economic prosperity that witnessed an astonishing 500% increase in per capita GDP, lifting millions out of poverty. This progress was achieved against the backdrop of several plots to assassinate myself and my sole surviving family member, my sister Sheikh Rehana. All of our parents and siblings, including our 10-year old brother, were murdered in cold blood in 1975 by the same political forces that are today seeking power.

Extremist ideologies rarely vanish; they wait for opportunities created by political exclusion, institutional weakening and social fear. Today, all of the guardrails that once constrained them have started to crumble. But I have arisen from this valley of death before and will do so again, with one conviction: that it is my sacred duty to protect the democratic rights of Bangladesh and to promote the dignity of its people. I will continue to stand for this struggle no matter who tries to silence me.

Invariably, during this period of extraordinary prosperity, mistakes were also made, and there are many lessons to be learned on the historical path of progress. In particular, during 2024, amidst a campaign of hate propaganda, misinformation and violent insurrection, numerous protestors and police officers were killed.

I had immediately ordered an impartial inquiry to establish responsibility for these tragic deaths, which the Interim Government has abandoned in favour of politicized sham trials and death sentences, while at the same time offering immunity to those who instigated the violence. The purpose of the agitators was simply the unconstitutional overthrow of the Government, which resulted in my exile to India on August 5th, 2024, and the current predicament.

But I shall never forget my people, especially at a time when the rise of extremist ideologies and violent political and religious persecution puts Bangladesh at serious risk of a period of decline from which it will take many years to recover.

The exclusion of the secular Awami League from forthcoming elections is inextricably tied to the rise of extremists, who present a dire threat not only to the people of Bangladesh, but also to the United States and its allies, as a once stable, secular, and prosperous country descends into a source of perpetual instability, decline and terrorism.

Bangladesh, with a population of 170 million, is situated in a vital strategic region, at the centre of the Bay of Bengal, between India and Myanmar. If it falls in the hands of extremists and their global network, its fallout will carry consequences far beyond its borders.

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not reflect Milli Chronicle’s point-of-view.

A new international report shows a persistent surge in both fatalities and injuries, driven by ongoing violence in several regions and the growing number of states withdrawing from the longstanding global treaty banning anti-personnel landmines.

The data indicates more than 6,000 landmine-related incidents last year, marking the highest figure since 2020.

Nearly 90 percent of the victims were civilians, demonstrating the continued impact of these explosive remnants on communities far removed from active frontlines.

Women and children accounted for almost half of those harmed, underscoring the multi-generational nature of landmine risk.

Humanitarian observers say the numbers reflect both renewed conflict and the increasing presence of leftover ordnance in areas where displaced people are returning.

Syria and Myanmar recorded some of the most severe spikes, driven by intensified fighting and the unsafe return of residents to previously contested territories.

In Syria, unexploded ordnance remains scattered across former battlegrounds, posing immediate danger to families rebuilding their lives.

Myanmar, meanwhile, reported more than 2,000 incidents, the highest globally. Both state military forces and armed groups have been cited in the report for extensive mine deployment across several regions.

The Mine Ban Treaty, which came into force in 1999, currently binds 166 countries and prohibits the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel mines. It also obligates member states to clear contaminated land and provide assistance to survivors.

However, several European nations have begun legal processes to withdraw from the treaty, citing heightened security concerns and rising geopolitical tensions.

This shift has raised alarms among disarmament advocates who warn that the trend could weaken the decades-old global norm against landmine use.

Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland are among the states moving toward formal withdrawal, prompted by what they describe as growing military threats.

Analysts say the departure of these countries could set a precedent that undermines broader international commitments to mine prohibition.

Ukraine also announced its exit earlier this year, with officials arguing that the move would support defensive operations amid ongoing conflict.

Military experts say the withdrawal may significantly alter the regional security landscape as the war continues.

The report additionally cites new instances of mine use in Ukraine, alongside allegations exchanged between Thailand and Cambodia following a border clash last July.

Cambodia denies deploying anti-personnel mines, while Thailand maintains its claims based on debris found in affected areas.

Russia and Myanmar, both non-signatories to the treaty, remain among the most extensive users of landmines according to the findings.

Their continued reliance on these weapons contributes to widespread contamination and long-term risks for civilians.

Another concern highlighted in the report is the decline in donor funding for mine clearance and survivor assistance programs.

Several major funding contributors have reduced support, resulting in the scaling back of humanitarian projects in multiple countries.

Budget cuts, including reductions in global assistance programs, have slowed clearance operations and forced some initiatives to shut down entirely.

Aid groups warn that without sustained funding, casualty numbers may continue to climb in coming years.

Member states to the Mine Ban Treaty are meeting in Geneva this week to discuss the rising challenges and reaffirm commitments to the treaty’s obligations.

Delegates are expected to examine the implications of recent withdrawals and the urgent need to strengthen international cooperation.

Humanitarian organizations emphasize that landmines continue to endanger communities long after fighting ends.

They call for renewed political will, sustainable funding, and broader adherence to the global ban to prevent future loss of life.