Dr. Samina Luthfa, Associate Professor of Sociology at Dhaka University, warned on Thursday that Bangladesh’s political landscape has grown increasingly unstable, with mob justice contributing to widespread feelings of oppression. 

Speaking at a seminar titled "July Uprising, Inclusion and Justice: Democratizing Public Sphere in Bangladesh," hosted by the Bangladesh Institute of Social Research (BISR) in Dhaka, Dr. Luthfa described the three months since Sheikh Hasina’s departure as verging on anarchy, with mob influence filling the power vacuum.

Dr. Luthfa noted that while the interim government is working to implement reforms, it’s too early to assess their success. She emphasized that although the current government has promised change, it is “not revolutionary”—what took place was an uprising, not a full-scale revolution, and sustaining public hopes will be vital.

Highlighting a growing issue, Dr. Luthfa remarked that “not only minorities but also the majority now feel like victims.” She cited various reasons for this sense of victimization, including religion, deprivation, denial of justice, and societal norms, adding that there was effectively no government presence from August 5 to 8. She called for a thorough investigation into this lapse, citing a lack of accountability for public safety during that period.

The professor also raised concerns about the presence of former NGO associates within the advisory council and warned against advisors replicating the behavior of previous administrations. Meanwhile, the armed forces remain influential, suggesting a complex political backdrop.

Dr. Luthfa responded to questions on student activism, explaining that a lack of centralized leadership in protests is often a strategic decision. When asked if one movement spawns another, she explained that “failed movements often lead to further mobilization.”

The seminar’s moderator, Dr. Khurshed Alam, BISR Trust Chairman, credited the July uprising’s success to the grassroots support of Awami League followers, estimating that 95% of ordinary members backed the movement. He stressed that this was not solely an activist-led effort but a wider public protest.

Prof. Dr. Bokhtiar Ahmed from Independent University added that the movement saw ordinary Awami League supporters uniting across generational divides, illustrating a determination among youth to stand by their principles. Dr. Bokhtiar noted the importance of unity, warning that division remains a critical issue. He also commented on the lack of ideological alternatives in Bangladesh, suggesting society is now driven by an “imagination-based” vision rather than a structured ideology.

Researchers, teachers, and students from various universities in Bangladesh and abroad participated in the hybrid seminar, reflecting broad academic engagement with the nation’s political and social shifts.