Inshallah Bangladesh: The Political Thriller Behind Sheikh Hasina's Ouster and Bangladesh's Islamist Shift
The book Inshallah Bangladesh reveals how Sheikh Hasina's refusal to negotiate with student protest leaders and the army chief Waker-uz-Zaman's betrayal led to her ouster on August 5, 2024. Hasina fled after a military-backed takeover supported by Islamist forces and foreign intelligence. The new regime empowers Jamaat-e-Islami, marking a shift toward Islamist influence and undermining Bangladesh's secular identity.
Inshallah Bangladesh, authored by Deep Halder, Sahidul Hasan Khokon, and Jaideep Mazumdar, exposes explosive details of the events leading to Sheikh Hasina’s flight from Bangladesh on August 5, 2024. Despite security officials' advice, Hasina refused to engage student leaders demanding change, expecting the army to stop the protests. Instead, army chief Waker-uz-Zaman, related to Hasina yet allegedly collaborating with the CIA and Islamist groups, refused orders to suppress protesters, fearing internal revolt. The betrayal culminated in Hasina being forced to leave Dhaka after a phone call from a top Indian official. Post-ouster, Mohammad Yunus assumed power amidst rising influence of Jamaat-e-Islami and pro-Pakistan Islamist groups, exemplified by the unprecedented commemoration of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Dhaka. The book paints the episode as a CIA-orchestrated coup supported internally by military and Islamist elements, accelerating Bangladesh's drift from secularism toward an Islamist regime. Firsthand testimonies underscore the chaotic last day at the prime minister's residence and the political intrigue surrounding Hasina's removal. The narrative details the destabilization from a student protest into regime collapse and warns of a radicalized future for Bangladesh under Jamaat leadership.
