Information and Broadcasting Adviser Mahfuj Alam on Monday warned that the signs of a return to a 1/11-style regime are becoming evident amid growing political disunity and attempts to undermine the legacy of last year’s July Uprising.
In a Facebook post published at 6:40pm, Mahfuj wrote, “Footsteps of 1/11 are being heard.” He later edited the post to add, “But July will prevail. The people’s struggle will not be defeated.”
The phrase "1/11" refers to 11 January 2007, when a state of emergency was declared in Bangladesh, leading to a military-backed caretaker government that ruled until late 2008. The period is remembered for sweeping anti-corruption drives, political restructuring, and widespread criticism over suppression of civil liberties.
In comments under his post, Mahfuj elaborated that internal divisions among the forces behind the July Uprising, combined with the resurfacing of 1/11-era elements, have created a dangerous vacuum.
“The forces of July lack unity — and while we bear some responsibility for failing to maintain that unity, the subversive activities of the old 1/11 forces are even more to blame,” he said.
He warned that mainstream narratives are being reshaped to rehabilitate the Awami League and delegitimise the student-public coalition that led last year’s uprising.
“There is a mainstream effort to normalise the Awami League and vilify the student-public coalition of July... Efforts are underway to restore the old economic and cultural arrangements, paving the way for the Awami League’s return.”
Mahfuj described this as a systematic attempt to depoliticise the public, erode trust in democratic institutions, and manufacture a ‘savior crisis’ to justify authoritarian control.
The adviser warned of deliberate efforts to diminish the political and historical significance of the July Uprising, portraying its supporters as “chaotic” or “incompetent.”
“A gradual portrayal of July-aligned forces as failed is being used to dismiss the potential of July altogether,” he wrote, citing attempts to foster a sense of disillusionment among students.
He also cautioned against confusion being spread around election issues, despite apparent consensus between the interim government and political parties.
Earlier in the day, Mahfuj shared a post from 2 August 2024, reflecting on internal debates within the anti-fascist movement during the uprising’s peak.
“When everyone was calling for Hasina's downfall with a single-point demand... we were talking about non-cooperation,” he recalled. “Had non-cooperation clearly separated the forces of July from fascist forces on all sides, today's crises could have been avoided.”
