Religious flag rallies raise concerns over country’s image, investment climate

Law enforcement agencies are examining the organisers and motivations behind the recent nationwide rallies in which participants carried black and white flags bearing the Islamic declaration of faith, amid concerns that the events could harm Bangladesh’s international image and undermine efforts to attract foreign investment.

Senior officials from the Police Headquarters, the Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) and the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit told the Daily Sun that investigations are underway to determine whether any organised group or external actors played a role in mobilising the demonstrations.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly, stressed that the inscription “La ilaha illallah” is a sacred declaration of faith for Muslims worldwide. 

However, they noted that certain black and white flag designs have also been adopted by internationally designated extremist organisations, making their public display susceptible to misinterpretation abroad. According to one senior police officer, investigators are looking into allegations that elements linked to an Islamic platform, an Islamic political party and a banned militant outfit may have coordinated parts of the campaign.

The officer also said intelligence agencies are examining whether any foreign interests sought to exploit the events to portray Bangladesh negatively on the international stage. These claims, however, remain under investigation and have not been independently verified.

The officer said the inspector general of police had already held discussions with senior officials and instructed them to investigate the matter thoroughly. An SP-ranked officer of the CTTC said investigators had identified several organisers and were analysing their activities.

“We are proceeding carefully. All relevant agencies are working on the matter. So far, our assessment suggests that many ordinary participants joined the rallies without any intention of promoting extremism or understanding how the flags might be perceived internationally,” the officer said. An official of the Anti-Terrorism Unit also confirmed that the agency was conducting its own inquiry and would disclose its findings after the investigation.

On 26 June, rallies and processions were held in different parts of the country, with participants carrying black and white flags bearing the Arabic inscription “La ilaha illallah”. Demonstrators also protested against the reported persecution of Muslims in a neighbouring country and raised other religious and humanitarian concerns.

Security officials noted that while the inscription itself is central to Islamic belief, similar flag designs have been used by groups including the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and the banned outfit Hizb ut-Tahrir in different contexts. Hizb ut-Tahrir had displayed similar flags during its “March for Khilafah” programme near Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on 7 March.

Security analysts cautioned that regardless of the organisers’ intentions, widespread circulation of such imagery could create adverse international perceptions at a time when Bangladesh is seeking greater foreign direct investment (FDI). Dr Omar Faruk, professor of Criminology and Police Science at Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, said the events could send an unfortunate signal to overseas investors.

“If Bangladesh is perceived abroad as becoming vulnerable to extremist influences, even mistakenly, it could affect investor confidence. It is therefore important to determine who organised these events and for what purpose,” he said.

Dr Tawohidul Haque, associate professor at Dhaka University, said authorities should identify those responsible and establish whether the demonstrations formed part of any coordinated campaign.

“The issue is not the religious declaration itself, but how certain symbols may be interpreted internationally because of their association with extremist groups. Any misunderstanding could damage Bangladesh’s reputation and investment prospects,” he said.

Security analyst Major General (retd) Fazle Elahi Akbar echoed similar concerns. “Citizens should remain mindful that actions capable of being misrepresented internationally can affect Bangladesh’s image. Any perception of instability may have consequences not only for foreign investment but also for overseas employment opportunities,” he said.

Investigators said calls to participate in the rallies spread widely through Facebook before the events, while several online businesses began marketing the flags. Among them was an online store named “CJP Mart”. Its owner, Farhad Hossain, told the Daily Sun that he had only recently started selling the flags and had received around 30 orders.

“I did not think there was anything controversial about selling them,” he said. Police are also examining several Facebook posts announcing processions in different districts, including one organised from Palerchar in Shariatpur. Local residents said many participants joined without being aware of any possible controversy surrounding the flags.

One resident, Md Rasel, said people only realised the matter had attracted police attention after officers visited the area following the procession. The issue has also drawn attention in Indian media. Reports by India Today and India.com highlighted the appearance of the flags in Bangladesh, linking them to symbols used by extremist organisations and raising security concerns.

Security experts said such international coverage illustrates how religious symbols, when used in particular formats or contexts, can be interpreted differently outside Bangladesh, reinforcing the need for authorities to establish the facts and communicate them clearly.

Officials said investigations are continuing and no conclusions have yet been reached regarding the organisers, motives or any alleged foreign involvement.