An updated report documents the unprecedented waves of mass looting, arson, vandalism, and widespread lawlessness that swept across Bangladesh following the political shift on August 5, 2024. Published by the Global Center for Democratic Governance (GCDG), the publication examines how the breakdown of order transformed from immediate political revenge into a systemic social affliction affecting properties, historical sites, and ordinary citizens alike.
Key figures and overview
As stated in the report:
- The First Wave of Terror: Initiated on August 5, 2024, with massive vandalism and looting at the Prime Minister’s Office, Ganabhaban, Parliament complex, Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, and residences of leaders, ministers, and judges across the country.
- The Second Wave (Bulldozer Terror): Unfolded in February 2025, featuring systematic demolitions of historical residences and political offices using excavators.
- The Third Wave: Occurred in April 2025 under the pretext of protests over Gaza, resulting in targeted looting of commercial outlets and prominent retail brands.
What the report covers
The report outlines various dimensions of the crisis through dedicated sections:
- The First Wave of Terror: Details the widespread pillage of state and private properties, attacks on historical relics at Dhanmondi 32, ministers’ residences, and freedom fighters’ offices, alongside an unchecked spread of looting from the capital to remote areas.
- The Second Wave (Bulldozer Terror): Documents the February 2025 events, including the demolition of House No. 32 and Sudha Sadan, regional razing of properties via bulldozers, and subsequent political fallout and arrests.
- The Third Wave of Terror (The Gaza Pretext): Examines how nationwide protests regarding the Gaza crisis turned into coordinated looting of restaurants and retail stores like KFC, Pizza Hut, and Bata showrooms.
- More Than Political Revenge: Highlights how the breakdown of law and order extended beyond political targets to include resource plundering, such as the massive theft of billions of takas worth of stone from Sylhet quarries, illegal seizure of water bodies, cattle theft in remote chars, and land-grabbing affecting apolitical citizens.
International context and conclusion
The report analyzes the broader geopolitical context, examining how foreign involvement and engineered instability contributed to the ongoing crisis. It concludes that the epidemic of looting and lawlessness poses a fundamental threat to societal stability and the rule of law in Bangladesh.
Read the Full Report
Read the complete report below, open it in a new tab, or download the PDF for offline reading.
Report details
- Title: How “Loot” is Becoming a National Character: The First Wave of Terror
- Prepared and published by: Global Center for Democratic Governance (GCDG)
- Written by: Dipu Ahkam (writer of the book “101 days of Bangladesh 2.0”)
The findings, allegations and opinions in this report are those of its publisher.
About the Author
