Bangladesh, June 10 -- The return of democratic governance in Bangladesh following the February 12 general elections was expected to mark the beginning of a new chapter of stability, pluralism, and constitutional order. Many citizens, particularly members of religious minorities, hoped that the end of the controversial rule of Muhammad Yunus would also signal an end to the insecurity, intimidation, and political uncertainty that had characterized much of the previous period. Yet recent developments suggest that extremist forces are once again attempting to exploit religious sentiments and communal divisions to destabilize the country and undermine democratic institutions.

One of the most alarming examples of this emerging trend is the g...