US-Backed IRI Plot to Topple Bangladesh Government Exposed

Washington D.C. - In a startling revelation, leaked documents have unveiled a covert operation by the International Republican Institute (IRI), funded by U.S. AID, aimed at destabilizing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government in Bangladesh. The 22-month program, known as PARIS (Promoting Accountability, Inclusivity, and Resiliency Support), ran from March 2019 to January 2021, with the explicit goal of enhancing political participation and amplifying anti-authoritarian voices within the country.

The IRI's strategy involved identifying over 170 democratic activists across Bangladesh's urban centers, including rappers, ethnic minority leaders, and LGBTQI individuals. These activists were trained to foster dissent and challenge the existing political order. Notably, the IRI facilitated the production of songs like "Ei Doy Kar?" ("Whose Fault Is This?") by Bangladeshi singer Taufiq Ahmed, which criticized social injustices and government policies, thereby inciting public unrest.

Additionally, the IRI organized workshops and events that brought together artists and opposition leaders, further fueling political dissent. The organization's report highlighted that such initiatives were designed to "raise public awareness on social and political issues in Bangladesh and support the public to challenge the status quo," ultimately aiming for a "power shift" within the nation.