Bash script – variable content as a command to run

You just need to do:

#!/bin/bash
count=$(cat last_queries.txt | wc -l)
$(perl test.pl test2 $count)

However, if you want to call your Perl command later, and that’s why you want to assign it to a variable, then:

#!/bin/bash
count=$(cat last_queries.txt | wc -l)
var="perl test.pl test2 $count" # You need double quotes to get your $count value substituted.

...stuff...

eval $var

As per Bash’s help:

~$ help eval
eval: eval [arg ...]
    Execute arguments as a shell command.

    Combine ARGs into a single string, use the result as input to the shell,
    and execute the resulting commands.

    Exit Status:
    Returns exit status of command or success if command is null.