After the ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government, Bangladesh, under the leadership of its Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, has become a hub of radical Islamists and terrorist groups that pose a danger not only to the regional peace and security but also pose a grave threat to global peace and security. This is Part 1 of the multi-part series that profiles some of the key terrorist and Islamist outfits active in Bangladesh, resulting in pogrom of Hindus and other minorities. These radical Islamist groups have systematically targeted political opponents. All of them have close ties with Pakistan and the global terror network.

Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh (JIB) is a political and religious organization founded in 1941 by Maulana Abul Ala Maududi in British India. Initially established as a branch of the Jamaat-e-Islami (Pakistan) in the pre-independence era, it aimed to promote Islamic values and influence politics through the lens of Islamic law, known as Sharia. In 1947, following the partition of India and the creation of Pakistan, Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan (JIP) was established, and Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh emerged as a prominent player in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).

During the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, the group took a strong stance against the independence movement, aligning itself with Pakistan and opposing the breakaway of East Pakistan. As a result, many of its leaders were accused of collaborating with the Pakistani military in suppressing the independence movement, leading to their involvement in atrocities against Bengali nationalists. After the war and Bangladesh’s independence, Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh was banned, but it was later re-legalized in 1979. Since then, the party has remained a significant political force, albeit controversial due to its ideology and its........

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