The Pulse | Security | South Asia

Terror Alert in Bangladesh: Between Denial and Reality

Ignoring quiet militant activity like online recruitment or fundraising is just as dangerous as exaggerating the militant threat for political reasons.

Bangladesh Police Headquarters building, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

On April 23, Bangladesh’s Police Headquarters issued an “urgent and confidential” letter, warning of possible extremist attacks on parliament, the Shahbagh intersection, mosques, and even armories. The warning ignited discussion and debate in the country about the security landscape and the political uses of militancy.

The alert followed the arrest of Istiak Ahmed Sami alias Abu Bakkar and two dismissed army personnel linked to banned outfits. Officials described the suspects as “extremely risky for the overall security of the country.” Law enforcement units were ordered to increase their vigilance across districts, underscoring the seriousness of the threat.

Yet, amid this heightened threat perception and security alert, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed publicly insisted that militancy “no longer exists in the country.” He argued that the term militancy was used during the “fascist era,” a reference to the authoritarian rule of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, for political gain.

In contrast, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman has admitted that militancy persists. “Militancy has existed in Bangladesh and continues to exist,” he said.

While it is a fact that past regimes, particularly that of Hasina, securitized militancy to delegitimize opponents, denying the existence of extremism and terrorism is misleading and potentially dangerous.

My own interviews conducted in June 2024 with 32 extremists in custody under the Anti-Terrorism Act revealed that more than 10 percent were involved or were at least sympathetic to radical ideas and actions. This indicates that extremist networks do exist in reality, are not imaginary or mere allegations, even if their activities are less visible than in the past.

According to a student leader of an opposition political party, “as the Jamaat-e-Islami moves from far-right to right-centric positions, the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) wants to capture far-right sympathy by denying terrorism altogether. This is what they did from 2001 to 2006 to counter left-wing extremists.”

This statement reflects how the terrorism discourse is weaponized in Bangladesh’s competitive party politics. Both overemphasis and denial of terrorism have political and security implications.

Recent cases highlight the ongoing risks. A 16-year-old boy from Habiganj was arrested after investigators found evidence of his ties with Neo-Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), bomb-making training, and plans to attack Shia and Ahmadiyya mosques. Neo-JMB is an Islamic State-affiliated extremist group in Bangladesh.

In this context, it may be recalled that the Islamic State’s Wilayat al Hind, i.e., the jihadist group’s India branch, released a pamphlet in September 2004, soon after the July Revolution, titled “Oh Muslims of Bangladesh: Halfway Done. Now, Strive for the Rule of God.” This suggests that the Islamic State and its South Asian affiliates are keenly interested in spreading their influence in countries in the region, including Bangladesh.

The Islamic State network continues with its online recruitment in Bangladesh. The teenage boy from Habiganj also revealed connections with two dismissed military personnel. This indicates that disgruntled military personnel are feeding extremist networks.

Another jihadist group that remains........

© The Diplomat