Government Must Exercise Vigilance Now

On 10 August, a report by the UN Security Council’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team mentioned ongoing efforts to establish Al-Qaeda cells in Bangladesh. The report stated that Al-Qaeda's position and capabilities in Afghanistan remain unchanged. Its regional wing, Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), has gradually evolved from a fragmented group into a regional organization. Instead of operating as large units, they are attempting to expand their logistical support and financial networks by establishing small, isolated cells.

The UN expressed concern over AQIS’s attempts to set up cells or small organizational units in Bangladesh, noting that the group is trying to exploit the country for its own interests. The report—based on assessments from member states—analyzed the activities of Al-Qaeda and its affiliated groups from 15 December 2025, to 9 June of this year.

Following the report's release, Home Affairs Adviser Salahuddin Ahmed dismissed the UN analyst's findings as speculative.

Whether Al-Qaeda has a physical presence in Bangladesh remains a subject of debate. However, recent activities by extremist groups suggest that these elements are beginning to re-emerge.

Over the past few months, several incidents involving the recovery of bombs and explosive-making materials in and around the capital city, Dhaka, have been reported in the media. Security analysts believe that the seizure of explosives, alleged active operations of New JMB, and the UN warning are interlinked events that do not bode well for internal security.

Meanwhile, the activities of JMB—a once prominent and banned militant group in Bangladesh—have come under scrutiny again. Law enforcement agencies have uncovered fresh information regarding a faction of New JMB.

On 12 August, the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of the police raided a three-story house in the South Shyampur area of Savar. They recovered nine explosive devices, a large quantity of gunpowder, and various bomb-making materials. Prior to this, on July 30, police recovered a specially crafted bomb left in a travel bag at a grocery store in Ashulia, Savar. Furthermore, on 24 July, police retrieved another bomb hidden inside an umbrella beneath the Motijheel Metro Rail Station in Dhaka.

Amid these developments, Police Headquarters recently issued a nationwide alert regarding potential attacks on law enforcement vehicles.

Extremist fundamentalist groups began reorganizing in Bangladesh following the political shift on 5 August 2024. Various sources claim these organizations played a significant role in the movement that led to the political change, participating alongside several political groups. Consequently, after the fall of the Awami League government, these radical extremist factions found a favorable environment to operate publicly.

Post-August 2024, rallies featuring black flags inscribed with the Kalima were observed in Dhaka and other regions. Demonstrators demanded an end to the genocide in Palestine, protested alleged disrespect toward the Prophet of Islam, and called for the establishment of an Islamic Caliphate. Radical activities surfaced elsewhere as well; last year, a rally organized by the banned group Hizb ut-Tahrir near the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka was dispersed by police using tear gas and sound grenades.

Critics assert that the interim government led by Dr Muhammad Yunus sought to consolidate its base by aligning with fundamentalist groups, with some activists reportedly acting as enforced muscle for the administration. They argue that the Yunus administration’s strong anti-India stance and pro-Pakistan inclination further facilitated the resurgence of extremism.

In the wake of the 5 August political changes, several convicted militants escaped from prison, while others detained on extremism charges were released on bail. The release of numerous suspected militants and extremists since August 2024 presents a major security challenge, as allegations surface that some released individuals are attempting to reconnect with militant networks and resume radical activities.

One notable instance involves Maulana Ikramul Haq (also known as Abu Talha, Maulana Sabet, Nur Hossain, Mansur, and Milan), who was arrested on 30 May 2023, in Madartek, Dhaka. According to police, he was affiliated with AQIS and operated under at least five aliases. Held in Kashimpur High Security Central Jail until receiving bail on 10 October 2024, law enforcement currently lacks precise information regarding his whereabouts nearly 22 months post-release. Police state that Ikramul illegally entered Bangladesh in September 2022 and managed AQIS operations from Mymensingh until his arrest. The CTTC noted that he faces 10 cases in India. IT-savvy, he was actively involved in AQIS's Dawah activities and conducted online classes for members.

Authorities fear Ikramul’s case is not isolated and that former suspected militants may already be actively rebuilding their networks.

Similarly, 'Bomaru Mamun', linked to New JMB and accused of supplying the bomb used in the 2017 Panthapath Hotel Olio suicide blast that killed a youth named Saiful Islam, was released on bail in September 2024. In January of this year, a court acquitted Mamun and all co-accused in the Hotel Olio case. The recent movements of such individuals following their release remain a serious point of concern.

According to prison and court records, at least 338 individuals detained on militant-related charges have been released on bail since the 5 August mass uprising. Additionally, three escaped militant leaders remain at large, and at least 27 militants who broke out of Narsingdi Prison have yet to be recaptured.

Political analysts suggest that the rhetoric and actions of certain political parties are fostering extremism in Bangladesh, allowing militant ideology to re-emerge under the guise of various organizations.

Since August 2024, there has been a rise in targeted incidents—undermining the Liberation War, vandalizing historical monuments, disrupting cultural events such as plays, concerts, and boat races, opposing women’s attire, and hindering free thought. Although these acts were tolerated under the Yunus administration, the current government has taken strict measures, though complete suppression remains a challenge. These events indicate that fundamentalist forces are no longer acting solely as terrorist groups, but are actively seeking political influence. As they organize militarily, they simultaneously target Bangladesh's heritage and culture without facing sufficient political resistance.

Currently, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) stands as the primary political entity upholding the spirit of the Liberation War. Fighting radical forces both inside and outside parliament, BNP has had to make political compromises, inadvertently allowing radical and communal elements to seep into mainstream politics. Moving beyond isolated acts of terrorism, these groups are increasingly maneuvering for political leverage with long-term ambitions of establishing a Caliphate.

The government must act decisively. Extremism and terrorism cannot be tolerated, as their integration into mainstream politics risks compromising Bangladesh's international standing and undermining its democracy. Democracy and terrorism cannot coexist.