Banned overseas, unchecked at home: Al-Qaeda, IS propaganda sold openly in Bangladesh

In the country's bustling book hubs and digital marketplaces, books penned by the architects of global terror including Abdullah Azzam and Ayman al-Zawahiri are just a few clicks or a short walk away. As publishers leverage social media influencers to promote these works and government organizers cite a lack of policy guidelines, security analysts and civil society leaders warn that unchecked extremist literature on public shelves poses an immediate threat to the nation’s stability. 

Books written by Al-Qaeda and Islamic State (IS) leaders that provoke violence against civilians and the destabilization of different state’s governments are being sold openly in Bangladesh, including at a book fair organized by the government’s religious organization Islamic Foundation.

Despite being prohibited in the Middle East’s Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and several other countries, such publications' sale and promotion face little apparent obstruction in Bangladesh. Even the BNP’s body of Islamic scholars has rejected the promotion of such material.

“If such books are being sold, it is unacceptable. A state requires stability. These books can negatively impact society, the state, and the nation. This cannot be supported in any way,” Nazrul Islam Talukdar, a former member secretary and current executive committee member of the Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Ulama Dal, told the media.

During a visit to the Islamic Foundation’s month-long book fair, which began on 12 September, Journalists found books by Al-Qaeda ideologues Abdullah Yusuf Azzam and Osama bin Laden, as well as writings by leaders of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), Ansar al-Islam and the so-called Islamic State.

The books were being sold at stalls operated by at least 10 publishers at the fair on the eastern premises of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.

The books were also widely available at stationery shops in Banglabazar and online stores including Rokomari, Baatighar, Wafilife, Kitabghar, Ruhamashop, Halalponno, Nafiun, Khidmashop, Mamunbooks and Boitoi. Some stores promoted the books through Facebook advertisements.

One book described how groups such as Al-Qaeda could damage an economy through sabotage and attacks on judges, police stations, highways and oil pipelines, disrupting government services and creating public anger and fear among authorities. The author urged readers to commit such acts in the name of Islam.

Another book justified killing civilians in attacks aimed at specific targets and urged readers to inflict maximum damage on countries, destabilize governments and then present themselves as rescuers.

Another described the purported justification for mass killings intended to trigger an international conflict.

One of the writers, Abdullah Azzam, was a mentor to bin Laden, who founded and led Al-Qaeda, an organization designated as a terrorist group by the U.N. Security Council. Al-Qaeda attacks since the late 1990s have killed thousands of civilians.

Other authors include Ayman al-Zawahiri, a close associate of bin Laden whose group was responsible for attacks that killed hundreds of people in Kenya and Tanzania. Bin Laden and Azzam were also associated with the development of the militant network that later carried out the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.

At the Islamic Foundation book fair, books by at least 10 militant leaders were available in Bangla translation.

Some individuals facing charges under Bangladesh’s anti-terrorism law, or known for publicly supporting Al-Qaeda, have also promoted the books on social media. Publishers have referred to such individuals as “influencers” to help promote sales.

[Editor's note: We are withholding the titles of specific books and direct quotations from their contents to avoid amplifying extremist propaganda and rhetoric.]

Islamic Foundation Director General Mufti Muhammad Muhibbullahil Baqi Nadvi said the foundation had not previously been aware of the books.

“We did not have this information before. If we find any books linked to Al-Qaeda, we will take action. We run open tenders. If the Islamic scholars [Alem-Ulema] say books belong to Al-Qaeda, we will take action,” he said.

Shafi Md Mostofa, an associate professor of world religions and culture at Dhaka University, said the government needed a clearer strategy to address radicalization.

“The government must establish a clear roadmap and framework to counter radicalisation. Currently, the government still lacks a proper policy for dealing with this problem,” he told the media.

Who are the publishers?

The publishers identified by the journalist include Ruhama, Sean, Sandipan, Samakalin, Ar-Rihab, Shabdatoru, Chetona, Ilmweb, Ilmhouse and Khan Prakashani, also known as Khan Publications.

Sean published a book by Samiul Haq Haqqani, popularly known as the “Father of the Taliban,” whose students included Al-Qaeda leaders.

On 10 September, Home Minister Salahuddin said the government was closely monitoring radical groups both online and offline. Referring to the statement, Sean owner Ahmad Rafiq wrote on Facebook that when ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina began monitoring people, the public put her under surveillance.

“If the home minister does the same, the public will place the government under surveillance too,” he wrote.

“Awami League fled to India; where will you go? You will have nowhere to go except the Bay of Bengal. Think twice before you act,” he added.

Ar-Rihab has published books by bin Laden, al-Zawahiri, Asim Umar, Dadullah, Yusuf al-Ayiri, Abu Usama, Asim al-Barqawi, Ahmad Farooq and other Al-Qaeda figures.

Shabdotoru and Ilmweb have published books by Sheikh Khalid ar-Rashid, Sheikh Abu Hamza, Sheikh Ahmad Musa Jibril and Asim, all described by media as Al-Qaeda leaders.

Ruhama Publications

Ruhama Publications has published six books by Al-Qaeda figure Khalid al-Husainan. Its owner, Rafiqul Islam, is also a member of the organizing committee of the Islamic Foundation book fair.

Asked about the books being featured at the fair, he said, “We are not the only ones doing this; many others have done it too.”

He said the books were published some time ago.

“We published them under different contexts. After matters regarding [the writers] came to light, no more [books] were published by us,” he said.

Baatighar also sells five books by the same author published by Ruhama.

Ar-Rihab

Ar-Rihab has published a book by the wife of Farooq, a leader of AQIS, an organization that has sought to wage war in India, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

The book was translated, compiled and edited by Arif Mahmud, who dedicated it to Jasimuddin Rahmani, a leader of the banned Ansar al-Islam.

On 5 July, Ar-Rihab Publications posted the cover of a book by Asim Umar on Facebook with the caption, “The book that Rahmani Shaheb highly recommends. Alhamdulillah. Grab your copy quickly.”

In earlier posts, the publisher referred to Asif Adnan and Harun Izhar as influencers who praised such books.

Ar-Rihab owner Habibur Rahman was arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Unit of police in 2021 on charges of involvement with the banned Ansarullah Bangla Team.

He initially denied that his publishing house had published such books. After being shown evidence that the books had been promoted on Facebook, he said they had been promoted before the previous book fair and were no longer being promoted or kept in stock.

“There are administrative troubles, which is why I have discarded the books I used to sell,” he said.

Regarding several books written under pseudonyms, he said, “I do not know their real names. I don't have their phone numbers either. They submitted the books on Facebook, and I published them. They were the ones who spent money for the publications.”

Shabdotoru

Shabdotoru, which began operating in 2019, has published four books by Sheikh Khalid ar-Rashid. The books are sold on Rokomari.

The author was arrested in Saudi Arabia in 2005 and later charged with financing a terrorist organization. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison and remains incarcerated in Saudi Arabia.

Shabdotoru has also translated and published a book by Al-Qaeda leader Sheikh Abu Hamza, who is serving a life sentence.

The book names Salim Abdullah as the translator, while Ruhamashop, Wafilife and Rokomari are listed as online distributors.

Shabdotoru owner Hasan Jamil could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts.

Khan Publications

Khan Publications, based in Banglabazar, has three books by Anwar al-Awlaki at its stall at the book fair. Awlaki was a senior figure in Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

Khan owner Muhammad Ishaq Khan faced separate cases under the Anti-Terrorism Act in Narayanganj and Singair in January and July 2018. He was released on bail in 2021.

In a written response, he said, “Anwar al-Awlaki was not a public member of any group while he was in the US. Tagging the translations of his discussions from that time to any organisation is nothing but slander.”

Asked whether he personally supported Al-Qaeda, he said, “I do not know anything about any organisation by the name you just mentioned. Therefore, the question of supporting or not supporting them is irrelevant.”

An intelligence agency officer told a reporter that Ishaq was arrested in 2018 for publishing and distributing extremist books through Khan Publications.

At the time, RAB-3 CPC-3 Additional SP Bina Rani told the media that Ishaq was a student of Muhammad Jasimuddin Rahmani, described as the “spiritual leader” of Ansar al-Islam.

She also said his brother Ashraf Khan was a founding member of Ansar al-Islam, while another brother, Rakib, was a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir and was in jail at the time.

A RAB official said Ishaq had published books of this type through Khan Publications and Makbul Publications and supplied them to madrasas across Bangladesh.

Rokomari

Rokomari, one of Bangladesh’s best-known online bookstores, features profiles of Al-Qaeda figures on its website and sells their books.

Among them is Khalid al-Husainan, whose eight books are listed on the platform and were available for pre-order.

Mahmudul Hasan Sadi, Rokomari’s head of marketing, said the government had no specific guidelines governing the sale of books.

“There are no guidelines from the government on selling books. Due to the lack of policy, we frequently face controversy over certain books,” he told mass media.

He said publishers should determine which books should be published.

“Rokomari bears no responsibility for marketing the books of Al-Qaeda leaders,” Sadi added.

Human rights activist Nur Khan Liton said the government and law enforcement agencies should act against publications that threaten public order or promote violence.

“The government and law enforcement agencies must take action against any publication that degrades the law and order situation in society, hampers people's freedom, or creates a state of anarchy. If the government fails to do so, society must bring these issues to light,” he said.

Source: Dhaka Stream