Towards A Sharia State: Allowing Global Jihad Network Meet in Dhaka, What Yunus Wants to Do in Bangladesh?

Dhaka Islamist Meet: Global Jihad Network Finds Common Ground in Prof. Muhammad Yunus’ Bangladesh. 

Prominent radical Islamist leaders from Hamas, the Taliban, and Pakistan converged in Dhaka, Bangladesh, for a sermon with alleged ties to al-Qaeda, sparking heightened security concerns for neighboring India.

Upananda Brahmachari | HENB | New Delhi | Oct 11, 2024:: Despite repeated assurances to maintain a secular stance, Prof. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, has allegedly been supporting radical elements seeking to undermine the country’s secular framework and promote an Islamic agenda.

Following Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, Muhammad Yunus assumed the role of Chief Adviser, leading Bangladesh’s interim government alongside representatives from civil society, student leaders, and various sectors. However, concerns have been raised regarding potential collaborations with Islamist groups, including the Jamat-Hefazat lobby and pro-Islamist elements within the Bangladesh army, sparking fears about the country’s secular structure in future.

Coming to the centre stage, Muhammad Yunus  lifted the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and released many Islamic extremists from jail, reportedly to appease the Jamat-Hefazat lobby and maintain power. This move reversed the full ban imposed by the previous Sheikh Hasina government on August 1, 2024. Jamaat-e-Islami is notoriously notable for its alleged involvement in war crimes during Bangladesh’s 1971 liberation war and its push for an Islamic state. Furthermore, Muhammad Yunus’s leadership has been criticized for failing to safeguard the rights and security of minority communities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians. His administration’s inaction has allegedly enabled fanatic Muslim perpetrators to target these minority groups, leaving them vulnerable to Islamic extremism and persecution.

This year, Bangladesh witnessed a significant decline in the number of Sarbajonin Durgapuja celebrations, with a decrease of 946 puja celebrations across the country. This downturn is reportedly linked to feelings of insecurity and extortion among the organizers and participants caused by Islamist threats.

The situation took a dire turn in Yunus regime as prominent radical Islamist leaders from Hamas, the Taliban, and Pakistan gathered in Dhaka, Bangladesh, for a sermon reportedly linked to al-Qaeda. This convergence has significantly escalated security concerns for neighboring India.

Reports reveal that Al-Markazul-Islami, a contentious organization, hosted the gathering, featuring influential figures from various extremist groups delivering sermons. Notably, the organization’s founder, the late Mufti Shahidul Islam (d. 2023), had established links to al-Qaeda, and his extensive involvement in terrorism has heightened concerns about the event’s intentions and potential implications.

Mufti Shahidul Islam, a prominent figure in Bangladesh’s Islamist militancy landscape, was arrested in 1999 for masterminding a fatal bomb attack on an Ahmadiya mosque in Khulna, resulting in eight deaths. After his release, Islam sought training in explosives from al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and various African countries. Despite his passing, his legacy endures, with extremist groups like Jamatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) continuing to revere him as a pivotal influence on their operations.

On October 7, a high-profile Islamist gathering took place in Dhaka, featuring senior Hamas leaders Sheikh Khaled Quddumi, spokesperson and senior leader, and Sheikh Khaled Mishal, Chairman of Hamas’ Political Bureau. Eminent Islamist figures from Pakistan, including Shaikhul Islam Mufti Taqi Usmani and Maulana Fazlur Rahman, influential within radical circles, also attended. This event coincides with heightened regional tensions, particularly for Bangladesh and India, following the ousting of the Sheikh Hasina-led government. Intelligence sources suggest terrorist groups may seek to exploit Bangladesh’s evolving political landscape into a Sharia State. Though the event was set to an agenda to ‘Free Palestine’, the discussions encompassed the ‘Islamization of entire South Asia’.  It is difficult to believe that BD Chief Adviser Prof Yunus is unaware of these facts.

Not only that, Bangladesh  saw an unprecedented ISIS march in its capital. The recent ISIS march in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, on October 6, is a concerning development. Students from St Joseph Higher Secondary School and College, a prestigious institution run by Catholic missionaries, marched to the national parliament with a big ISIS black flag demanding the establishment of a caliphate in the country. This event is alarming, especially since it occurred without any hindrance from the Yunus Interim Government. The police machinery in Bangladesh is always helping the radicals in all possible ways.

The shifting power dynamics in Dhaka have raised concerns about radical elements plotting attacks or infiltrating India through the porous India-Bangladesh border. Indian security agencies are on high alert, anticipating possible intrusions by terrorists seeking to destabilize the region. The Islamist motive, reportedly fuelled by a desire for a Sharia state, aims to eliminate all minorities from Bangladesh.

This development is particularly alarming given the country’s history of anti-India terror groups. The exit of Sheikh Hasina, who had tried  to neutralise these groups during her tenure, has created a security vacuum.

The recent gathering of extremist leaders in Bangladesh has indeed raised concerns about escalating violence and terror activities, posing a significant threat to the stability and security of India and the entire South Asian region. This is especially alarming given the country’s history of anti-India terror groups and its strategic location, providing access to the Bay of Bengal and Southeast Asia. With Bangladesh’s strategic location providing access to the Bay of Bengal and Southeast Asia, India’s security concerns are heightened.
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_Inputs from Agencies.