Is Bangladesh preparing for the ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind’ with a ‘Hindu-free’ Islamic army?

Bangladesh’s Muslim Youth Firearms Training: A National Preparedness Or a Prelude to an Islamist Militia for the ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind’?

Upendra Bharti | HENB | New Delhi | Oct 24, 2025:: The interim government of Bangladesh has started training the youth in firearms. It is reported that at least 8,000 youth are currently being trained. The government’s argument is that this is just an initiative to strengthen the ‘Reserve Force’. But a section of political analysts says that this opaque process of providing military training to a large number of youths in great secrecy has raised questions about the stability of the country. According to them, if this initiative is implemented, then New Delhi also has reason to worry. And according to the news received, Hindus have been kept away from military training. So, has Bangladesh started preparing for the ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind‘ of the ‘Hindu-free’ Islamic army? Bangladesh’s Youth Firearms Training may not be a National Preparedness and seems to be a Prelude to an Islamist Militia.

Asif Mahamud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, one of the advisors to the Bangladesh interim government led by Prof. Muhammad Yunus, posted on Facebook four days ago that weapons training has begun by recruiting 8,850 youth from different parts of the country. He said that training in the use of firearms is being given just as taekwondo, judo, and martial arts are being taught. According to sources, various intelligence agencies of the country informed the Indian Ministry of External Affairs about such camps a few months ago.

According to recently released government information, the government has planned to train 40,000 young men and women in firearms and karate through the Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC). In the first phase, 8,850 people have been given this training. According to sources, the 8,850 people are being trained in seven camps across the country by army officers known to be pro-Pakistan. A section of political observers claims that the government is creating a trained force to operate heavy weapons looted from Ganabhaban and various police stations. Usually, such military training is given in secret. But to avoid the risk of the news of the training being leaked and spread on social media, the government has now arranged this training in a public and legal way under the name of ‘Youth Training Program’.

Some military experts and diplomats argue that for several months, some Islamist groups and some former army officers close to them have been trying to create an Islamic armed force (militia). This is probably their first step. Because if those groups had arranged weapons training on a private initiative, they would have had to maintain secrecy. Once it was revealed, there would have been an uproar across the country, and the administration would have had to take action. Instead, radical extremist groups are able to get this work done within the legal framework through the government. In that case, their word will be the last word when it comes to recruiting young people in the camps. Because, according to experienced circles, the Yunus government is just a ‘puppet’ of Jamaat-e-Islami and the extremists.

A former lieutenant officer of the Bangladesh Army, who wishes to remain anonymous, said, “Legal action is being taken against various senior army officers. On the one hand, there is a conspiracy to weaken the army by questioning it, and on the other hand, there is a parallel attempt to create a militia, much like Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. An attempt may be made to turn Bangladesh into an Islamic state with that rogue army.”

A section of diplomats believes that India has enough reason to be concerned about this process. They remind us that recently in New York, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher said that 50 lakh Jamaat youth are ready to fight against India. If India enters Bangladesh, a part of those 50 lakhs will wage guerrilla warfare, while the rest will spread inside India and try to implement ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind’ (conquest of India). Therefore, if the Islamic armed forces are really being formed in Bangladesh, then diplomats are not ruling out the possibility of tension on the Indian border and an increase in extremist activities inside India.

And since Hindus have been kept away from this almost secret and seemingly mysterious military training, many in the concerned circles believe that this time the preparations and exercises for the ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind‘ of the ‘Hindu-free’ Islamic forces have begun in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh shares approximately 4,096.7 km of border with India, spanning five states: West Bengal (2,216.7 km), Assam (263 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Mizoram (318 km), and Tripura (856 km). Among these, West Bengal shares the longest border with Bangladesh. Reports suggest that a significant portion of this border remains unfenced, increasing the potential risk of cross-border infiltration by trained Muslim militant groups seeking to advance the ideological mission of “Ghazwa-e-Hind.” As such, Bangladesh poses as the biggest Jihadi threat to Indian in its Eastern front.

Given its geophysical position, West Bengal could be particularly vulnerable and may become an initial target for attempts to extend influence from Bangladesh, sometimes referred to by BJP’s narratives as “Paschim Bangladesh.”

While Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has often been accused by BJP leaders of favouring the Muslim community for her political gain, critics question what the so-called Hindutva-oriented BJP is doing in practical terms to prevent such threats of “Paschim Bangladesh” and safeguard national security.
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_Agency Inputs.