Bangladesh has experienced terrorism in the past conducted by a number of different organisations. [6] [7] In the past, both ISIL and other terrorist organisations had claimed to be active in the country. However, the Bangladeshi government believes that they mainly operated through local affiliates, before being neutralised by security forces.[ citation needed ]
The first militant Islamist organisation established in Bangladesh was the Muslim Millat Bahini (MMB), founded in 1986. They set up a madrasa and training camp on 5 acres (2.0 ha) in Shimulia village, Pakundia Upazila, Kishoreganj District. The madrasa enrolled more than 300 students. On 12 December 1989, 500 police raided the camp. A three-day gunfight erupted, resulting in the deaths of 2 policemen and 19 others. The outfit's leadership was arrested, and large quantities of weapons were seized. After the raid, the MMB ceased to function. [8]
The country's second militant Islamist organisation was Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami Bangladesh (HuJI-B). It was set up in the late 1980s and publicly unveiled on 30 April 1992 at a press conference in Dhaka. It was formed to support the Rohingya insurgency in Western Myanmar and to send mujahideen wherever there was jihad . [9]
The Daily Star reported in 2005 that, since 1989, 30 militant Islamist organisations had set up networks in the country, their main goal being to create an Islamic state. Many of their members were Bangladeshis who trained in Libya, Pakistan, and Palestine, then fought in Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Palestine. When they returned to Bangladesh, some set up madrasas to camouflage their militant activities. [10] [11]
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2013
Public perception in Bangladesh suggests growing concern over youth radicalization since 2009, with observers linking it to both local and global influences. [121] Ideology is often seen as a key factor, with groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda reportedly targeting educated youth. A "Pyramid Root Cause model" has been proposed to explain this trend. [122] [123]
Dhaka Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Md Rezaul Karim Mallick stated that there has been no real militancy in Bangladesh over the past 18 years, describing previous concerns as a "drama." [124] Speaking at an anti-terrorism rally in Shariatpur, his remarks have drawn criticism from observers who argue that such comments overlook documented incidents and undermine efforts by law enforcement and counterterrorism agencies. He was earlier removed from his post due to a similar widespread criticism. [125] [126]
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