Earlier today, Republican nominee for President of the United States, Donald Trump made an important statement on the Hindus in Bangladesh. He empathised with them in the wake of them facing one of their worst nightmares, following the exit of Sheikh Hasina as Prime Minister.
‘I strongly condemn the barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians and other minorities who are getting attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh, which remains in a state of total chaos,’ Trump said.
Since the country plunged into turmoil the Joe Biden administration has remained largely silent on almost every aspect, including the relentless persecution of Hindus at the hands of the radical Islamic groups.
While this is one problem, the other is that the rate at which events are unfolding in Bangladesh, it not only poses a grave threat to their internal security, but the problem will soon spill into India in a much larger way.
Latest Intelligence Bureau reports state that the Al-Qaeda which has been largely marginalised in many arts of the world is looking to get back its foothold in Bangladesh. There has been a lot of recruitment that has being taken ace by the Al-Qaeda handlers.
The Al-Qaeda made its first major push into Bangladesh in 2020. At that time there was a major fight for space since the Islamic State was also trying to set up shop in the country. The Al-Qaeda made plenty of strides in the country and went on to recruit scores of Muslims into its fold.
However there was a slight drop in their activities from 2022 onwards owing the massive crackdown on the radical Islamic groups in Bangladesh. Now, that the regime has changed, the radical elements are having a field day. The Al-Qaeda which is known to be close to the Jamaat-e-Islami has found its foothold yet again. To be sure, the Jamaat a radical Islamist group had been banned in Bangladesh, but the same was revoked after the Sheikh Hasina government collapsed.
Al-Qaeda rises again
Reports coming in from Bangladesh which have been picked up by India’s central agencies suggest that the Al-Qaeda has now stepped up efforts to increase radicalisation in the country. This is being done through the spread of propaganda materials aimed at radicalising the youth.
The message that is being given to those recruited is to indulge in a series of lone wolf attacks and also ensure that Bangladesh is governed by the Sharia law. Further the activities of the Al-Qaeda handlers have gone up considerably on the social media. These social media accounts are being used to spread Islamic propaganda and also recruit Muslims into the outfit.
What is worrisome is that the Al-Qaeda is not operating on its own. It has the backing of the Jamaat and also its sister concerns, the Hizbul-ut-Tahrir and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Bangladesh, which are also very strong in the country.
Each of these groups will play a different role in re-shaping the fabric in Bangladesh. While the Al-Qaeda would focus on carrying out attacks along with the Hizbul-ut-Tahrir and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Bangladesh, the Jamaat would focus heavily on radicalisation.
The ultimate goal would be to make Bangladesh an Islamic nation which is governed under the Sharia law. There are already attempts on to change the text books and wipe out any reference to the heroes of the country and the role India had played in liberating Bangladesh. The Jamaat during its recent meetings has set a four point agenda for its leaders and affiliates to follow.
The first agenda is to indoctrinate through the party and its frontal organisations. To target women and snatch away their liberties, like in the case of Afghanistan. Change the entire education system and offer only Madrasa education to all. Persecute the minorities, especially the Hindus and make it an all Islamic nation.
The Jamaat is aware that it can achieve this goal in a legal manner. If the elections called now, there is every chance of the Khaleda Zia led Bangladesh nationalist Party coming to power. This means that they would rope the Jamaat into the government, like they had done the previous time. This would give the Jamaat the power to implement its agenda in a legal manner and also ensure that is frontal organisations continue to flourish and carry forward its message.
Impact on India
Over the years several Islamist organisations have come together with the help of the ISI and grouped themselves in Assam and West Bengal. It may be recalled that during a visit by General Pervez Musharaff to Bangladesh in the year 2003, he had got the assent of the government to conduct operations in Bangladesh.
This was welcomed by the Director General of Force Intelligence or the DGFI in Bangladesh and it began coordinating in a major way with the ISI. As a result of the same, it managed to create monsters in Bangladesh and also in the bordering areas in India.
Setting up shop in the states of West Bengal and Assam was the first step. It all began with large scale infiltrations into India, with an intention of changing the demographics in these states. The same elements then began counterfeiting of fake Indian currency and also indulged in narcotic trade. Over the years, they remained protected by the political class in these states and in turn became a very loyal vote bank for these people.
What General Musharaff had set out to do is now being continued by the current regime in Pakistan. As long as Sheikh Hasina was around, this problem had been controlled to a large extent, but with her ouster, the ISI is back to playing games in India and Bangladesh.
The main reason why the ISI is key to get the radical Islamist elements of Bangladesh to needle India is to shift the focus. The ISI wants the entire northeast to burn so that the focus of the Indian Armed Forces is diverted from Kashmir to this part of the country.
To oversee all these activities, the ISI and the DGFI have turned Cox Bazaar in Bangladesh as their headquarters. The top brass along with the radical Mullahs are stationed here to oversee the operations of Islamists both in India as well as Bangladesh. The focus is however not only on the Islamic terror groups. The same leadership is also overlooking the activities of the insurgent groups such as the ULFA and NSCN-IM, Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam and the Muslim United Front of Assam. An Intelligence Bureau official tells Organiser that the top cadres of the ULFA are in regular touch with the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka. The High Commission is tasked with ensuring the travel of the ULFA cadres to Pakistan where they can be trained.
The days ahead would be tough for the Indian government. It has currently adopted a wait and watch policy, while also ensuring that the border security has been increased considerably.
