Shantanu Mukharji

Asaduzzdman Khan, a minister in Bangladesh in a surprising and perhaps bold statement categorically ruled out the presence of Taliban in Bangladesh and thereafter and that he perceives no threat to his country’s security from the smaller terror groups. The Police Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Shafiqul Islam in another shocking statement, articulated on the same day, at an inaugural function of a shopping complex, being equally categorical in stating that Kabul and Dhaka being separated by thousands of miles pose no threat whatsoever in Bangladesh emanating from an ascendant Taliban. Such carte blanche and sweeping statements giving a clean chit to the possibility of rippling effects in Bangladesh in the aftermath of the Taliban’s victory in Kabul. This is nothing short of an unrealistic stance vis a vis propensity of a rise in terror in a country like Bangladesh where terror had struck on multiple occasions taking a huge toll of lives.

It may be recalled that Bangladesh has been a safe haven for terrorists/ insurgents from Pakistan and India and Pakistan more specifically had used Bangladesh territory in the past for transit facilities for training of Indian northeast insurgents in Pakistan. Also, there had been stockpiling of lethal arms and ammunition which saw seizures in 2001 and near-fatal grenade attacks on Awami League leader (present Prime Minister) Sheikh Hasina in 2004. The country also witnessed the infamous Holy Artesan Bakery terror assault of July 1, 2016.  So, to rule out any effects in Bangladesh on Taliban assuming power in Afghanistan by the Bangladesh Govt is adopting an Ostrich-like attitude or turning a Nelsonian eye on the threats realistically looming large. 

It could, however, as of now be true that there are minimal chances of suicide bombers or blasts on the lines of August 26 Kabul airport terror attacks but their cascading impacts remain a strong possibility particularly ‘romanticizing ‘the segment of the youth who are either already radicalized or are in the wings waiting to be indoctrinated by the ruthless ISIS (K) who are planning fresh online inductions. Bangladesh, like some other countries, remains vulnerable to this impending security challenge.  Given its bloody past, their agencies need to redraw their threat assessment.

More specifically, the notorious terror outfit, Jamaitul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) was founded in Bangladesh by the Afghan war veterans taking birth in the wake of the first spell of Taliban rule in Afghanistan. It had wreaked havoc about 14-15 years ago with a spate of explosions and mindless killings. With the Taliban about to commence their second innings in Afghanistan and the ISIS (K) calling the shots, it would appear prudent to exercise abundant caution while issuing such sweeping rhetoric, as noticed in last Sunday. Bangladesh has no dearth of academics, think tanks, and security analysts. It’s learned informally that they too are wary about a rippling effect in Bangladesh because of the happenings in Afghanistan. The distance between Kabul and Dhaka is indeed considerable but that’s only notional.

Meanwhile in a sensational development, as opposed in a section of Bangladesh media, Bangladesh’s elite Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) has disclosed the arrest of a 19-year-old woman, Zubaida Siddiqui Nabila on August 26 on charges of active linkages with dreaded terror affiliate, Ansar al Islam which recruited her online. This was confirmed by the CTTC head, Mohammad Asaduzzaman on August 29 at a press briefing. Originally belonging to sub-division Lal Mohan of district Bhola, Zubaida is perhaps the first woman recruit of the Ansar al Islam. Interestingly, her father is a teacher. A young woman in her teens has gravitated towards a terror outfit shows the extreme indoctrination that’s impacting the Bangladesh youth. And, she is the daughter of a teacher. Equally interesting is the fact that when her father fixed her marriage with a suitable boy, she told him that she was not interested in marriage and instead she was keen to become a martyr. What more can explain a religiously radicalized mind than this live illustration? There could be many more like this, hitherto unknown to the agencies. The rise of Taliban and ISIS (K) in the region is expected to give a boost to such elements who are now underground for tactical reasons.

Following her induction by her recruiters online, she accessed the propaganda literature on Jihad and related matters on digital social media absorbing lessons on the manufacture of bombs and handling of weaponry. Isn’t it enough of a wake-up call for the BD security establishment to keep a sharp eye on the subterranean smouldering in the country than to rule out threats as per their wishful thinking of  ‘no Talibans in the country? It’s time to take a practical and realistic assessment of the situation drawing lessons from the Taliban ascendancy and indeed from a few pages of the country’s history.  Not very long ago, Taliban regressive activities had adversely impacted Bangladesh society and but for a large number of secular and forward-thinking people, The society would have faced dire communal divide, the rise of fanaticism, and a fillip to the terror groups.

(writer is a retired IPS officer, a security analyst, and a former National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Mauritius. Views are personal)