On March 17, 2024, the US Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, discussed the ongoing human rights violations against religious minorities in Bangladesh in an interview with NDTV. She stated that the long-term persecution, killing, and abuse of Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians has been a major concern for the US government. These terrorist outfits have the sole objective of establishing an Islamic Caliphate through violent means.

The Chief Advisor of the interim government of Bangladesh, Dr. Yunus, unequivocally denied and attacked her statement by throwing a blanket response about how peaceful and inclusive the situation is in Bangladesh.

In this article, we will dive deep into whether Dr. Yunus’s statement has any ground by investigating the curious case of the infamous terrorist leader, Jasimuddin Rahmani, and his Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group, the Ansarullah Bangla Team, in the Post 5th August 2024 Bangladesh.

We will look into the roles of the interim government, a popular radical preacher, Rafiqual Islam Madani, and three prominent so-called social media influencers, activists, and journalists - Elias Hossain, Pinaki Bhattacharya, and Kanak Sarwar - in the release of this top terrorist from prison.

Table of Contents

• The Mastermind: Who is Jasimuddin Rahmani?

• The Organization: Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT)

• The Campaign of Terror

• Politics of Terrorism

• Key Player # 1: Rafiqul Islam Madani

• Key Player # 2: Elias Hossain

• Key Player # 3 & 4: Pinaki Bhattacharya & Kanak Sarwar

• Call for Violence and Holy War through Rahmani’s Sermons and Speeches

The Mastermind: Who is Jasimuddin Rahmani?

Born in the 1970s, Jasimuddin Rahmani studied in various Islamic educational institutions both within Bangladesh and abroad. His worldview is heavily influenced not by Osama bin Laden, but rather by Anwar al-Awlaki, the American-born cleric who became a key figure in Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

By the mid-2000s, Rahmani had established himself as one of Bangladesh’s most influential radical preachers, serving as the imam of the Hatembagh mosque in Dhaka's affluent Dhanmondi area before relocating to Basila. His populist sermons, focusing on radical interpretations of Islamic texts, began attracting followers primarily from a demographic that would distinguish Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) from other extremist groups in the region: educated, tech-savvy university students from middle and upper-class backgrounds.

Rahmani's approach to building the ideological foundation was methodical and comprehensive:

• Publications: He authored more than two dozen books and pamphlets outlining his ideology

• Online Presence: Established extensive digital platforms through the "Ansarulla Bangla Team" website

• Sermons: Delivered inflammatory speeches that were recorded and widely distributed

• Network Building: Created connections with other radical Islamic groups in Bangladesh

What made Rahmani particularly influential was his ability to repackage global jihadist ideology into locally relevant messaging that resonated with educated Bangladeshi youth. His arguments were presented in a pseudo-intellectual framework that appealed to university students seeking purpose and identity. This deep psychological aspect is often overlooked in the discussions of global terrorism. Terrorist leaders like Jasimuddin understand that in the affluent, educated class of society, so many young individuals often search for their purpose in life. Jasimuddin and his ABT have mastered this art of manipulation and brainwashing by exploiting the psychology of the youth. 

The Organization: Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT)

Birth & Structure

The origins of ABT can be traced to Jama'atul Muslemin, founded in 2007, which eventually resurfaced as Ansarullah Bangla Team around 2013. What makes ABT particularly distinctive is its organizational structure and recruitment strategy:

• Cell-Based Organization: Operates through small, semi-autonomous cells of 4-7 members

• Target Demographic: Primarily recruits educated university students familiar with English and technology

• Digital Infrastructure: Extensively utilizes social media and encrypted communications

• Operational Flexibility: Adapts quickly to security measures and changing circumstances

This structure - inspired by al-Qaeda's model - makes ABT extraordinarily resilient and difficult for security forces to penetrate or dismantle.

A New Model of Extremism

ABT represents a departure from previous extremist groups in Bangladesh. Unlike organizations such as Harkat-ul-Jihad-Al-Islami (HUJI) or Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), which primarily targeted government institutions through spectacular terrorist attacks, ABT focused on a more insidious strategy:

1. Targeted Assassinations: Systematically eliminating voices of dissent

2. Intimidation Campaigns: Creating an atmosphere of fear through threats

3. Ideological Warfare: Challenging the secular foundations of the state

4. Online Radicalization: Using digital platforms to spread extremist content

This approach allowed ABT to create a significant impact with relatively limited resources, particularly targeting those who represented Bangladesh's secular tradition.

The Campaign of Terror

The Deadly Hit Lists

The most notorious aspect of ABT's operations has been its methodical creation and execution of "hit lists" targeting secular writers, bloggers, and activists. These lists evolved from local targets to international ones:

• 2013: Initial lists targeting Bangladeshi bloggers associated with the Shahbagh movement

• 2015: Global hit list including targets in the UK, Germany, USA, Canada, and Sweden
  
  In September 2015, ABT (operating under the name "Ansarullah Bangla Team 7") released a particularly chilling global hit list accompanied by the statement, "We don't forget, we don't forgive," explicitly threatening that "our lions" would target these individuals wherever they resided.
  

• 2016-2023: Continued threats against Bangladeshi secular voices at home and abroad

The Brutal Executions

What made these threats particularly credible was ABT's demonstrated willingness to act. Between 2013 and 2016, the group carried out a series of high-profile assassinations, including:

• Ahmed Rajib Haider (February 2013): Blogger and secular activist

• Avijit Roy (February 2015): Bangladeshi-American writer and founder of Mukto-Mona blog

• Washiqur Rahman (March 2015): Blogger known for satirical critiques of religious extremism

• Ananta Bijoy Das (May 2015): Science writer and blogger

• Niloy Neel (August 2015): Secular blogger and University of Dhaka graduate

These assassinations were carried out with simple yet effective methods - typically in crowded public spaces using machetes or other bladed weapons. The attacks were designed to be both brutally efficient and publicly terrifying, creating a climate of fear that extended far beyond the immediate victims.

Politics of Terrorism

The Erosion of Secularism

The rise of ABT cannot be separated from Bangladesh's complex political history and the gradual erosion of secular principles in the country's governance. Since the early 1990s, a steady process of radicalization has gained ground, beginning with constitutional amendments under:

• General Ziaur Rahman (1975-1981): Diluted secular principles in the constitution

• General H.M. Ershad (1982-1990): Further radicalized the state apparatus

• BNP Governments (1991-1996, 2001-2006): Empowered radical religious parties

These administrations not only provided state resources to promote an "anti-secular revolution" but also enabled the entrenchment of fundamentalist elements within Bangladesh's political and administrative structures. As documented by Dr. Siegfried O. Wolf, this created a conducive environment for groups like ABT to emerge and flourish.

International Support Networks

Despite official denials from Bangladeshi authorities, evidence suggests ABT has developed significant international connections:

• Middle Eastern Funding: Financial support from religious charities and NGOs

• Ideological Alignment: Connection to al-Qaeda and Islamic State philosophies

• Regional Networks: Presence in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Pakistan

• Digital Infrastructure: Servers and technical support from abroad

The detention of 14 Bangladeshi nationals in Singapore in 2015 revealed that ABT's influence had spread beyond national borders, with cells forming internationally with the intention of eventually returning to Bangladesh to "wage holy war."

Key Player # 1: Rafiqul Islam Madani

Rahmani was arrested in August 2013 in Barguna district along with 30 of his followers after some of those arrested in connection with attacks on bloggers confessed to being his followers. According to investigations:

• Rahmani was identified as the spiritual leader providing religious justification for violence

• ABT members were found to have studied his sermons and publications extensively

• Evidence linked him to the murder of blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider

He was subsequently charged and convicted for crimes related to terrorism and incitement to violence, receiving a lengthy prison sentence that many expected would effectively end his direct influence.

Despite his imprisonment at Kashimpur jail, Rahmani's influence continued through a network of supporters both inside and outside Bangladesh. A key figure in maintaining his public profile was Rafiqul Islam Madani, a controversial Islamic preacher who:

• Visited Rahmani at Kashimpur jail, violating prison regulations

• Videotaped the encounter and shared it widely on social media

• Used the footage to portray Rahmani as a respected religious authority

Key Player # 2: Elias Hossain

Elias Hossain, an extremist vlogger/journalist, currently based in New York, has played a significant role in supporting the release of Jasimuddin Rahmani.

• He published YouTube videos explicitly calling for Rahmani to be freed.

• He framed Rahmani as a political prisoner rather than a convicted terrorist leader.

• He built international pressure through social media campaigns by spreading misinformation.

Madani and Elias’s campaign for Rahmani’s release was successful. They freed Rahmani from prison and now, Rahmani is carrying out his terrorist activities with impunity under the watch of the Yunus-led interim government.

Key Player # 3 & 4: Pinaki Bhattacharya & Kanak Sarwar

Rahmani was released from prison in August 2024.

Both Pinaki Bhattacharya and Kanak Sarwar appeard in an online broadcast on October 25, 2024 along with Elias Hossain and other extremist leaders, including Rahmani.

Call for Violence and Holy War through Rahmani’s Sermons and Speeches

Following his release in the chaotic aftermath of Sheikh Hasina's departure, Jasimuddin Rahmani wasted no time establishing a significant digital presence.

His rapid digital expansion demonstrated both planning and infrastructure that predated his release, suggesting his network had remained operational during his imprisonment and was prepared to quickly amplify his voice once freed.

Most concerning has been the content of Rahmani's post-release communications. Far from moderating his stance after imprisonment, his rhetoric has intensified, featuring:

• Explicit calls for jihad against secular forces in Bangladesh

• Religious justifications for violence against those who "insult Islam"

• Denunciations of democracy as un-Islamic and advocacy for Sharia law

• Targeting of specific individuals and groups as "enemies of Islam"

In one particularly alarming sermon delivered in late August 2024, Rahmani explicitly called for his followers to "eliminate" those who oppose the establishment of an Islamic state in Bangladesh, using religious texts to justify targeted killings.