Agartala, Oct 21, 2024, Manas Pal
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Islamic fundamentalists in Bangladesh are readying for a decisive showdown. At a time when the Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus is facing increasing uneasiness from the Bangladesh army top brass as well as BNP on the question of an early elections in the country, the radical Islamic forces led by Jamat e Islami are trying to realign, unite and emerge as the main force to dictate terms that will shape the future of Bangladesh.
While the Islamic radicals’ discussions and deliberations among themselves had been going on for the last two months with new vigour, Jamat- e Islami, the main player was reported to have embarked on a more sinister plan which had all the portents to turn Bangladesh a new Afghanistan.
According to reports only on yesterday—(Saturday October 19, 2024) in the afternoon dreaded terrorist outfit Kuki-Chin-National Front (KNF) and Jamat e Islami held an important meeting. The meeting was held at a secret hideout somewhere in Ruma Upazila of Bandarban District of Bangladesh. In the meeting Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (Ameer is the highest local leader of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami) discussed a future plan with Natham Lancheo Bom, chief of the 'Kuki-Chin- National Front.
Intelligence sources confirmed that a secret agreement was signed between Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and Natham Lancheo Bom.
According to the agreement, as many as 2000 members of Jamaat-e-Islami from all over Bangladesh will be trained under the supervision of Natham Bom in training camps located deep forested areas of Ruma, Rowangchari, Thanchi, Alikadam and Naikshyongchari etc. The training will cover both jungle warfare as well as urban terror tactics.
Sources said, the training that will imparted on the Jamaat cadres will include terror attacks at various forms, handling of different types of guns and explosive devices, reconnaissance, arrest evasion , interrogation etc through advanced technology under the special supervision of KNF.
For that Kuki Chin National Front demanded Rs 300 crore Bangladeshi taka. The Jamaat head agreed to pay the amount. In all likelihood the Jamaat is not going to pay the amount from its officially recorded fund but by using various Islamic radical sources and pooling in outside sympathisers.
Intelligence sources said, the training of so many Jamaat cadres in terror tactics is not only an important component of the Islamic radicals to expand its support base- with a force multiplier format- but also to get ready for a final showdown whenever they will feel the time is right. And going by the present uneasy and uncertain political situation in Bangladesh it may culminate into a political crisis in next four months – as Bangladesh constitution requires an election in six months following the demise of an incumbent government- and thus creating a vacuum which will then offer the Jamaat their ‘time’ on a platter. The situation will then simply snowball into such an extent that it will impossible to control by the power that be in Bangladesh or the international community- with a significant shift in geo-political narrative in the region.
It does not need to elaborate that the recent development of Jamaat cadres getting terror training poses a serious threat to India too. It is, indeed, a matter of serious concern for Tripura in particular and North East India in general along with Assam.
It may be mentioned here that former Brigadier General of the DGFI Abdullahil Amaan Azim, who happened to be the son of former Jamaat Ameer Golam Azam—a key ally of the Pakistanis in 1971- had played the key role in helping the Indian militants in Bangladesh in the 1990s. Brig Azime was sacked by Sheikh Hasina and he remained in hiding for years. But on August 6 –the day after Sheikh Hasina left Bangladesh and Awami League government fell he re-emerged and is reported to have been secretly playing some role with his Jamaat friends. As a military officer his role will be significant in case of Jamaat seeks to go for any sort of armed conflicts or carry out large scale terror attacks.
Sources also indicate that in all likelihood Hizb-ut-Tahrir will happily join the Jamaat in its game plan, if it, indeed, shows any sign of success. Things will then be more complicated.
This terror training by the KNF is, however, only a part of larger plan of the Jamat e Islami in Bangladesh.
There were other plans to create what is known ‘Tawahuus’ or total chaos as one of the means to reach the goal. And for that total chaos the first targets will be Bangladeshi Hindus, secular intellectuals, academia and political personalities. Another important part of the game plan also includes ‘Tawahuus- spill over’ to neighbouring countries, that is India, and more precisely, Tripura, Assam and Bangladesh—which in essence means fomenting Hindu –Muslim clashes and gradually turning them into serious conflicts. In any communally charged situation the trained Bangladeshi terrorists would get better and conducive environment to take shelter in these parts of India and operate from here.
In fine, Bangladesh is evidently heading the Afghanistan way and India, especially the North East is going to feel the heat.
(Also published in Tripura Times)