The Islamic State (IS) has clearly and unambiguously set to expand its foot-print to Bangladesh and use that soil to mount attacks on India, going by the latest issue of its publication, Dabiq. It considers Bengal as it calls Bangladesh, as strategically important in its scheme of things.
Amir (Head) of the IS Ops in Bangladesh, Sheikh Abu Ibrahim al-Hanif, was short on details in his interview to Dabiq but he has left no doubt whatsoever that the IS would be mounting some large scale attacks in Bangladesh to boost its credentials among local jihadists. As Stratfor analysts point out, the group has hitherto carried out some small attacks in Bangladesh, but established jihadist groups in Bangladesh may pose a challenge to the IS ambitions.
In an earlier interview, al-Hanif, said that the Islamic State is planning to launch attacks in India by networking with terror groups based in Bangladesh and Pakistan..
With the help of Wilayat Khurasan (branch of the militant Islamist group active in Afghanistan and Pakistan), and Bengal, IS could easily carry out strike across India with the help of local Mujahideen, he told Dabiq.
In a sense there is no novelty value in al-Hanif’s disclosures. This was the plan that al-Zawahiri, Osama’s successor at the helm of al-Qaeda had outlined two years ago in 2014. He also had said that they would use Bangladesh as a launch pad to expand into India and Myanmar.
Put simply, IS and al-Qaeda will be on a collision course in the days ahead just as they are struggling in Iraq and Syria for leadership of the global radical Islamist movement.
Frankly, the al-Qaeda has a head start in Bangladesh, particularly in Dhaka where it has concentrated its focus in recent months. It also has a number of local allies who had cut their teeth in the Afghan jihad. IS will naturally like to woo them. And it means al-Hanif will be true to his word and mount some spectacular strikes to impress the fence sitters in particular.
This is bad news for Sheikh Hasina government which is grappling with violence unleashed by Jamaat and BNP in their bid to remain in headlines. Already the IS has indulged in several beheadings targeting Christian missionaries, Hindu figures, Shiites and foreigners. English professor Rezaul Karim Siddique was one of the victims. He was hacked to death at a bus stop in northwest Bangladesh on April 23, 2016.
– malladi