Terrorism in Bangladesh explained

Conflict:	Internal conflict in Bangladesh
Date:	1999-ongoing
Place:	Bangladesh
Combatant1:	Bangladesh
Combatant2:	AQIS (2014-present) Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (2004-present) Allah'r Dal (2004-present)
Combatant3:	Islamic State IS-BP (2015-present)
Units1:	Rapid Action Battalion
Units2:	Unknown
Units3:	Unknown
Casualties4:	1,500+ deaths^[1] ^[2] ^[3]

Bangladesh has experienced terrorism in the past conducted by a number of different organisations.^{[4] [5]} In the past, both ISIL and other terrorist organisations had claimed to be active in the country. However, the Bangladeshi government believes that they mainly operated through local affiliates, before being neutralised by security forces.

History

The first Bangladeshi Islamist factions emerged in 1989, when a network of 30 different factions was established and expanded in the following years. The main goal of most Islamist groups in Bangladesh is to create a separate Islamic state, or to govern Bangladesh according to Sharia law. Islamist groups have conducted operations against the ruling party's corruptions in the country. Islamic groups are alleged to be terrorists for political interests. ^[6]

Timeline

1999

• On 18 January 1999, Harkat-ul Jihad al-Islami Bangladesh carried out at assassination attempt on Shamsur Rahman.^[7]
• On 6 March 1999, bomb attack on Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi in Jessore killed 10.
• 15 March 1999 bomb attack on the home of Mohibur Rahman Manik, Awami League member of parliament, killing two.^[8]
• On 8 December 1999, an Ahmadi mosque was bombed, killing 8.

2001

• On 20 January 2001, a communist party of Bangladesh rally was bombed, which resulted in the death of five people and the wounding of 70 others.^[9]
• On 14 April 2001, 10 people were killed in a series of bombings perpetrated by Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami.^[10]
• On 1 June 2001, 10 people were killed in Gopalganj Roman Catholic church bombing.
• On 16 June 2001, a rally of Bangladesh Awami League in bombed in Narayanganj.
• On 23 September 2001, a rally of Bangladesh Awami League in Bagerhat was bombed.
• On 26 September 2001, a rally of Bangladesh Awami League was bombed in Sunamganj, kills 4.
• On 16 November 2001, the death of Gopal Krishna Muhuri took place in Chittagong.^{[11] [12]}

2002

• On 6 December 2002, 27 people were killed in coordinated bombing of cinema halls in Mymensingh.
• On 28 September 2002, 3 people were killed and 100 injured in bombing of a cinema hall and circus in Satkhira.

2003

• On 17 January 2003, bomb blast at a shrine fair in Tangail.^[13]
• On 8 February 2003, Sayed Kawsar Hossain Siddique founded an Islamist organization named "Shahadat-e al Hiqma".^{[14] [15]}
• On 1 March 2003, a police sergeant was killed in a bomb attack in Khulna.
• On 11 March 2003, two police constables were killed in a bomb attack.
• On 12 March 2003, a police subedar was killed in a bomb attack in Khulna city.^[16]
• On 6 September 2003, Bangladesh Awami League leader killed in bomb attack.

2004

• On 12 January 2004, bombing of Shajalal Shrine kills 12.
• On 13 January 2004, a bomb attack on Fazlur Rahman, joint secretary of Sharsha Upazila unit of the Awami League, in Benapol kills him and injures six.^[17]
• On 13 January 2004,, three people were killed in a bomb attack on Shah Jalal Dargah.^[18]
• On 13 January 2004, a bomb was thrown on an on duty traffic sergeant which failed to explode in Moilapota intersection, Khulna.^[19]
• On 15 January 2004, Manik Chandra Saha, journalist, killed in terror attack.
• On 24 January 2004, a police camp was bombed in Bagerhat injuring three police officers.
• On 20 February 2004, movie house at Rupsha Upazila was bombed injuring 4.^[20]
• On 4 March 2004, a Bangladesh Awami League leader was killed in a bomb attack in Bagerhat and one Awami League leader was assassinated in Narayanganj.^[21]
• On 4 August 2004, a bomb attack on Rangmahal Cinema and at Monika Cinema in Sylhet killed one and injured ten.^[22]
• On 21 August 2004, HUJI militants perpetrated a grenade attack on an Awami League rally in Dhaka, resulting in 24 deaths and over 300 injuries.^[23]
• On 24 December 2004, Rajshahi University Professor Mohammad Yunus was killed in an attack by JMB.^[24]

2005

• On 17 August 2005, a total of 500 bombs exploded in 300 locations covering most of the territory of Bangladesh, 2 people were killed and 50 wounded in the incident. Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh later claimed responsibility for the bombings.^[25]
• On 3 October 2005, Chittagong court, Chandpur Court and Laxmipur court were attacked with bombs.^[26]
• On 14 November 2005, JMB kills two judges in bomb attack in Jhalaikathi.
• On 29 November 2005 suicide attack on Gazipur Courthouse.
• On 29 November 2005 Chittagong court house bombed.
• On 8 December 2005 suicide bomb attack on Netrokona udichi festival.

2009

• On 30 October 2009, three people were killed in a bomb attack on Shah Jalal Dargah.^[27]

2011

• On 28 July 2011, the court of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in Rajshahi sent the founder of Shahadat-e al Hiqma, Sayed Kawsar Hossain Siddique, to jail.^[28]

2014

• On July 2014, Jakir Khandakar allegedly reactivated Shahadat-e al Hiqma and shifted headquarters to Bandarban District, Chittagong.^[29]
• On 17 September 2014, acting on a tip, Rapid Action Battalion discovered and dismantled a weapons and explosives storage facility located in the Satchhari forest, Chunarughat Upazila, Habiganj. 112 rocket launchers and 14 sacks of explosive material were confiscated during the operation.^[30]
• On 18 September 2014, police arrested 7 JMB terrorists, including a top commander Abdullah Al Tasnim, in the Landing Station Port area. The militants intended to utilise 10 kilograms of liquid explosives, in a number of terrorist acts throughout the country, in order to establish cooperation with ISIL.^[31]
• On 1 November 2014, a Rapid Action Battalion operation led to the capture of JMB's main coordinator Abdun Nur as well as four other militants. IED components were also seized.^[32]

2016

• On 15 March 2016, ISIL claimed responsibility for murdering a Muslim preacher in Bangladesh.^[33]
• On 22 March 2016, unidentified attackers hacked a Christian convert to death in northern Bangladesh.^[34] A day after, ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack.^[35]
• On 7 April 2016, a secular blogger was hacked to death by Islamists who claimed to be part of al-Qaeda.^{[36] [37]}
• On 23 April 2016, a university professor was hacked to death on his way to work in northern Bangladesh. Without any evidence, ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack.^{[38] [39]}
• On 25 April 2016, al-Qaeda terrorists hacked LGBTQ activist, Xulhaz Mannan, and his friend to death in his apartment.^{[40] [41]}
• On 30 April 2016, a Hindu tailor was hacked to death in his store. ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack.^[42] On the next day, Bangladesh authorities arrested three ISIL suspects for the murder.^[43]
• On 21 May 2016, a homeopathic doctor was hacked to death in Bangladesh. ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack.^[44]
• On 1 July 2016, militants hacked a Buddhist farmer to death in Bandarban District. Mong Shwe Lung Marma, 55, was also vice president of the Bangladesh Awami League. ISIL fighters claimed responsibility for the murder.^[45]
• On 1 July 2016, five attackers opened fire inside the Holey Artisan Bakery located in the Gulshan neighbourhood, which is also part of the diplomatic enclave of Dhaka. Around 22 civilians and 2 police officers were killed. All five attackers were neutralised by the commando units of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, who stormed the building.^{[46] [47]}

2017

• 14 March - A Muslim Sufi spiritual leader and his daughter were shot and hacked to death by unknown militants in northern Bangladesh.^[48]
• 17 March- 2017 Dhaka RAB camp suicide bombing: A suicide bomber blew himself up inside an under construction camp of the anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion, mildly injuring two security personnel.^[49]
• 24 March - A suicide bomber blew himself up outside the police check-post, which was located on the road leading to the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport causing no injuries to other people. ISIL claimed the attack.^[50]
• 25 March - 2017 South Surma Upazila bombings: A suicide bombing killed four civilians, two police officers and wounded around 40 during a security forces raid on a suspected terrorist hideout in South Surma Upazila, Bangladesh. ISIL claimed responsibility. Four militants were also killed.^[51]

2019

• On 29 June, acting on a tipoff, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested five members of banned militant outfit Ansar Al Islam (AAI) from Belpukur area in Puthia Upazila of Rajshahi. RAB recovered a pistol, 24 crude bombs, five bullets, two magazines, 10 jihadi books and eight organisational notebooks from them.^[52]

See also

• Chittagong Hill Tracts conflict
• ISIL in Bangladesh
• Naxalite–Maoist insurgency
• Attacks by Islamic extremists in Bangladesh
• Islamic terrorism in Europe
• List of terrorist incidents
• Terrorism in the United States
• Hindu terrorism
  • Violence against Muslims in independent India Left-wing terrorism
• Right-wing terrorism

Notes and References

1. Web site: datasheet-terrorist-attack-fatalities . South Asia Terrorism Portal.
2. Web site: UCDP - Uppsala Conflict Data Program . 2022-05-21 . ucdp.uu.se . See chart "Number of deaths" from 1999.
3. Web site: Fatalities-Islamist Terrorism 2005 - 2019 . 2022-06-20 . South Asia Terrorism Portal.
4. Web site: Fatalities-Islamist Terrorism 2005 - 2017 - South Asia Terrorism Portal. 2 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161206161737/http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/bangladesh/database/Fatalities-Islamist%20Terrorism%202010.htm. 6 December 2016. live.
5. Web site: Fatalities - Left-wing Extremism 2005 - 2017 - South Asia Terrorism Portal. 2 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20170331010730/http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/bangladesh/database/Fatalities-%20Left-wing%20Extremism%202010.htm. 31 March 2017. live.
6. Web site: Terrorism in Bangladesh . Sohel . Sahiduzzaman . 20 November 2010 . Academia . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20141221195553/http://www.academia.edu/2651564/Terrorism_in_Bangladesh . 21 December 2014 . 19 February 2015.
7. News: Ferocious HujiB now on the wane . 21 August 2016 . Dhaka Tribune . 27 May 2020.
8. News: Bomb deaths shock Bangladesh. BBC News. 11 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181214071015/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/297168.stm. 14 December 2018. live.
9. Hussain . Ahmede . 12 March 2004 . Everything Falls Apart . Star Magazine . The Daily Star . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171012041615/http://archive.thedailystar.net/magazine/2004/03/02/coverstory.htm . 12 October 2017 . 27 November 2016.
10. News: 9 killed in bomb attack in Bangladesh . rediff.com . 14 April 2001 . 27 June 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150218225929/http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/apr/14bangla.htm . 18 February 2015 . live.
11. News: Nazirhat College principal shot dead . 17 November 2001 . Gulf News . Chowdhury . Rashed . 28 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170328105636/http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/general/nazirhat-college-principal-shot-dead-1.430298 . 28 March 2017 . live.
12. Book: Bangladesh: The Next Afghanistan? . SAGE . 978-0-7619-3401-1 . 163 . en . Karlekar . Hiranmay . 2005 . 28 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170328110216/https://books.google.com/books?id=EKJpvxs1ZTkC&pg=PA163&lpg=PA163&dq=Gopal+Krishna+Muhuri&source=bl&ots=XoSzVAbzit&sig=J_RmY35ITbEwoZFNK6vbUq6f3X0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiJ3vygiPjSAhUE5IMKHYh9BXQQ6AEIUDAL#v=onepage&q=Gopal%20Krishna%20Muhuri&f=false . 28 March 2017 . live.
13. News: Tangail fair blast toll rises to 7 . 16 January 2003 . The Daily Star . 12 July 2017. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20171012041615/http://www.thedailystar.net/news/tangail-fair-blast-toll-rises-to-7. 12 October 2017. live.
14. Web site: 2016-10-13 . Shahadat-e-al-Hikma: Is this a new terror outfit in West Bengal . 2024-08-21 . Times of India . en.
15. Web site: 2005-11-09 . Outlawed militant outfit Shahadat-e-al Hikma chief Kaosar Siddiquee arrested again . 2024-08-21 . bdnews24.com . en.
16. News: Bombs blow up cop camp in Bagerhat. The Daily Star. https://web.archive.org/web/20190212070537/http://archive.thedailystar.net/2004/01/24/d4012401011.htm. 12 February 2019. live. 10 February 2019.
17. News: The Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 4 Num 226 . 2021-04-10 . The Daily Star.
18. News: Several killed in Bangladesh tomb blast . 2021-05-05 . Independent Online . en.
19. News: The Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 4 Num 226 . 2021-04-10 . The Daily Star.
20. News: Bombs go off in cinema, 4 injured . The Daily Star . 10 August 2019.
21. News: Two AL leaders killed in N'gang, Bagerhat. The Daily Star. 11 August 2019.
22. News: 2009-08-04 . No headway in 4 yrs in Sylhet cinema blasts . 2021-05-05 . The Daily Star . en.
23. Adiga . Aravind . 30 August 2004 . Bangladesh: A democracy is shaken . Time . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121026144718/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,501040906-689488,00.html . 26 October 2012 . 20 March 2013.
24. News: Two killers of RU professor Mohammad Yunus get death sentence reduced to life term following retrial. bdnews24.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20171012041827/https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2016/02/24/two-killers-of-ru-professor-mohammad-yunus-get-death-sentence-reduced-to-life-term-following-retrial. 12 October 2017. live. 12 July 2017.
25. News: Bombs explode across Bangladesh. BBC News. 17 August 2005. 17 August 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130819061546/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4158478.stm. 19 August 2013. live.
26. News: Trail of terror attacks. The Daily Star. https://web.archive.org/web/20171012043253/http://archive.thedailystar.net/2007/03/31/d7033101033.htm. 12 October 2017. live. 12 July 2017.
27. News: Bomb Explosion at Mosque Kills 3 in Bangladesh . 2021-05-05 . VOA . en.
28. Web site: 2011-07-28 . Hikma chief sent to jail . 2024-08-21 . The Daily Star . en.
29. Web site: 2016-10-13 . NIA lens on 'defunct' terror outfit Kolkata News - Times of India . 2024-08-21 . The Times of India . en.
30. News: Huge arms, explosives haul seized in Habiganj forest. The Daily Star. 17 September 2014. 8 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402174155/http://www.thedailystar.net/huge-arms-explosives-haul-seized-in-habiganj-forest-42100. 2 April 2015. live.
31. News: JMB trying to contact Islamic State. The Daily Star. 19 September 2014. 8 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402124429/http://www.thedailystar.net/jmb-trying-to-contact-islamic-state-42417. 2 April 2015. live.
32. News: Main coordinator of JMB captured. The Daily Star. 1 November 2014. 8 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402091610/http://www.thedailystar.net/main-coordinator-of-jmb-captured-48362. 2 April 2015. live.
33. News: ISIS claims murder of Muslim preacher in Bangladesh . Al Arabiya English . 18 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160318120423/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/asia/2016/03/15/ISIS-claims-murder-of-Muslim-preacher-in-Bangladesh.html . 18 March 2016 . live.
34. News: Christian convert hacked to death in Bangladesh . Al Arabiya English . 18 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160325123037/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/asia/2016/03/22/Christian-convert-hacked-to-death-in-Bangladesh.html . 25 March 2016 . live.
35. News: ISIS claims murder of Christian convert in Bangladesh . Al Arabiya English . 18 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160325123043/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/asia/2016/03/23/ISIS-claims-murder-of-Christian-convert-in-Bangladesh.html . 25 March 2016 . live.
36. News: Secular activist hacked to death in Bangladesh . Al Arabiya English . 18 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160408235818/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/asia/2016/04/07/Secular-activist-hacked-to-death-in-Bangladesh.html . 8 April 2016 . live.
37. News: Al Qaeda group says it killed Nazimuddin Samad . Sugam Pokharel . Ivan Watson . Yuli Yang . 7 April 2016 . CNN . 13 May 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160421015502/http://edition.cnn.com/2016/04/07/asia/secular-bangladeshi-writer-murdered/index.html . 21 April 2016 . live.
38. News: University professor hacked to death in Bangladesh . Al Arabiya English . 18 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160424234900/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/asia/2016/04/23/University-professor-hacked-to-death-in-Bangladesh.html . 24 April 2016 . live.
39. News: Islamic State claims it killed Bangladeshi academic . The Guardian . 13 May 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160510105713/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/23/bangladeshi-professor-hacked-to-death-rajshahi-islamists . 10 May 2016 . live.
40. News: Founder of Bangladesh's first and only LGBT magazine killed . Saad Hammadi . The Guardian . 13 May 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160502133056/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/25/editor-bangladesh-first-lgbt-magazine-killed-reports-say-roopbaan . 2 May 2016 . live.
41. Web site: Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent claims killing of LGBT activist, friend in Bangladesh . FDD's Long War Journal . 13 May 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160430064129/http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2016/04/aqis-targets-lgbt-activist-friend-in-bangladesh.php . 30 April 2016 . live.
42. News: ISIS claims killing of Hindu man in Bangladesh . Al Arabiya English . 18 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160503031945/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/asia/2016/05/01/ISIS-claims-killing-of-Hindu-man-in-Bangladesh.html . 3 May 2016 . live.
43. News: Bangladesh hacking death: Hindu tailor killed . Sugam Pokharel . Ivan Watson . Alanne Orjoux . 30 April 2016 . CNN . 13 May 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160503213506/http://edition.cnn.com/2016/04/30/asia/bangladesh-tailor-hacked-to-death/index.html . 3 May 2016 . live.
44. News: Bangladesh village doctor hacked to death in attack claimed by Islamic State. Ruma Paul. 21 May 2016. Reuters. 2 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171014072158/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bangladesh-attacks-idUSKCN0YB0OA. 14 October 2017. live.
45. News: Buddhist AL leader killed in Bandarban . The Daily Star . 2 July 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160701203131/http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/buddhist-al-leader-killed-bandarban-1249081 . 1 July 2016 . live.
46. News: 20 foreigners killed in 'Isil' attack on Dhaka restaurant . The Telegraph . 2 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160701220123/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/01/gunmen-attack-restaurant-in-diplomatic-quarter-of-bangladeshi-ca/. 1 July 2016. live.
47. News: Police kill 6 militants, rescue 13 hostages in Dhaka attack . The Boston Globe . 2 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160702105807/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2016/07/02/bangladesh/HfMUT3ceoe7kqPRPdMEPjN/story.html. 2 July 2016. live.
48. News: Sufi leader shot, hacked to death in Bangladesh. 13 March 2017. The Washington Post. 14 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170314165604/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/sufi-leader-shot-hacked-to-death-in-bangladesh/2017/03/14/7b2ab054-08b4-11e7-bd19-fd3afa0f7e2a_story.html. 14 March 2017. dead.
49. News: 'Suicide bomber' dies in blast inside Dhaka RAB camp. bdnews24.com. 20 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170319201955/http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2017/03/17/suicide-bomber-dies-in-blast-outside-dhaka-rab-camp. 19 March 2017. live.
50. News: Bangladesh : attentat raté à l'aéroport international de Dacca. Air Journal. 25 March 2017. fr-FR. https://web.archive.org/web/20170517185252/http://www.air-journal.fr/2017-03-25-bangladesh-attentat-rate-a-laeroport-international-de-dacca-5179098.html. 17 May 2017. live.
51. News: Sylhet blasts kill four amid Bangladesh militant raid . BBC News . 25 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170326145623/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39394487 . 26 March 2017 . live.
52. News: 5 'Ansar Al Islam' members held in Rajshahi. The Daily Star. 27 September 2019.