A ‘New Delhi Post’ investigation into alleged Hamas links, jihadist mobilisation in Bangladesh, and the emerging security challenge for India and South Asia
THE ISI PLAYBOOK
Bangladesh is confronting one of the gravest security challenges in its history. On one front are allegations of Hamas-linked activities inside the country; on another, Islamist groups have intensified displays of jihadist symbolism by publicly hoisting the flags of internationally designated terrorist organisations, including Al Qaeda and the Islamic State (ISIS), while describing such acts as the “sacred responsibility” of Muslims through the display of “Kalema” (Shahada) flags. The situation has placed the state machinery, including Bangladesh’s premier intelligence agencies, in a difficult position.
A forceful response could trigger widespread unrest among sections of the population, while continued inaction risks creating an international perception that Bangladesh is becoming increasingly tolerant of extremist activities. Such an outcome would serve the strategic interests of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which, since the 2024 political transition in Bangladesh, has pursued a dual objective: either to re-establish Pakistan’s influence over Bangladesh or to undermine the country’s international standing by portraying it as a terror-patron nation—similar to Pakistan.
Since achieving independence on December 16, 1971, after a bloody war during which Pakistani occupation forces killed an estimated three million Bengalis and raped between 500,000 and 600,000 women and girls, many of them Hindus, Bangladesh embarked on a path toward peace and economic development. By 2020, the country had emerged as one of the world’s notable economic success stories, significantly outpacing Pakistan in several key economic indicators. This development reportedly became a source of growing concern among Pakistan’s ruling establishment, as many Pakistanis openly questioned why Bangladesh had achieved remarkable progress within a few decades while Pakistan continued to struggle with poverty, unemployment and economic decline.
Concerns over domestic discontent prompted Pakistan’s political and military establishment to seek opportunities to undermine Bangladesh’s continued progress. Following political developments in Bangladesh in 2024, Islamabad saw an opportunity when the “US Deep State” allegedly supported a regime change that brought Muhammad Yunus to power as head of the interim administration.
After assuming office as chief adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, a position that is not in the Constitution, Muhammad Yunus and his administration began implementing a series of policies that benefited Pakistan-based terrorist groups as well as transnational drug-trafficking networks.
A classified communiqué from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) reportedly reveals that the head of chancery at the Bangladesh High Commission in Pakistan, along with other Bangladeshi missions, was instructed by the Security Services Division (SSD) of the Ministry of Home Affairs to discontinue the requirement for security clearance. The directive applies to Pakistani citizens and individuals of Pakistani origin seeking Bangladeshi visas. The directive took effect on December 2, 2024, overturning a policy introduced on February 19, 2019, by the Sheikh Hasina government, which required such clearances as a safeguard against potential security threats.
The policy change came against a backdrop in which countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have maintained strict visa restrictions on Pakistani nationals, citing security concerns. Saudi Arabia has also deported Pakistani nationals over allegations of criminal activities. Against this backdrop, critics argue that the generous policies of the Yunus administration have increased Bangladesh’s security risks by relaxing similar safeguards.
On September 29, 2024, the interim administration issued a gazette notification directing customs authorities to exempt shipments arriving from Pakistan from mandatory inspection under the “National Selectivity Criteria”. Critics contend that this decision allows consignments from Pakistan to bypass comprehensive customs inspections, potentially creating opportunities that could be exploited by terrorists, smugglers, and organised criminal networks.
On another front, Pakistan’s ISI has intensified its mobilisation of members of the “Stranded Pakistani” community to spread anti-India propaganda in Bangladesh, including by opposing India’s recent decision to resume tourist visas for Bangladeshi nationals, a move widely welcomed by millions across the country.
HAMAS COMES CALLING
One of the most alarming developments occurred on October 7, 2024, when an event in Bangladesh reportedly brought together several Islamist and jihadist figures associated with Hamas, the Taliban, and other organisations. According to media reports, the event, organised by “Markazul Islam”, featured prominent Hamas figures including Sheikh Khaled al-Qaddumi, a Hamas spokesperson and senior leader, and Sheikh Khaled Mashaal, Chairman of Hamas’ Political Bureau. Also in attendance were influential Pakistani Islamist figures, including Mufti Taqi Usmani and Maulana Fazlur Rehman. It is noteworthy that Markazul Islam was founded by Mufti Shahidul Islam, who has been reported to have maintained direct links with Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda.
The US Department of the Treasury designated Khaled Mashal as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in 2003. In addition, the US Department of Justice unsealed federal terrorism charges in 2024 against Mashal and other senior Hamas leaders for their alleged roles in planning and directing the October 7, 2023, attacks against Israel.
In February 2024, the US Department of Justice filed a sealed criminal indictment charging Khaled Mashal and other senior Hamas leaders with terrorism-related offences linked to the October 7, 2023, attacks. The indictment was unsealed in September 2024 and includes the following charges:
• Conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organisation resulting in death;
• Conspiracy to murder US nationals;
• Conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction resulting in death; and
• Conspiracy to bomb a place of public use resulting in death.
Under US law, providing “material support or resources” to a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) constitutes a federal crime. Such support includes harbouring, sheltering, or facilitating safe havens for members or leaders of the organisation.
The United States has consistently urged its allies and partner nations to sever ties with Hamas and expel its leadership. The US State Department has, for example, warned countries, including Turkey, against hosting Hamas leaders, emphasising that there can be “no more business as usual” with the organisation.
Entities, individuals, or states that harbour, finance, or otherwise assist Hamas leaders or operatives may become subject to significant financial sanctions imposed by the US Department of the Treasury. The October 7, 2025 meeting of “Markazul Islam” in Bangladesh, which brought together Hamas leaders and hardline Islamists, marked a direct breach of US warnings and pushed the country deeper into the danger zone.
Recently, Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, revealed in an interview with NDTV that Hamas-linked activity is taking place in Pakistan and Bangladesh, raising concerns about the possible spread of extremist networks beyond the Middle East.
According to Ambassador Azar, Israel has been monitoring what it believes to be Hamas-related activities in Pakistan and Bangladesh since the October 7, 2023 attacks carried out by the terror outfit against Israel. While acknowledging that some information is based on publicly available sources, he suggested that additional activities may be taking place outside the public domain.
Within hours of the ambassador’s interview, Islamist groups in Bangladesh displayed flags associated with Al Qaeda, ISIS and Hamas at several locations across Dhaka while holding processions. Participants chanted slogans denouncing democracy and calling for Bangladesh to be transformed into a Caliphate.
Several other documents, including photographs and videos available with this author, indicate that Bangladesh-origin individuals openly expressing support for Hamas have been active in different parts of the country, not only in Dhaka. The material shows participants raising slogans against Israel, Jews, Christians and Western nations, including the United States, while carrying Hamas flags and, in some instances, displaying weapons. A series of photographs purportedly depicts a public rehearsal by Hamas supporters in Shibchar Upazila of Madaripur district.
The documentary evidence also suggests that support for Hamas has extended beyond isolated extremist circles and found resonance in sections of Bangladesh’s political discourse. It is therefore difficult to dismiss pro-Hamas sentiment solely as the preserve of fringe elements. The National Citizen Party (NCP), launched under the patronage of Muhammad Yunus, has publicly described Hamas as a “religious organisation”, a characterisation that has attracted attention given Hamas’s designation as a terrorist organisation by several countries.
The developments raise important questions about Bangladesh’s evolving political landscape and its wider security implications. If ideological support for Hamas continues to gain visibility, what could this mean for Bangladesh’s internal stability and for the security environment across South Asia, particularly in neighbouring India?
Earlier, on February 6, 2026, while responding to a question from Blitz, a Bangladesh-based weekly, regarding the reported presence of Hamas in Bangladesh, Ambassador Reuven Azar said: “From Israel’s security perspective, Hamas’s engagement in countries like Bangladesh is part of a broader strategy to expand its regional and global network…”
“For regional security, this development is concerning. It creates new avenues for radicalisation, cross-border coordination, and the movement of resources, which could directly or indirectly affect various countries”, he added.
On June 27, 2026, this author asked Ambassador Azar to elaborate on what Israel’s intelligence assessment indicates regarding the reported visits of senior Hamas figures to Pakistan and Bangladesh and what strategic objectives Hamas may be pursuing by expanding its logistical, financial, or propaganda networks across South Asia.
Ambassador Azar responded: “As distorted and sick as it may sound, radical elements in the Muslim world, including in South Asia, have been inspired by the barbaric Hamas attack on October 7, 2023…”
“Countering this threat requires vigilance, transparency, and cooperation among responsible nations. Humanitarian concerns must never be exploited as a pathway to rebuild terrorist infrastructure or empower those committed to violence.”
FLAGS OF EXTREMISM
Bangladesh is witnessing a noticeable resurgence in the public display of jihadist symbolism, with flags associated with Al Qaeda, ISIS, Hamas and other militant organisations being openly produced, sold and displayed in several parts of the country. Reports from multiple districts describe organised motorcycle processions, street marches and rallies in which participants openly carried such flags while raising slogans supporting the establishment of a caliphate under the “flag of Shahada”.
Concerns have also been raised about the involvement of educational institutions. At the Darul Ulum Madrassa & Orphanage in Malopara, Rajshahi, images circulated online purportedly showed students marching with jihadist flags. The same institution was also linked in reports to an individual identified as Mir Farhad, who allegedly posed with flags of Al Qaeda, ISIS and Hamas while carrying what appeared to be a dummy rifle and involving children in the displays. These claims could not be independently verified.
Security sources said that extremist groups have established dedicated facilities using digital textile fabric (DTF) printers to mass-produce jihadist flags on an industrial scale, enabling their distribution across several districts. The reported objective, according to these allegations, is to popularise jihadist symbolism among young supporters and create a wider public presence for extremist ideologies. Independent verification of the scale of production remains unavailable. Several analysts have also pointed to the involvement of Pakistan-linked networks, particularly alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives, in encouraging or facilitating these campaigns.
Particular attention has focused on Mufti Harun Izhar, an Islamist leader alleged to have longstanding links with the Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). In a video message released on June 13, 2026, Harun urged supporters to hoist “Kalema flags” across Bangladesh, presenting the campaign as a religious movement. Security analysts, however, argue that the appeal deserves closer scrutiny because of Harun’s militant background and previous criminal investigations.
Harun was arrested in April 2021 following violence during the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Before that, he had reportedly been associated with the banned militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI-B). Authorities have also arrested him in connection with the 2013 Lalkhan Bazaar madrassa bomb blast and for his alleged role in a 2009 Lashkar-e-Taiba conspiracy to attack the US Embassy in Dhaka.
His latest campaign has therefore raised questions about the financing, organisation and logistics behind the distribution of thousands of “Kalema flags” across Bangladesh. The campaign goes beyond religious symbolism and forms part of a broader attempt by radical Islamist networks to normalise extremist narratives in public spaces.
According to reports cited by security observers, the initial response from Bangladeshi authorities was muted. Intelligence and law enforcement agencies showed little visible action against the extremist groups, even as officials reportedly questioned journalists covering the incidents. A crackdown followed only after international media began highlighting the proliferation of jihadist flags, leading to the arrest of several individuals accused of producing or distributing flags linked to internationally designated terrorist organisations. Despite these actions, reports suggest that the phenomenon has continued to spread beyond Dhaka into other districts.
The simultaneous rise in public displays of jihadist insignia, anti-Hindu and anti-India rhetoric, and calls by some radical groups for an Islamic caliphate has prompted growing concern among security observers. They argue that these developments warrant closer monitoring, not only for domestic implications but also for potential impact on regional stability and counter-terrorism efforts in South Asia. There has been a revival of transnational jihadist infrastructure in Bangladesh.
A NATION UNDER WATCH
The developments range from policy changes affecting security screening and customs procedures to the public display of symbols associated with internationally designated terrorist organisations. Together with allegations by Israeli officials regarding Hamas-linked activities in South Asia, have heightened concerns about Bangladesh’s future security trajectory.
Although many of these allegations may be contested and warrant continued scrutiny, they have already begun influencing international perceptions of Bangladesh. In today’s interconnected security environment, perception itself carries strategic consequences. Questions raised by friendly nations, intelligence agencies, international financial institutions and foreign investors can influence diplomatic engagement, security cooperation, investment confidence, and Bangladesh’s broader international standing.
Analysts say that for India, the implications are particularly significant. Bangladesh shares more than 4,000 kilometres of border with India, making stability and effective counterterrorism cooperation matters of direct national security for both countries. Any expansion of transnational extremist networks or terrorist financing infrastructure in Bangladesh would inevitably have regional consequences extending beyond its borders.
The issue also carries implications for Israel and its partners. As Israel continues its global campaign against Hamas following the October 7, 2023 attacks, any indication that the organisation is attempting to expand its political, financial, logistical, or ideological footprint outside the Middle East is likely to attract sustained attention from Israeli and Western intelligence agencies. Consequently, South Asia may increasingly become an important theatre in international counterterrorism cooperation.
Beyond security considerations, Bangladesh faces an equally important diplomatic challenge. For decades, the country earned international recognition for its economic resilience, expanding manufacturing sector, contributions to United Nations peacekeeping missions, and its success in reducing poverty. Preserving that reputation requires not only effective law enforcement but also a visible commitment to preventing the country’s territory from being used by extremist organisations or transnational criminal networks.
The debate is therefore larger than the question of whether Hamas or any other extremist organisation currently maintains an operational presence in Bangladesh. It concerns the ability of the Bangladeshi state to reassure both its own citizens and the international community that it remains committed to combating terrorism in all its forms, regardless of ideology or political convenience.
The concerns expressed by Israeli Ambassador Reuven Azar, developments reported by domestic and international media, and the incidents examined in this report underscore the importance of transparent investigations and credible institutional responses. Allegations of this nature cannot be addressed through denial alone; they require objective examination, effective enforcement of the law, and clear public accountability.
Ultimately, Bangladesh stands at a critical juncture. The decisions taken today by policymakers, security institutions, and political leaders will shape not only the country’s internal security but also its regional relationships and global reputation for years to come. Ensuring that Bangladesh remains a responsible partner in the international fight against terrorism is not merely a matter of foreign policy; it is fundamental to safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, economic progress, and the legacy of independence for which millions of Bangladeshis sacrificed so much.
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GFX
THE NEW RAGE: ‘FATEH COMBAT SYSTEM’
Beyond the public eyes of radical Islamic groups taking over Dhaka’s roads, a lesser-known group has emerged: Fatah Combat System (FCS), formed to advance the dream of a caliphate. Operating under the guise of “martial arts” training, the outfit is deeply involved in indoctrination, anti-India, and anti-Hindu activities, sources said. Primarily composed of Rohingyas, it bears clear footprints of Pakistan and pan-Islamic terror networks. Recently, Bangladesh Police arrested six members, including its chief, Shah Amanat Sabbir. Sabbir is connected to Ataur Rahman Bikrompuri, a disciple of the Al Qaeda franchise “Ansar Al Islam” kingpin Jashim Uddin Rahmani.
The shadowy group has quietly expanded across Bangladesh, recruiting from vulnerable Rohingya refugee populations. It runs a network of training centres disguised as martial arts academies, where members learn knife fighting, hand-to-hand combat, basic explosives handling, and crucially, jihadist ideology aimed at establishing an Islamic caliphate. Manpower is estimated in the dozens to hundreds, with a core of instructors and foot soldiers, many young Rohingya men radicalised in the camps.
Beyond combat skills, FCS focuses on systematic radicalisation through social media, private gatherings, and propaganda videos glorifying violence against “infidels”. Anti-India and anti-Hindu rhetoric is central, portraying India as an enemy and Hindus as legitimate targets. Allegations point to links with international networks, including Pakistan-based support, as the group allegedly infiltrates trained operatives into India for reconnaissance and sleeper cells.
After the arrests, the organisation and its sympathisers denied all allegations, claiming the crackdown targeted innocent martial arts enthusiasts. Notorious jihadist figure Ataur Rahman Bikrompuri led a vigorous campaign for their release, framing the detentions as persecution of believers.
Video evidence in circulation allegedly shows Sabbir handling explosives against an ISIS-style soundtrack and brandishing a machete while threatening Hindus, Christians, Jews, and secularists. Even from custody, a coordinated social media campaign by jihadists demands his freedom, underscoring the group’s resilience.
