Bangladesh Struggles to Strengthen Counterterrorism Efforts amid Social Challenges and Regional Misrepresentation

Bangladesh, in its counterterrorism efforts, lacks a significant strategic integration of law enforcement, community engagement, and forward-thinking policy reform.

As a nation that has witnessed the devastating consequences of terrorism—ranging from the orchestrated bomb attacks by Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) between 2000 and 2005, to the brutal 2016 Holey Artisan attack— Bangladesh must necessarily adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward all forms of terrorism and radicalization.

This commitment is not merely rhetorical; it is embedded in a broader national strategy that prioritizes public safety, religious moderation, and social harmony. Bangladesh must ensure safety and security for all of its citizens.

Besides, in the face of conservatism and extremist attempts to manipulate religious sentiments, Bangladesh faces challenges in strengthening its social fabric. Even through educational reforms, the promotion of moderate religious discourse, and the inclusion of civil society, the government lacks effective measures to inoculate its vulnerable populations against radical ideologies.

On top of that, there are growing concerns that several of the militants released on bail after last year’s revolution are now spreading extremist narratives and attempting to reestablish international terrorist links, including reports of intentions to travel to Pakistan. These developments pose a serious threat to the country’s national security. The Bangladesh government must urgently enhance intelligence coordination and strengthen border and other surveillance to prevent a resurgence of terrorist networks capable of causing further harm, similar to the JMB attacks and the Holey Artisan tragedy.

Simultaneously, Bangladesh faces the added burden of combating misinformation and politically motivated narratives in foreign media, particularly from neighboring India. These narratives often downplay the country’s achievements and distort its challenges for regional political leverage. 

Development in the Application of the Anti-Terrorism Act

The Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 2009, originally implemented under Sheikh Hasina’s administration, has undergone significant recalibration under the current interim government. Initially designed to combat extremist groups like Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Ansar al-Islam, the ATA faced criticism from human rights organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch for its alleged misuse in the last decade against political opponents and activists.

The previous government’s counterterrorism infrastructure included specialized units such as the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit, the Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU), and expanded the mandate of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

The Yunus administration has not yet formally amended the broader clauses of the ATA but has shifted its practical application to focus more precisely on genuine militant threats. Moreover, the interim government also invoked the same act to ban the Awami League, the ruling party that was ousted from power last year.

Major Breakthrough against Hizb ut-Tahrir

Law enforcement agencies gone through with the arrest of a top coordinator of Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT) last year, a group banned in Bangladesh since 2009. The organization also attempted an unusual public rally in Dhaka in March 2025, which was swiftly dispersed by police.

The arrests following the rally mark the dismantling of HuT’s command structure. The CTTC, working in conjunction with digital surveillance units, raided in the capital’s Mohammadpur, Adabor as well as across the country. Despite these arrests, major challenges remain for the upcoming period, and the government must remain cautious.

Community-Led Conservatism

Distinct from organized militant activity, community-led conservatism remains a big issue that has disrupted several public events. In January 2025, women’s football matches in Joypurhat and Dinajpur were forcibly halted by local groups claiming that women’s participation in public sports violated “Islamic values.”

These incidents represent mass mobilizations of conservative communities rather than coordinated terrorist actions. Nevertheless, they occupy an ideological space that banned terrorist groups have historically sought to exploit. 

Religious scholars, local imams, with sermons and community moderation campaigns can promote tolerance and provide proper explanations of Islamic values that support women's participation in public life. Bangladesh follows a more tolerant approach to Islam, which has historically had no connection with extremist ideologies.

Swift Action in Harassment Cases

Two recent incidents have highlighted both the challenge of vigilante conservatism and the state’s commitment to addressing it promptly.

In Cox’s Bazar, a man identified as Farukul Islam and his associates were arrested after assaulting three women on the beach in September 2024. The perpetrators had accused the women of “shameful behavior” and forced them to perform sit-ups while surrounded by men carrying sticks. Videos of the incident went viral, triggering nationwide outrage and prompt legal action.

A similar case occurred at Dhaka University when a female student reported being harassed by a bookbinder named Arnob Sardar over her attire. University authorities swiftly transferred the perpetrator to Shahbagh Police Station after he admitted to the harassment.

These incidents are concerning, but the swift administrative and legal responses demonstrate institutional commitment to protecting individual rights. The challenge is to address the root causes of such conservative vigilantism while maintaining law and order. 

Countering Indian Media Misrepresentation

While Bangladesh addresses these domestic challenges, it simultaneously confronts what officials describe as a “misinformation campaign” from sections of Indian media. Several Indian outlets have characterized Bangladesh as “sliding into Islamic radicalism”—a portrayal that contradicts the country’s counterterrorism progress.

Bangladesh has not experienced a major terrorist attack since the 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery tragedy, largely due to security operations and the application of comprehensive legislative measures such as the Money Laundering Prevention Act of 2012. The country has also implemented significant reforms in madrasa education to prevent radicalization.

Security experts suggest that portraying Bangladesh as a radical state often serves India’s domestic political purposes, particularly during election seasons. This misrepresentation threatens to undermine regional stability and bilateral relations between the neighboring countries. The evidence simply doesn’t support these narratives. 

Bangladesh’s international image is increasingly being maligned by these regional propaganda and misrepresentations, as an incessant campaign from neighboring media outlets that portray the country as a hub of rising extremism. Despite modest gains, the government’s response in countering these false narratives remains limited and underwhelming. To safeguard its reputation and regional standing, Bangladesh must invest in strategic public diplomacy and proactive media engagement to debunk misinformation and present evidence-based narratives globally.

Path Forward: Internal Reforms and External Communication

Looking ahead, Bangladesh must continue its multi-layered counterterrorism approach while reforming the Anti-Terrorism Act to prevent political misuse without compromising its effectiveness against genuine threats. This includes narrowing down the definition of terrorism to be precise and not overly broad to ensure the protection of fundamental rights like freedom of expression. Also, in light of the JMB attacks between 2000 and 2005 and the 2016 Holey Artisan attack, Bangladesh must strategically prepare its counterterrorism efforts to protect its national interests with the highest levels of security.

Domestically, experts suggest expanding community moderation programs to address harassment and local radicalization. Enhanced digital surveillance capabilities and community based approaches targeting ideologically vulnerable people are also considered essential components of a comprehensive strategy.

On the international front, Bangladesh faces the challenge of strengthening diplomatic communication to counter misinformation from foreign media sources while launching proactive media campaigns to showcase the country’s socio-cultural resilience, economic development, and international achievements.

Bangladesh stands at a pivotal moment of democratic and cultural transformation. Its calibrated response to both terrorism and grassroots conservatism, alongside a commitment to safeguarding national security while upholding fundamental human rights, is now more crucial than ever. Adopting a principled, proactive stance—resisting both homegrown terrorist threats and unjust international misrepresentation—has now become essential to ensuring the nation’s stability and survival.

Sent- In by: Md. Abu Saim

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