Recently, Jashimuddin Rahmani, kingpin of Ansar Al Islam, an Islamic jihadist outfit and local franchise of Al Qaeda has issued a video statement calling upon West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee to “free Bengal from Modi’s [India’s] rule and declare its independence”.

According to media reports, in the video statement, which went viral, Rahmani, whose outfit was earlier known as ‘Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) warned of “breaking up” India and “hoisting Islamic flags in Delhi”. Following the formation of a revolutionary government led by Mohammad Yunus, Nobel laureate and Democratic Party leader Hillary Clinton’s family friend, all cases against the Ansar Al Islam kingpin were dropped and he was released from prison.

A Dhaka-based fact-checker confirmed to India Today Digital that the video of Ansar Al Islam kingpin, probably filmed in a hospital ward, was genuine. It was likely shot in the first week of September as he referred to “one month of the revolution” of Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in the video. The “revolution” was a reference to the protests in Bangladesh that ended on August 5, after Sheikh Hasina fled the country.

India Today in its report said, Rahmani, who is known for his extremist views and links to Pakistan-based terrorist groups, in the inflammatory monologue warned India against any aggressive actions towards Bangladesh.

He said, “Bangladesh is not like Sikkim or Bhutan. It is a country of 18 crore (180 million) Muslims”, suggesting that any provocation would result in strategic retaliation.

In the 30-minute-long video, terror-monger Rahmani warned India that Bangladesh’s “Tawhid population”, a reference to Islamic unity, would rise up if Bangladesh was challenged by India.

“It is a country of 18 crore Muslims. This is our sacred land. If you dare to look this way, your eyes will be taken out… Take a step forward, and your legs will be broken… Reach out, and your hands will be cut off…”.

It may be mentioned here that Rahmani and his jihadist outfit are supportive towards Khalistani separatists as well as separatists in Jammu & Kashmir.

“Ask Kashmir to get ready for freedom. Pakistan and Afghanistan together will help Kashmir gain independence. We will work for the freedom of Kashmir”, Rahmani said.

Ansar Al Islam has at least five sleeper cells in West Bengal as well as other parts of northeastern states. Most of these sleeper cells are operating inside madrassas. This jihadist outfit also maintains deeper connections with Tablighi Jamaat.

Jashimuddin Rahmani, who was jailed under Bangladesh’s anti-terror laws during Sheikh Hasina’s rule, also warned India against associating with the former Bangladesh PM.

“Stay away from Hasina, she herself is rotten, and she will spoil you too. I will tell India not to dance around with Hasina”, he added in the video.

Surprisingly, while Muhammad Yunus, who is viewed as a confidante of the United States has directly defied listing of Ansar Al Islam by the US State Department as a terrorist entity. Furthermore, on December 20, 2021, State Department Diplomatic Security Service, through its Rewards for Justice (RFJ) office, offered a reward up to US$5 million for information on the terrorist attack in Dhaka, Bangladesh that left US citizen Avijit Roy dead and his wife, Rafida Bonya Ahmed, seriously injured.

On February 26, 2015, Roy and Ahmed, both Bangladesh-born US citizens, were visiting Dhaka to attend a book fair when they were attacked by assailants with machetes.  Roy was killed and Ahmed survived with critical injuries.

Two related groups have claimed responsibility.  Ansarullah Bangla Team, an Al Qaeda-inspired terrorist group based in Bangladesh, claimed responsibility for the attack.  Shortly thereafter, Asim Umar, the now-deceased leader of al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), posted a widely circulated video claiming that AQIS followers were responsible for the attack on Roy and Ahmed.

In 2016, the Department of State designated AQIS as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224, which provides authority to sanction terrorists and those who support terrorists or terrorist acts.

Ansar Al Islam is listed as Ansar Al Islam in the United Nations 1267 Committee’s consolidated list and by the governments of Canada and the US.

Meanwhile, according to a credible source, immediately following fall of Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh, infamous kingpin of United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), Paresh Baruah has resurfaced in Arakan State in Myanmar and been hosted by top-brasses of Arakan Army. Sitting in Arakan, Baruah reportedly is plotting to resume insurgency within Indian northeastern states, while he also has established connections with Kuki terrorists, with the ulterior motive of establishing a Christian State comprising Arakan, Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh as well as northeastern states in India. He receives funding and support from American deep-state as well as Pakistani espionage agency Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI).

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