On December 21, 2024, under the cover of darkness, Kashimpur Central Jail in Gazipur became the epicenter of a covert operation. Authorities reportedly facilitated the clandestine release of Jikrullah, a convicted operative of the Al Qaeda-affiliated Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), now rebranded as Ansar Al Islam. Jikrullah was convicted for the brutal murder of blogger Wasikur Rahman Babu in 2015, an act he carried out as part of his extremist mission. Despite his heinous crimes, his release was executed without the knowledge or approval of Bangladesh’s top intelligence agencies, raising critical concerns about the country’s commitment to counterterrorism.

As Jikrullah exited the prison compound, he was reportedly escorted by armed ABT members to an undisclosed location. The operation is believed to have been coordinated by high-profile figures, including an advisor to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, ABT leader Jashimuddin Rahmani, and Jamaatul-Mujahedin Bangladesh (JMB) chief Major (sacked) Syed Ziaul Haque. This troubling incident reveals a dangerous nexus between extremist elements and influential individuals capable of manipulating the system to undermine national security.

The release of Jikrullah is not an isolated incident. Evidence suggests that other convicted extremists are also benefitting from systemic corruption and legal loopholes. Advocate Omar Faruque, an associate of an Awami League MP, reportedly facilitated the release of several JMB members during his incarceration. Abu Siddique, a JMB member who escaped police custody two years ago, arranged for his sister to marry fellow detainee Sohail while imprisoned. Together, they have allegedly amassed millions of Bangladeshi Taka through illicit online activities – than includes online casino scam to secure bail for other extremists.

One notable case is Al Amin, a defendant in blogger murder cases. Despite facing eight charges, none of which are eligible for bail, he was released by exploiting gaps in the legal system. These individuals are reportedly orchestrating significant acts of sabotage across the nation, further destabilizing the region.

It may be mentioned here that, ever-since Yunus was placed into the position of Chief Advisor, at least 144 hardened jihadists belong to Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), Jamaatul Mujahedin Bangladesh (JMB), Hizb Ut Tahrir and others – most of whom are directly connected to Al Qaeda or Islamic State (ISIS) were secretly released from prisons. This included ABT kingpin Jashimuddin Rahmani. 

The shadow of terrorism looms large over Bangladesh as disturbing reports reveal the clandestine release of convicted jihadist Jikrullah from Kashimpur Central Jail. Convicted for the brutal murder of blogger Wasikur Rahman Babu in 2015, Jikrullah’s release not only exposes serious lapses in the justice system but also highlights a troubling nexus between extremist elements and influential figures within the country. With mounting evidence of state complicity and growing threats to regional stability, this incident signals a grave escalation in the activities of Al Qaeda-linked groups operating in South Asia.

In the early hours of December 21, 2024, under the cover of night, Kashimpur Central Jail (Part-2) in Gazipur became the epicenter of a clandestine operation. Authorities there reportedly facilitated the secret release of Jikrullah, one of the convicted killers of blogger Wasikur Rahman Babu and a known operative of the Al Qaeda-affiliated Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), now rebranded as Ansar Al Islam. This release, executed without notifying the nation’s top intelligence agencies, raises serious questions about state complicity and security lapses.

Waiting outside the prison compound were vehicles carrying armed ABT members, who escorted Jikrullah to an undisclosed location. Credible sources indicate that this operation was coordinated by influential figures, including an advisor to Muhammad Yunus, ABT leader Jashimuddin Rahmani, and Jamaatul-Mujahedin Bangladesh (JMB) chief Major (sacked) Syed Ziaul Haque.

The murder of blogger Wasikur Rahman Babu

On March 30, 2015, blogger Wasikur Rahman Babu was brutally hacked to death in Dhaka by Jikrullah and Ariful Islam, both members of ABT, using meat cleavers. The killers later confessed to law enforcement agencies that they considered the murder a “religious duty”. Rahman was targeted for his support of secularism and his association with Avijit Roy, another prominent blogger and US citizen, who had been murdered just a month earlier by ABT operatives.

Avijit Roy, a Bangladeshi-American, was attacked alongside his wife, Rafida Ahmed Bonya, on February 26, 2015, while attending the Ekushey Book Fair in Dhaka. Roy was killed, and Ahmed sustained critical injuries. Following the attack, the US Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, through its Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program, announced a US$5 million reward for information leading to those responsible.

Ansarullah Bangla Team, an affiliate of Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), claimed responsibility for these killings. The attack on Avijit Roy and Rafida Ahmed Bonya was further publicized by AQIS leader Asim Umar in a video. In 2016, the US Department of State designated AQIS as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and sanctioned it under Executive Order 13224.

The secretive release of Jikrullah is not an isolated incident. Reports suggest that his accomplice, Ariful Islam, may also walk free within days under similar covert arrangements. Both releases underscore a growing trend of leniency toward convicted extremists under the current regime.

Sources reveal that Major (sacked) Syed Ziaul Haque, a notorious jihadist and former Bangladeshi Army officer, continues to wield influence. After a failed coup attempt in 2011, Zia fled to Pakistan, where he received support from the Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) agency. He later joined ABT and quickly rose through its ranks, using his military expertise to strengthen the group’s operational capabilities.

Major Zia, who is currently wanted by Bangladeshi and US authorities, reportedly entered Bangladesh along with several ISI operatives and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) members. Since his return, he has coordinated with Jashimuddin Rahmani and maintained communication with imprisoned members of ABT and JMB.

Intelligence reports suggest that Jikrullah, following his release, was transported to the Bangladesh-India border in Comilla district. He and other ABT operatives are allegedly planning cross-border “hit-and-run” attacks targeting RSS and Hindu leaders, journalists, and security personnel in India. Targets reportedly include prominent figures such as former NSG official Dipanjan Chakraborty and journalists from Republic TV, Zee News, and Aaj Tak.

Additionally, ABT and JMB cells, under AQIS directives, are said to be preparing attacks on temples, churches, hotels, and industrial projects, including those owned by the Adani Group. The infiltration of Rohingya jihadists into India further amplifies the threat, with ISI leveraging these networks to execute its agenda of regional destabilization.

In Bangladesh, Rohingya refugee camps have become breeding grounds for extremism. Intelligence sources confirm that AQIS and ISI operatives are actively recruiting from these camps, providing weapons and financial support to Rohingya jihadists. These groups are allegedly planning to launch attacks on the Arakan Army to regain control over the region.

The apparent state complicity in the release of convicted jihadists has drawn widespread condemnation. Commenting on these disturbing incidents, security analyst and research-scholar Arun Anand said, “The Yunus administration is releasing the members of terrorist organizations like ABT from Bangladesh prisons. It is part of the sinister design of Pakistan’s ISI which wants to take revenge for the humiliating defeat of Pak army in 1971.ISI wants to turn Bangladesh into a terror hub and an exporter of Islamic terrorism to the rest of the world. This will turn Bangladesh into  a failed state and undo all the progress it has made so far. Bangladesh will be like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Syria, Gaza, Lebanon. There is already a purge of all the seculars, minorities and progressive political and social leaders by Islamic radicals in the Yunus regime. It is likely to escalate further unless the US under Donald Trump withdraws support for Yunus after Trump takes over in January 2025.

“Meanwhile, the developments in Bangladesh related to the release of terrorists should cause deep concern in India also as ISI will ultimately direct these terrorists towards India. This will also have an impact on the rest of the world as ABT whose members are getting released in Bangladesh is an affiliate of Al Qaida. However, the silence of China and the western world on such developments in Bangladesh is deafening. They are also going to pay the price of this silence as these terrorists will target them too”.

Perhaps the most alarming revelation is the reported importation of 40 tons of RDX and other explosives from Pakistan. Sourced from Pakistan’s weapons industry and transported through Chittagong Port, these explosives have no recorded documentation in the relevant government departments during the Yunus administration, nor within the Bangladesh Army. Intelligence suggests that these deadly materials have been handed over to extremist groups such as JMB and Ansar Al Islam. The potential use of such a vast quantity of explosives poses a catastrophic threat to regional security.

While the Biden administration has been criticized for its perceived leniency toward Islamist regimes, a potential return of Donald Trump to the White House in January 2025 could spell trouble for Bangladesh’s current leadership. Trump is expected to take a hardline stance, imposing sanctions on Muhammad Yunus, his advisors, and other prominent figures accused of fostering terrorism.

The clandestine release of blogger killer Jikrullah and other hardened jihadists from Bangladesh prison and suspicious disappearance of 40 tons of RDX has broader implications and it questions about Bangladesh’s commitment to counterterrorism. As the nation faces mounting scrutiny over its handling of jihadist threats, the stakes extend far beyond its borders. Regional security, international counterterrorism efforts, and the safety of countless lives hang in the balance. The urgent need for transparency, accountability, and robust action to dismantle these terror networks cannot be overstated, for complacency now may lead to irreversible consequences for Bangladesh and its neighbors.

Please follow Blitz on Google News Channel