According to Europol, the principal security concern for European Union member states remains jihadist terrorism and the closely related phenomenon of foreign fighters. The jihadist threat facing Finland has markedly increased in recent years and has grown more complex, making it increasingly difficult to predict and counter. Against this alarming backdrop, a deeply disturbing case has recently been unearthed by the team of journalists of Blitz, a 23-year-old newspaper enjoying global repute for investigative journalism. The case involves a Finnish female citizen who attempted to bring a violent jihadist from Bangladesh to Finland by falsely claiming him to be her husband. Subsequent findings revealed that the entire process was an elaborate immigration fraud.

In January this year, a violent jihadist named Mahdi Hasan was seen threatening police officers at Shayestaganj Police Station in Habiganj district, Bangladesh, after one of his accomplices had been detained. During the confrontation, Hasan allegedly boasted that he had burned the police station and murdered a Hindu police officer, Shontosh Chowdhury (Shuvo), during the July–August jihadist coup in Bangladesh.

It may be recalled that Shontosh Chowdhury (Shuvo), an Assistant Sub-Inspector of Bangladesh Police, was mercilessly beaten and killed by Islamist mobs reportedly led by Mahdi Hasan inside the police station on August 5, 2024. Law enforcement officers at the station were left helpless in the face of overwhelming mob violence. Fearing further bloodshed, colleagues of the slain officer were reportedly compelled to serve snacks and tea to the very individuals responsible for the brutal killing.

Hours after the incident, police managed to detain Mahdi Hasan from his residence. However, mobs soon gathered at the police station demanding his release. The situation escalated to such an extent that the army had to be deployed within the compound of the police station to restore order.

Since August 5, 2024, serial attacks targeting Hindus and other religious minorities have taken place across Bangladesh, allegedly led by violent jihadists such as Mahdi Hasan. The deteriorating law-and-order situation created widespread fear, particularly among minority communities and even Indian students residing in Bangladesh, many of whom reportedly faced severe insecurity.

Taking advantage of the prevailing instability, several Pakistan-based terrorist outfits – including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) – along with global terror networks such as Hamas, Al Qaeda, and Islamic State (ISIS), allegedly continued visiting Bangladesh to recruit local operatives and explore opportunities for implementing terrorist plots.

The political landscape, however, shifted dramatically when the people of Bangladesh voted the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) into power, thereby ending the 18-month rule of Muhammad Yunus. Weeks before the election, anticipating the possible outcome, several violent jihadists – including Mahdi Hasan – reportedly began exploring options to flee the country and seek refuge in India, Pakistan, Malaysia, and even European nations.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, various rackets allegedly began luring such individuals with promises of foreign residency or citizenship in exchange for substantial sums of money. Jihadists like Mahdi Hasan reportedly entered into such arrangements. According to information obtained by Blitz, Mahdi entered into a contract with a female Finnish citizen to facilitate his entry into Finland under the false identity of her husband – in other words, as a “paper husband”.

Acting upon this arrangement, Mahdi Hasan traveled to India to obtain a Finnish visa, where he was reportedly received by the Finnish woman. However, his plan did not succeed. He and his alleged “paper wife” were reportedly tracked at the visa center in New Delhi.

According to available information, Ahmed Reza Hasan Mahdi (also known as Mahdi Hasan), who allegedly murdered a Hindu police officer, holds Bangladeshi passport number A08435001, issued on December 10, 2023. Blitz also obtained details of his birth certificate. Based on information provided by Blitz, Indian authorities reportedly instructed Delhi Police to apprehend Mahdi Hasan and initiate appropriate legal action. Within less than 24 hours, Indian authorities reportedly located Mahdi Hasan along with the Finnish woman.

Sources indicate that the Finnish female citizen admitted to entering into a contractual marriage arrangement with Mahdi Hasan to facilitate his entry into Finland. Although Mahdi Hasan subsequently returned to Bangladesh after being deported from India, the Finnish woman was not seen accompanying him. This development strongly suggests that she was not merely a “paper wife” but may also be connected to a broader human trafficking or immigration fraud network that assists foreign nationals in entering Finland through sham marriages and other deceptive means.

This case should not be treated as an isolated incident. Authorities in Finland, as well as other European Union member states, must immediately initiate a thorough investigation into the activities of the Finnish citizen involved in this scheme. If left unexamined, such fraudulent marriage arrangements could become a gateway for radicalized individuals and violent extremists to penetrate European societies under the cover of legal migration. At a time when Europol continues to warn about the evolving jihadist threat across Europe, complacency is not an option. A coordinated cross-border inquiry involving Finnish, Indian, and Bangladeshi authorities is essential – not only to uncover the full extent of this racket, but also to prevent Europe’s immigration channels from being exploited by individuals with violent extremist backgrounds. Vigilance, transparency, and decisive legal action are now imperative to safeguard both regional and international security.

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