The interim government in Bangladesh, led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, has raised concerns with recent appointments of individuals linked to extremist groups. Nasimul Gani, a founding member of the terrorist organization Hizb-ut-Tahrir, was appointed Home Secretary on December 25th. Previously, Gani served as private secretary to BNP leader Jamir Uddin Sircar.
This appointment follows the earlier appointment of Mahfuz Alam as State Adviser. Alam, who played a key role in the Islamist protests that led to the ousting of the Sheikh Hasina government, also has ties to Hizb-ut-Tahrir. He previously served as a special assistant to Yunus and has now been elevated to the position of adviser.
These appointments, along with the involvement of extremist groups like Hizb-ut-Tahrir, Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan, and Ansarullah Bangla Team in the protests that ousted Hasina, have raised concerns about the interim government's increasing Islamist leanings.
Mohammed Yunus (L), Nasimun Gani (R) (Aaj Tak)
Gani, a prominent figure among HuT's founding members, co-founded the organization in 2000 alongside Kawsar Shahnewaz. Their efforts were guided by Syed Golam Maula, a professor at Dhaka University. The establishment of this terrorist organization took place while the BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami government held power.
Subsequently, the Awami League government outlawed HuT in 2009. Similarly, in October of this year, the Indian government under Prime Minister Modi designated Hizb-ut-Tahrir as a terrorist entity. “The outfit is involved in various acts of terror, including radicalizing the gullible youths to join terrorist organizations and raise funds for terror activities, posing a serious threat to the national security and sovereignty of India. The Modi government is committed to securing Bharat by dealing with the forces of terror with an iron fist,” the Indian Ministry said.
Gani's retirement from government service coincided with the emergence of HuT as an active force in terror planning in 2013
Nasimul Gani, a former Bangladeshi civil servant closely linked to Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, served as an officer in the President's department following the Awami League's electoral defeat. He was reportedly compelled to retire from the public administration ministry in 2013 after a four-year stint as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD).
Since Gani's retirement, the HuT (Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami) has intensified its activities, carrying out numerous deadly terrorist attacks. The HuT, designated a terrorist organization by the Indian government, aims to establish an Islamic Caliphate worldwide, including in India, by overthrowing democratically elected governments through violent jihad and terrorism.
The organization poses a significant threat to national security by: (1) Radicalizing and recruiting vulnerable youth to join terrorist groups like ISIS; (2) Raising funds for terrorist activities; and (3) Utilizing social media platforms to spread extremist propaganda and attract young people to engage in terrorism.
NIA Probes Suspected Anti-National Plot in Southern State
A day after the NIA filed charges against Abdul Rehman and Mujibu Rehman, suspected HuT members, in a Tamil Nadu terror conspiracy case, it was disclosed that the organization had planned to carry out attacks in multiple parts of the state.
“The accused worked with HuT’s self-styled leaders to propagate the group’s aim of establishing an Islamic caliphate in India. They reportedly sought to enforce a Sharia-based constitution written by HuT founder Taqi al-Din al-Nabhani,” NIA said. It was reported that the accused terrorists employed youth and provided them with anti-India ideological training.
“They also held an exhibition showcasing the military strength of Islamic nations, with the intent of inciting a violent overthrow of the Indian government through jihad,” it added.
In October, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested individuals in Puducherry in connection with the Tamil Nadu Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) case. These individuals were accused of propagating disaffection and secessionism by promoting the ideology of this anti-India organization.
Subsequently, the NIA conducted searches at the residences of the accused, including the home of Faizul Rahman in Chennai. During these searches, authorities seized incriminating evidence, such as digital devices and documents.
Investigations revealed that the accused were actively involved with other arrested individuals in the case. They were allegedly conspiring to advocate for secessionism, seeking military support from Pakistan to liberate Kashmir.
The conspiracy aimed to establish Khilafat/Islamic rule by violently overthrowing the Indian government through jihad.
About Hizb-ut-Tahrir
Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT), a global Islamist political organization founded in Jerusalem in 1953, advocates for the establishment of a worldwide Islamic caliphate governed by Sharia law.
Initially pursuing non-violent means to gain influence within Muslim communities, HuT has gradually shifted towards a more complex strategy, seeking support from military factions and influential leaders with the potential to instigate coups.
While headquartered in Lebanon, HuT operates in numerous countries, including the UK, US, Canada, and Australia.
The organization has a history of promoting and glorifying attacks on Israel and the Jewish community.
HuT has been banned in several countries, including Bangladesh, China, Russia, Pakistan, Germany, Turkey, Indonesia, and many others, with most Arab nations also prohibiting its activities.
In recent times, HuT has reportedly expanded its presence in India.
Hizb ut-Tahrir's efforts to promote its Islamic ideology and anti-India views within India
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted a series of raids across multiple locations in India on June 30th, targeting members of the terrorist organization Hizb-ut-Tahrir. Two individuals, Abdul Rehman and Mujibur Rehman, were arrested for allegedly indoctrinating young people with extremist ideologies, aiming to transform India from a "land of non-believers" to an Islamic state.
The NIA seized a significant amount of incriminating material, including digital devices and printed documents promoting the philosophies of Hizb-ut-Tahrir, Khilafa (Islamic caliphate), and the Islamic State.
This operation follows the arrest of six individuals in Chennai last month, also suspected of having links to Hizb-ut-Tahrir and charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The case originated from a Facebook post containing derogatory content, which led to an investigation by the Thideernagar Police Station in Madurai. The case was later transferred to the NIA, who conducted further investigations, including a search of Kabir Ahmed's residence in Chennai.
Raids were also conducted in other locations, including Tiruchy, Kumbakonam, and Erode, targeting individuals and premises believed to be associated with the extremist group.
In May 2023, a group of six individuals associated with the HuT organization were detained in Chennai. These individuals were accused of engaging in anti-India activities, including propagating against the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections and the democratic system. Among those arrested was Hameed Hussain, a former engineering professor who led the group. Notably, his father and brother were also members of this organization. The arrested individuals ranged in age from their twenties to their sixties. The HuT group asserted that democracy and elections were "Haram" (forbidden under Islamic law) and advocated for the establishment of a Caliphate.
Earlier in May 2023, the Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) conducted a four-month-long operation that led to the apprehension of 16 individuals linked to a HuT module. An ATS officer successfully infiltrated the group by posing as a recent convert to Islam. This undercover operation allowed the officer to attend secret meetings and gather crucial evidence. Based on this intelligence, simultaneous arrests were carried out in Bhopal, Chhindwara, and Hyderabad. Some of the individuals detained by the ATS were allegedly involved in coercing others to convert to Islam with the intention of promoting terrorism.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) subsequently took over the investigation. The arrested individuals include Mohammad Alam, Misbah ul Hasan, Mehraj Ali, Khalid Hussain, Syed Sami Rizvi, Yasir Khan, Salman Ansari, Syed Danish Ali, Mohammad Shahrukh, Mohammad Wasim, Mohammad Kareem, Mohammad Abbas Ali, Mohammad Hameed, Mohammad Saleem, Abdur Rahman, Sheikh Junaid, and Mohammad Salman.
In 2021, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Mohammed Iqbal in Tamil Nadu following searches at multiple locations. Iqbal, whose Facebook page "Thoonga Vizhigal Rendu is in Kazimar Street" featured posts deemed offensive to a particular religion, was accused of inciting communal disharmony and disrupting public order. The initial case, filed in Madurai, involved charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
In March 2022, the NIA filed a supplementary charge sheet against Ziyavudeen Baqavi and Bava Bahrudeen, both alleged members of Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT). The investigation revealed their involvement in radicalizing and recruiting young individuals to establish an Islamic State based on the ideology of HuT founder Taqi al-Din al-Nabhani.
In January 2017, the NIA announced that Adib Khan, a Bengaluru resident, had links to ISIS operatives operating in India and Sri Lanka. Adib, believed to be closely associated with HuT, utilized social media platforms to communicate with his associates and planned to travel to Syria via Indonesia to join ISIS.
HuT's activities in Bangladesh commenced in the 2000s
In the early 2000s, Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT) began operating in Bangladesh, primarily targeting educated youth and university students to spread its extremist ideology. This group, outlawed by the Bangladeshi government in 2009 due to its radical views, continued its activities clandestinely. Focusing on local grievances like corruption and inequality, HuT presented itself as an opponent of Western influence while advocating for the establishment of a Caliphate.
Recently, in August of this year, HuT held a rally in Dhaka, demanding the implementation of a Caliphate in Bangladesh. During this event, the organization's leadership highlighted various "issues," revealing a radical agenda disguised as religious duty. They condemned the government of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, labeling it "tyrannical" and subservient to Western powers. Furthermore, they denounced "secular democratic systems" as inherently corrupt and oppressive.
Furthermore, HuT asserted that only a caliphate governed by Sharia law could guarantee true justice and prosperity for all Bangladeshi citizens. This rhetoric, openly Jihadi and highly inflammatory, aimed to destabilize the country's political order. They advocated for the expulsion of foreign businesses and the termination of strategic alliances with non-Muslim nations.
Significantly, HuT exploited the plight of the Rohingya Muslims displaced from Myanmar. In 2017, a campaign launched in Chittagong, Bangladesh, featured posters urging Muslim unity in support of the Rohingya. These posters also incited "dedicated military officers" to overthrow the ruling Awami League government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, revealing HuT's ambitions to influence political change.
HuT has faced historical setbacks, including failed attempts to overthrow regimes in Jordan, Syria, and Egypt during the 1960s and 1970s. These failures led to a period of decline, from which HuT recovered by adopting a new strategy emphasizing both grassroots mobilization and strategic alliances. In the 1980s and 1990s, HuT's ideology evolved further, with internal debates surrounding the legitimacy of armed uprisings against "unfaithful" governments.
By the early 2000s, under new leadership, HuT adopted a more aggressive stance. The US invasion of Iraq served as a rallying point to mobilize support against Western influence. In the 2010s, HuT attempted to exploit the Syrian Revolution to advance its vision of establishing a Caliphate.
HuT's Global Activities
Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT) has been actively involved in political activities and protests worldwide. In the UK, they have organized boycotts of elections and rallies against Syrian government atrocities. In the US, they exploited the Syrian conflict to organize anti-government demonstrations. In Australia, they have promoted extremist views, including advocating for violence against women and Jews. In Russia, HuT has been banned as a terrorist organization, and its members have faced imprisonment for their activities. In Belgium, they protested against a visit by the Uzbek president. In Kyrgyzstan, authorities have shut down their websites and arrested members. In Tunisia, they capitalized on the Arab Spring but were eventually banned. In Jordan, they held large gatherings and protested against curriculum reforms. In Turkey, they were banned and members imprisoned following links to the Gülen movement. In Indonesia, their protests against a governor led to a government ban on the organization. HuT is currently banned in 16 countries.
This paragraph summarizes the key activities and consequences faced by HuT in various countries, highlighting their political activism, extremist views, and the resulting government crackdowns.
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