ISIS ‘intends’ to announce its Bangladesh leader during Ramadan

A US-based war research group says the ISIS “intends” to announce “an affiliate” in Bangladesh, where it has “designated a local leader”.

Nurul Islam Hasibbdnews24.com
Published : 5 May 2016, 07:46 PM
Updated : 5 May 2016, 08:06 PM

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said the radical group was preparing for a “global surge of activities” before and during the Ramadan, which falls between June 6 and July 5.

“ISIS continued to pursue its regional campaign objectives of establishing affiliates and increasing disorder throughout historically Muslim lands,” ISW said in its April review.

The ISW is a “non-partisan, non-profit, public policy research organisation” that furthers an understanding of military affairs through “reliable research, trusted analysis, and innovative education”.

It is aimed at improving the US’s ability to execute military operations and respond to emerging threats in order to achieve strategic objectives.

The ISIS has reportedly been claiming the responsibility of the killing of secular writers, online activists, and liberal publishers in Bangladesh since September last year.

The Bangladesh government, however, denies the presence of the IS or Al-Quida in the country, claiming that the killings were masterminded by ‘home-grown Islamist radicals’.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday also warned people against a ‘conspiracy’ to prove the ‘existence’ of international militant groups in Bangladesh.

“But I won’t let anyone play the game with the country until I am alive,” she told the Parliament on the heels of the US Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Desai Biswal’s comment that Bangladesh-based militants were gradually establishing links with global terror groups.

Biswal concluded her Dhaka visit on Thursday after discussing security issues following the killing of a USAID staff Xulhaz Mannan.

She said the US wanted to work with Bangladesh and expected that “Bangladesh would value this partnership”.

The ISW says the ISIS could launch new offensives in North Africa and declare new affiliates in Southeast Asia, apart from Bangladesh.

This is to maintain an “overall momentum” in those regions.

This strategy will also seek to establish resilience “elsewhere” in the region as it faces challenges in Iraq and Syria, where the radical group is based.

Earlier, in its online magazine, 'Dabiq', the ISIS said they had found a leader for the Bengal region.

The leader, the magazine claimed, had pledged allegiance to the Khalifah Ibrahim - Al Baghdadi, who now controls parts of Iraq and Syria.

But the government has denied any such presence in Bangladesh.