Members of several militancy outfits including Jamaatul Mujahedin Bangladesh (JMB) – local franchise of Islamic State (ISIS), Ansar Al Islam – local franchise of Al Qaeda, Harkatul Jihad (HuJI) and Hizbut Tahrir have been almost openly running activities from various prisons in Bangladesh by “managing” prison authorities. According to media reports, these militancy outfits have succeeded in collecting more than 150,000 mobile phone numbers, through which they run jihadist recruitment by using various communication apps including WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal.
It may be mentioned here that JMB is a local franchise of Islamic State while Ansar Al Islam maintains connections with Al Qaeda. These outfits are generating funds through multiple ways, which include foreign nations, drug trade and other commercial activities, including illegal hawala business.
Dhaka’s leading English newspaper The Daily Star in a report, quoting the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Bangladesh Police claims, one of the top leaders of Jamaatul Mujahedin Bangladesh (JMB), Abu Ruham alias Kunia has been smuggling cell phones in jails with the help of some prison guards. Then the inmates install encrypted apps like Signal, Telegram, and Wicker Me for communication.
It said, JMB’s current Ameer, Saudi expatriate and Afghan returnee Abu Bakar, maintains regular communication with jailed members of the outfit in Bangladesh.
Although, Lutfur Rahman, jailer of the Kashimpur High Security jail told The Daily Star – “There is no possibility of militants using mobile phones, as we are maintaining high security inside the prisons”, in an exclusive report, Blitz says, notorious militancy outfit Ansar Al Islam (previously known as Ansarullah Bangla Team – ABT), a local franchise of Al Qaeda has intensified drug trade from Kashimpur Central Jail (Part-1) in Gazipur district in Bangladesh – generating a large amount of cash everyday, while prison authorities play the role of abettor as they get a part of the proceeds of such illegal activities. Similar activities are also continuing in Kashimpur-4 High Security jail.
A credible source revealed stunning information about a major incident which took place on June 25 at 10:45 am in Kashimpur Central Jail (Part-01). In Room No. 12 of Cell-30 (which is Condemned Cell), condemned prisoner Amit Hassan, son of Jalil and condemned prisoner Alim Reza Khan were caught red-handed by a team of prison authorities led by Subedar Yunus and Karim Bhuiyan while a Ansar Al Islam member named Masud was communicating with his commander named Salauddin Salehin in India. During this incident, few more prison staff namely Havildar Majnu and prisoners named Mamun and Toriqul.
The source further said, Amit Hassan and Alim Reza have a documented history of drug dealings within the prison and have been caught by the authorities on multiple times and they also were earlier caught several times while helping members of Ansar Al Islam in communicating with Salauddin Salehin and other militants of this outfit. But authorities remained suspiciously inactive in taking any punitive measure against Amit Hassan and Alim Reza. It is claimed, these condemned prisoners are running such illegal and dangerous activities by “managing” authorities at Kashimpur Central Jail (Part-1). Such involvement of prison authorities in these activities is deeply troubling. Subedars Yunus and Karim are alleged to have been protecting Amit and Alim in exchange for bribes. Their inactions and corrupt practices, which include harboring militants pose a significant threat to national security of Bangladesh as well as integrity of the prison system.
The report further said, members of Ansar Al Islam have set up a make-shift mosque in verandah of Cell-30 at Kashimpur Central Jail (Part-1) by installing loudspeakers which are being used for azan as well as issuing jihadist sermons twice a day as well as during Friday prayers. These gatherings allow communication among inmates of the condemned cell including members of Ansar Al Islam. The authorities’ passive or active approval of these activities is alarming.
Blitz said, “The revelations about Ansar Al Islam’s operations within Kashimpur Central Jail and the complicity of prison authorities pose a severe threat to national and regional security. The group’s ability to generate funds through drug trafficking and maintain communications with external networks necessitates immediate and decisive action.
“The ongoing threat posed by Ansar Al Islam and its affiliates demands a coordinated response from both Bangladeshi and Indian authorities to safeguard national and regional stability. The revelations of corruption, militant activities, and administrative complicity within Kashimpur Central Jail highlight the urgent need for reform and accountability to protect the nation from the rising tide of terrorism”.
Commenting on the rising activities of militancy outfits in Bangladesh, security analyst M A Hossain said, “Prisons are now acting as operational headquarters of various militancy outfits”.
“Convicted BDRs have turned into neo-militants, working in various important roles such as writers and callers. They have the scope to move around inside jails and act as messengers to establish an internal militant network. These convicted members of BDR pose a threat to the country’s national security”, Hossain added.
In January 2023, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) sources told local media, Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya (JAFHS), an outshoot of JMB members, were radicalized from jails in Bangladesh.
Most importantly, while report published in Blitz provided specific information on militants running makeshift mosques inside prisons as well as communicating with their fellow jihadists outside the prison, top officials at the Directorate of Prison in Bangladesh remained suspiciously silent on this matter, which evidently proves – activities of militancy groups inside Bangladesh prisons are continuing under the knowledge of the authorities concerned. To prevent militancy groups from implementing terrorist plots, security agencies in Bangladesh, including RAB need to initiate on-ground investigation into this matter for the sake of national and regional security.
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