Bangladesh Set To Become Launchpad For Jihadist Expansion Across South Asia: Report | World News

DHAKA: Bangladesh’s ultimate goal of creating an Islamic Revolutionary Army goes beyond internal consolidation and aims to position the country as a strategic outpost for transnational jihadist operations, serving Pakistan’s geopolitical interests and silencing secular voices, according to a report cited on Wednesday. It was stated that the regime led by Muhammad Yunus sought to weaken the Bangladesh Army, the last national institution that could resist radical influence, by forming alliances with Islamist elements and portraying them as “grassroots defenders”.

“A serious and coordinated conspiracy is unfolding in Bangladesh. Behind the mask of political rhetoric and ‘anti-discrimination’ activism, the Mohammed Younis regime has embarked on a project that could spark the most serious security crisis in South Asia since the rise of the Taliban,” a report by Bangladesh’s leading broadcaster ‘Blitz’ said.

Citing multiple sources, including regime insiders, social media revelations and intelligence leaks, the report showed that an Islamic Revolutionary Army (IRA) had been formed to replace the Bangladesh Army with an ideologically driven militia loyal to Younis and his Islamist allies.

“This so-called ‘Islamic Revolutionary Army’ is not just a political demonstration or student enthusiasm. It represents a dangerous convergence between radical Islamism, foreign intelligence collusion, and calculated efforts to militarize civilian networks. The consequences, if left unchecked, could transform Bangladesh from a moderate Muslim democracy into a launching pad for jihadist expansion in South Asia.”

According to the report, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, the “influential and at the same time controversial” advisor to the Yunus regime, made a striking statement on his social media platform earlier this week, announcing to the public that 8,850 people had been recruited and trained in seven training centers in Bangladesh.

He outlined the program, stating that trainees would undergo martial arts, judo, taekwondo, and firearms instruction. Hours after the post, the screenshots went viral and then disappeared. Citing sources in Dhaka, the report confirmed that this marks only the first phase of a larger plan that includes five successive batches of 8,850 people each ready to complete training by January 2026.

The report emphasized that “the recruitment process includes written, oral and physical tests, all of which are supervised by retired Bangladeshi officers with strong pro-Pakistan leanings, as well as undercover representatives of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT).”

“Bangladesh’s civil society, its remaining independent journalists and patriotic groups within the military must take action before it is too late. When a revolutionary army rooted in ideology replaces a professional army abiding by the constitution, Bangladesh will no longer be a sovereign republic but a caliphate in disguise,” the report said.