New Delhi, Oct 1: Violence has become routine in Bangladesh, with fears mounting that radicalisation is creeping into key institutions. While the Bangladesh army has so far remained largely detached from this trend, intelligence inputs suggest attempts are underway to reshape it into an Islamist force modeled on Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Following Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, the army initially called for law and order and distanced itself from radicals. Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman and his supporters had advocated restoration of normalcy and a return to democratic governance. However, with the growing influence of Jamaat-e-Islami and increasing meddling by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), sections within the military are reportedly shifting towards extremist elements.
Sources indicate that Jamaat holds considerable sway over caretaker leader Muhammad Yunus. ISI officials have made multiple visits to Bangladesh, while Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) reportedly held secret talks in Pakistan on re-modelling the army.
Adding to concerns, a new group called the Islamic Revolutionary Army is reportedly in the making. Spearheaded by the Yunus-backed Anti-Discrimination Student Movement (ADSM), the outfit has openly declared plans for martial arts training, followed by military-style instruction from army officers. Officials fear the aim is to first establish a militia and eventually integrate it into the regular army.
Intelligence reports further suggest that DGFI and ISI have also held strategy meetings outside the region, including in Spain, while closer ties between Turkey and Bangladesh may be aiding this shift.
If successful, this transformation could destabilize South Asia. For India, which already faces threats from extremist groups operating out of Bangladesh, the prospect of an “Islamic Revolutionary Army” institutionalising militancy poses serious security risks along its northeastern and West Bengal borders.
