Meet Sajit Chandra Debnath, Bangladeshi Hindu who became ISIS emir Mohd Saifullah Ozaki

New Delhi: Sajit Chandra Debnath, a 42-year-old Bangladeshi scholar with two business degrees and a doctorate from Japan's Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, had a promising academic career. Born into an influential Hindu family near Dhaka, Sajit co-authored over two dozen papers on business studies and taught at his Japanese alma mater for over five years, even marrying a Japanese woman. However, his life took a drastic turn before 2008 when he converted to Islam, adopting the name Mohammad Saifullah Ozaki.

This is Sajit Chandra Debnath, a 42-year-old Bangladeshi with two business degrees and a doctorate from Japan’s Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University. Born in an influential Hindu family not far from Dhaka, Sajit coauthored over two dozen papers on business studies and taught at… pic.twitter.com/6TqsfeDorT

— Amit Schandillia (@Schandillia) August 7, 2024

How did Ozaki joined ISIS?

In 2014, Ozaki joined Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), an ISIS-affiliated group. At a Dhaka mosque, he met Gazi Sohan, who aimed to join ISIS in Syria. Ozaki facilitated Sohan's travel by sponsoring his visa to Japan, where Sohan obtained a Turkish visa. In December 2014, Sohan traveled to Turkey and eventually reached Syria, following Ozaki's guidance.

Ozaki left Japan in 2015

Ozaki left Japan for Bulgaria in 2015, assuming the alias Shaykh Abu Ibrahim al-Hanif. Despite being an associate professor at Ritsumeikan University, he never returned to Japan. By mid-2015, Ozaki was closely linked with ISIS. In June, ISIS announced a new "province" in Bangladesh, Wilayat al-Bengal, appointing Ozaki as its emir. He led recruitment efforts, particularly targeting cadet colleges in Dhaka.

This is him now. I mean as of 2014. Or 2008, who knows. What happened?

Sometime before 2008, Sajit converted to Islam. Sometime before 2008 because we don’t know for sure. 2008 is when he was first noticed sporting a beard by his family. Which he tried hiding behind a surgical… pic.twitter.com/v3tHpL8SnP

— Amit Schandillia (@Schandillia) August 7, 2024

Incited violence against Bangladeshi Hindus

In a 2016 interview in ISIS's magazine Dabiq, Ozaki incited violence against Bangladesh's Hindu minority. That year, he masterminded the July 1 attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka, resulting in the deaths of 20 civilians and five police officers. Although he did not directly participate, Ozaki was recognized as the operation's mastermind.

Ozaki surrendered in March 2019

In March 2019, as ISIS's influence waned, Ozaki and nine other Bangladeshi recruits surrendered to an American-backed force. Later that year, ISIS leader Al-Baghdadi was killed in a shootout. Despite Ozaki's capture, ISIS-Bengal continues under new leadership.