New Delhi: Jashimuddin Rahmani, the leader of the Islamist extremist group Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), was recently released from Kashimpur High Security Central Jail in Gazipur by the interim government in Bangladesh. Convicted of aiding in the murder of a blogger-activist and involved in multiple terror-related cases, Rahmanis release has sparked controversy.Story behind Rahmanis conviction, imprisonmentRahmani was convicted for abetting the 2013 murder of secular blogger Rajib Haider. Arrested in August of the same year, Rahmanis group, ABT, had taken responsibility for a series of killings of secular bloggers and journalists between 2013 and 2016. His group, Ansarullah Bangla Team, is known for its allegiance to Al-Qaeda and its regional affiliate, Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). Rahmani had been imprisoned since his arrest but was freed from jail on Monday under the new governments amnesty policies.Other releases under the interim governmentRahmani is not the only high-profile figure to benefit from the interim governments releases. Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister and leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was freed shortly after the fall of Sheikh Hasinas government in August. Additionally, figures associated with Jamaat-e-Islami, such as Brigadier General Abdullahil Aman Azmi and lawyer Ahmad Bin Quasem, were released after being held in a secret prison since 2016.Resurgence of Radical Islam in Bangladesh!!Jashimuddin Rahmani, pro-al-Qaeda chief of Islamist outfit freed by interim Bangladesh govt.Rahmani is convicted for abetting the murder of a blogger-activist, and a vocal supporter of the terror outfit Al-Qaeda and its offshoot Al… pic.twitter.com/Sob64Zll4f— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) September 5, 2024Rahmanis influence and ABTs terrorist activitiesRahmanis group, ABT, gained notoriety for their violent acts against secular bloggers and writers in Bangladesh. Victims of ABTs violence include well-known figures like Avijit Roy, Oyasiqur Rahman Babu, Ananta Bijoy Das, and university professor AKM Shafiul Islam. These killings were motivated by Rahmanis extremist ideology, which justified violence against those deemed anti-Islam.Rahmanis extremist sermons reportedly inspired young students to commit acts of violence, vowing to kill atheists and secular activists. His group was banned in 2016 for terrorist activities, and Rahmani himself was sentenced to five years in prison in 2015. His group continues to be linked to Al-Qaeda and its regional efforts to establish an Islamic state.ABTs links to Al-QaedaAnsarullah Bangla Team has strong ties to Al-Qaeda, particularly Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). Security analysts have traced the origins of ABT back to veterans of the Afghan conflict who returned to Bangladesh with radical ideologies. Rahmani and his group sought to transform Bangladesh into a state resembling Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. They actively recruited young, tech-savvy members, using online platforms to spread jihadist propaganda and plan terror activities.Jashimuddin Rahmanis release by the interim government of Bangladesh marks a significant moment in the countrys political and security landscape. As a convicted terrorist with strong links to Al-Qaeda, Rahmanis freedom raises concerns about the potential resurgence of Islamist extremism in the region.
