Islamic extremists building a base next to India?

UPDATED: Jul 8, 2025 22:04 IST

Bangladesh finds itself teetering on the edge of religious extremism following the dramatic fall of Sheikh Hasina's government. What began as student protests against the quota system has spiralled into a crisis that threatens to transform the nation into a theocratic state.

The chaos erupted when widespread demonstrations against perceived nepotism and state favouritism in the job quota system gained momentum under the "Students Against Discrimination" banner. As clashes with security forces intensified and casualties mounted, Hasina's grip on power crumbled. Her hasty departure to India left a dangerous political vacuum that extremist groups have been quick to exploit.

Central to this unfolding drama is Jamaat-Char Monai, a hardline Islamist organisation rooted in Islami Andolan Bangladesh. Led by Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim, the group has openly declared its intention to remake Bangladesh in the image of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. In a chilling July 2025 interview, Karim promised the implementation of Sharia law, the purging of secularism, and claimed that minorities would have "rights"—but only under Islamic law.
The interim government under Muhammad Yunus has struggled to maintain control, whilst minorities face mounting violence. According to the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, over 2,000 incidents of attacks on minorities occurred in just 16 days following Hasina's departure. Hindu temples have been torched, businesses looted, and families terrorised by emboldened radical mobs.

For India, this isn't merely a neighbouring crisis—it's a security nightmare. The 4,096-kilometre border with Bangladesh has become a frontline for counter-radicalisation efforts. Indian agencies have detected increased chatter from extremist groups attempting to radicalise youth in West Bengal and Assam. The Border Security Force has responded by deploying surveillance drones, tightening fencing, and increasing patrols.

The situation is further complicated by reports of Pakistan's ISI embedding itself in the chaos, allegedly training Bangladeshi youth and supplying arms to build anti-India networks. New Delhi faces an impossible choice: engage with a radicalising Bangladesh and risk legitimising extremists, or isolate Dhaka and potentially push it further into Islamist hands.
As Bangladesh edges towards theocratic rule, the implications extend far beyond its borders, threatening regional stability and India's security interests.

- Ends