New Narrative War: How Al-Qaeda’s Digital ‘Influencers’ Captured Bangladesh’s Mainstream | Exclusive

Last Updated:February 12, 2026, 23:10 IST

The study by SecDev, a Canada-based geopolitical intelligence firm, and its local partner Rupantar shows extremist networks are weaponising public distrust in state institutions

A study has exposed a massive, sophisticated online radicalisation network operating within Bangladesh. Jointly issued by SecDev, a Canada-based geopolitical intelligence firm, and its local partner Rupantar, the report—titled “From Fringe to Centre: How Bangladesh’s Extremist Voices are Rewriting the Rules of Public Discourse"—outlines how extremist narratives have moved from the shadows into the heart of mainstream public conversation.

The Scale of the Digital Ecosystem

Published in July 2025, the study identifies Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) as the primary architect behind an expansive infrastructure of over 1,200 social media channels. This network is estimated to have reached approximately 30 million users by mid-2025. Unlike previous iterations of extremist propaganda that relied on isolated groups, this ecosystem demonstrates high levels of coordination, content replication, and audience segmentation. By January 2026, subscriptions to these violent extremist channels surged by over 2,000%, highlighting a dangerous “decoupling" where existing internet users are diving deeper into radical content rather than simply encountering it incidentally.

A Strategic Shift: From Violence to ‘Influence’

The report highlights a critical evolution in methodology. Extremist actors have largely migrated from fringe platforms like Telegram to mainstream giants, particularly Facebook, which now hosts over 65% of the monitored channels. The strategy has shifted from overt calls for violence to a “cultural influencer" style of radicalisation. By using veiled language and “soft entry points", AQIS avoids detection by platform moderators while subtly normalizing radical ideologies. This “narrative warfare" focuses on selective grievances and emotionally charged victimhood rather than blunt slogans, making the messaging more palatable to the general public.

Exploiting the Credibility Vacuum

A central finding of the SecDev-Rupantar study is that extremist networks are successfully weaponising public distrust in state institutions. By amplifying narratives of corruption and injustice within law enforcement, the courts, and political leadership, these groups position themselves as “alternative moral authorities" and “truth-tellers". This tactic is especially effective during periods of political transition, such as the aftermath of the July 2024 uprising, where extremist actors have exploited institutional vulnerabilities to present their frameworks as legitimate alternatives to democratic governance.

Assessment of Long-Term Risks

The assessment underscores that this systematic penetration of public discourse poses a long-term threat to social cohesion. The decentralised nature of the 1,200-channel network provides operational resilience, as mirror accounts and coded messaging make it nearly impossible for authorities to dismantle the infrastructure entirely. As these narratives become normalised—particularly among the youth and digitally vulnerable populations—they fuel deep societal polarisation. The report warns that without comprehensive intervention, Bangladesh risks the emergence of a “hybrid ideological regime" where extremist voices hold disproportionate sway over public sentiment and policy outcomes.

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