Militancy on the sidelines as ATU, CTTC busy elsewhere

The Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) and the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit, established primarily to counter terrorism and transnational crimes, are not actively pursuing militancy-related operations as they are currently preoccupied with routine work, even as “militant activities” have not been eradicated from the country.

Sources within the ATU of the Bangladesh Police said the unit’s current focus is largely on executing arrest warrants and handling a growing number of criminal cases assigned by the Police Headquarters.

Similarly, members of the CTTC under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) are engaged with cases assigned by the DMP headquarters, rather than directly targeting militant networks.

DMP Deputy Commissioner Talebur Rahman also said that CTTC personnel are performing routine duties and remain vigilant against banned organisations.

The ATU arrested Mohammad Faisal from a house in Savar on 2 July. A case was filed on 5 July against Faisal and five others – Al Imran, Rezaul Karim, Asif Adnan, Zakaria Masud, and Sanaf Hasan – for their involvement with Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a Pakistani militant organisation.

Inspector Aminul Islam of the ATU, investigating the case, said one additional accused has been arrested, while others remain at large.

Sources noted that TTP operatives in Bangladesh are continuing their activities, alongside other militant groups such as Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).

Over the past 25 years, various militant activities have been observed, though there have been allegations that innocent people were sometimes wrongly labelled as militants. Since the swearing-in of the interim government, no subversive activities by militant outfits have been reported.

Although senior police officials in various programmes have recently denied the active presence of militants, several incidents continue to raise concern.

On Friday, an explosion occurred at Ummal Qura International Madrasah at Hasnabad in South Keraniganj, where police recovered large quantities of chemicals kept for making explosives. Madrasah Director Al Amin Sheikh, wanted in several cases and associated with Neo-JMB, remained at large.

Dhaka district Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman confirmed a case has been filed and authorities are investigating potential links to militant networks.

Intelligence sources warned that two foreign agencies may attempt sabotage using homegrown militants, highlighting the ongoing threat.

Crime analyst Prof Dr Omar Faruk, chairman of the Department of Criminology and Police Science at Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, said militancy in Bangladesh is part of a geopolitical strategy in the subcontinent.

He noted that many individuals influenced by militant ideology remain free on bail and can pose risks if their networks expand, emphasising that ATU and CTTC must resume proactive action against these groups.

Another crime analyst Dr Tawhidul Haque; associate professor at Dhaka University, said despite past cases where innocent people were wrongly targeted, law enforcement agencies must remain vigilant to prevent sabotage by militants.

Assistant Inspector General of Police AHM Shahadat Hossain stated that police actions continue against criminals and their networks, including militant organisations. The organisations that were banned during the BNP and the Awami League tenures are Shahadat-e-Al Hikma, Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami Bangladesh (HuJI-B), JMB, Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB), Hizb ut-Tahrir, Ansarullah Bangla Team or Ansar al-Islam, Allah’r Dal, and Jamaat-ul-Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya.

The current interim government has banned the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of Awami League.