Bangladesh experienced no incidents of international terrorism in 2023, according to the latest report from the United States Department of State.
However, the report notes that the Bangladeshi government frequently depicted political dissent as "terrorism," with allegations of extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations levied against certain security forces.
The US report, released recently, stated that opposition political leaders were detained under the pretext of combating terrorism. The document also accused the government of violating human rights while enforcing these measures.
The report acknowledged the government’s stringent crackdown on extremist groups, particularly targeting organisations such as al-Qaeda, Ansarullah Bangla Team (also known as Ansar al-Islam), and ISIS-affiliated Neo-Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (Neo-JMB).
Several members of these groups were arrested by specialised police units trained by the US government.
The document highlighted ethnic separatist violence, citing attacks by the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) in the southeastern hill tracts of Chattogram.
In May, two soldiers were killed in an assault by the KNF, while a similar attack in March claimed the life of another soldier. Additionally, the KNF faced allegations of training Jamaat-ul-Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya (JAHHS), a new group inspired by al-Qaeda.
Bangladeshi authorities reported bringing the activities of JAHHS under control by early 2023, with the group’s purported leader apprehended in July, significantly weakening its operations.
The report also addressed amendments to Bangladesh’s Digital Security Act, renamed the Cyber Security Act.
While ostensibly revised to target potential terrorist activities online, the law has drawn criticism for curbing citizens’ freedom of expression and enabling arrests for dissent.
On international cooperation, the report noted sustained security collaboration between the United States and Bangladesh.
The US provided training for law enforcement personnel and judiciary members while also aiding in airport security enhancements.
