Bangladesh has experienced terrorism in the past conducted by a number of different organisations.[6][7] In the past, both ISIL and other terrorist organisations had claimed to be active in the country. However, the Bangladeshi government believes that they mainly operated through local affiliates, before being neutralised by security forces.
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The first Bangladeshi Islamist factions emerged in 1989, when a network of 30 different factions was established and expanded in the following years. The main goal of most Islamist groups in Bangladesh is to create a separate Islamic state, or to govern Bangladesh according to Sharia law. Islamist groups have conducted operations against the ruling party's corruptions in the country. Islamic groups are alleged to be terrorists for political interests.[8][self-published source?]
First phase
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1975
- On 2 January 1975, Siraj Sikder would be shot and killed by the police in Savar Upazila, Dhaka.[10]
- On 15 August 1975, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman would be assassinated by group of mutineers from the Bangladesh Army and most of his family members would be killed.[11]
- On 3 November 1975, Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad, Mujib's usurper,[lower-alpha 1] would be ousted out of power by Maj. Gen. Khaled Mosharraf and three other high-ranking officers in a bloodless counter-coup.[15]
- On 7 November 1975, Maj. Gen. Khaled Mosharraf, Col. A. T. M. Haider, and Col. Khondkar Nazmul Huda would be killed in another counter-coup led by the JaSaD-backed Biplobi Shainik Sangstha.[15]
- On 24 November 1975, JaSaD leader, Abu Taher would be arrested under the order of Ziaur Rahman. A few months later, Abu Taher would be executed on 21 July 1976, ending the first phase of the conflict.[16]
Second phase
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Third phase
2003
- On 17 January 2003, bomb blast at a shrine fair in Tangail.[25]
- On 8 February 2003, Sayed Kawsar Hossain Siddique founded an Islamist organization named "Shahadat-e al Hiqma".[26][27]
- On 1 March 2003, a police sergeant was killed in a bomb attack in Khulna.[20]
- On 11 March 2003, two police constables were killed in a bomb attack.[20]
- On 12 March 2003, a police subedar was killed in a bomb attack in Khulna city.[28]
- On 6 September 2003, Bangladesh Awami League leader killed in bomb attack.[20]
2004
- On 12 January 2004, bombing of Shajalal Shrine kills 12.[20]
- On 13 January 2004, a bomb attack on Fazlur Rahman, joint secretary of Sharsha Upazila unit of the Awami League, in Benapol kills him and injures six.[29]
- On 13 January 2004,, three people were killed in a bomb attack on Shah Jalal Dargah.[30]
- On 13 January 2004, a bomb was thrown on an on duty traffic sergeant which failed to explode in Moilapota intersection, Khulna.[31]
- On 15 January 2004, Manik Chandra Saha, journalist, killed in terror attack.[20]
- On 24 January 2004, a police camp was bombed in Bagerhat injuring three police officers.[28]
- On 20 February 2004, movie house at Rupsha Upazila was bombed injuring 4.[32]
- On 4 March 2004, a Bangladesh Awami League leader was killed in a bomb attack in Bagerhat and one Awami League leader was assassinated in Narayanganj.[33]
- On 4 August 2004, a bomb attack on Rangmahal Cinema and at Monika Cinema in Sylhet killed one and injured ten.[34]
- On 21 August 2004, HuJI militants perpetrated a grenade attack on an Awami League rally in Dhaka, resulting in 24 deaths and over 300 injuries.[35]
- On 24 December 2004, Rajshahi University Professor Mohammad Yunus was killed in an attack by JMB.[36]
2006
- On 19 December 2006, a top leader of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, Abdullah al-Tasnim, would be arrested by the police.[40]
2011
- On 28 July 2011, the court of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in Rajshahi sent the founder of Shahadat-e al Hiqma, Sayed Kawsar Hossain Siddique, to jail.[43]
2014
- On 28 January 2014, a PBCP leader, Islam Sabuj, would be killed in a shootout with the police.[44]
- In April 2014, Abdullah al-Tasnim would be bailed out of jail.[40]
- In July 2014, Jakir Khandakar allegedly reactivated Shahadat-e al Hiqma and shifted headquarters to Bandarban District, Chittagong.[45]
- On 17 September 2014, acting on a tip, Rapid Action Battalion discovered and dismantled a weapons and explosives storage facility located in the Satchhari forest, Chunarughat Upazila, Habiganj. 112 rocket launchers and 14 sacks of explosive material were confiscated during the operation.[46]
- On 18 September 2014, police arrested 7 JMB terrorists, including a top commander Abdullah al-Tasnim, in the Landing Station Port area. The militants intended to utilise 10 kilograms of liquid explosives, in a number of terrorist acts throughout the country, in order to establish cooperation with ISIL.[47]
- On 1 November 2014, a Rapid Action Battalion operation led to the capture of JMB's main coordinator Abdun Nur as well as four other militants. IED components were also seized.[48]
2016
- On 15 March 2016, ISIL claimed responsibility for murdering a Muslim preacher in Bangladesh.[53]
- On 22 March 2016, unidentified attackers hacked a Christian convert to death in northern Bangladesh.[54] A day after, ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack.[55]
- On 7 April 2016, a secular blogger was hacked to death by Islamists who claimed to be part of al-Qaeda.[56][57]
- On 23 April 2016, an university professor, A. F. M. Rezaul Karim Siddique, was hacked to death on his way to work in northern Bangladesh. Without any evidence, ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack.[58][59]
- On 25 April 2016, al-Qaeda terrorists hacked LGBTQ activist, Xulhaz Mannan, and his friend to death in his apartment.[60][61]
- On 30 April 2016, a Hindu tailor was hacked to death in his store. ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack.[62] On the next day, Bangladesh authorities arrested three ISIL suspects for the murder.[63]
- On 21 May 2016, a homeopathic doctor was hacked to death in Bangladesh. ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack.[64]
- On 1 July 2016, militants hacked a Buddhist farmer to death in Bandarban District. Mong Shwe Lung Marma, 55, was also vice president of the Bangladesh Awami League. ISIL fighters claimed responsibility for the murder.[65]
- On 1 July 2016, five attackers opened fire inside the Holey Artisan Bakery located in the Gulshan neighbourhood, which is also part of the diplomatic enclave of Dhaka. Around 22 civilians and 2 police officers were killed. All five attackers were neutralised by the commando units of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, who stormed the building.[66][67]
- On 27 August 2016, three militants, including Abu Dujanah al-Bengali, were killed during a joint forces raid at a house in Narayanganj Sadar Upazila. Monirul Islam, chief of Dhaka Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism unit, confirmed his death in an announcement reported in the Bangladeshi newspaper.[68][69]
2017
- On 14 March 2017, A Muslim Sufi spiritual leader and his daughter were shot and hacked to death by unknown militants in northern Bangladesh.[70]
- On 17 March 2017, 2017 Dhaka RAB camp suicide bombing: A suicide bomber blew himself up inside an under construction camp of the anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion, mildly injuring two security personnel.[71]
- On 24 March 2017, A suicide bomber blew himself up outside the police check-post, which was located on the road leading to the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport causing no injuries to other people. ISIL claimed the attack.[72]
- On 25 March 2017, 2017 South Surma Upazila bombings: A suicide bombing killed four civilians, two police officers and wounded around 40 during a security forces raid on a suspected terrorist hideout in South Surma Upazila, Bangladesh. ISIL claimed responsibility. Four militants were also killed.[73]
- On 12 April 2017, Mufti Abdul Hannan, the chief of Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami Bangladesh, alongside two associates, would be executed at Kashimpur Prison almost 12 years after being arrested.[74]
2019
- On 29 June 2019, acting on a tipoff, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested five members of banned militant outfit Ansar Al Islam (AAI) from Belpukur area in Puthia Upazila of Rajshahi. RAB recovered a pistol, 24 crude bombs, five bullets, two magazines, 10 jihadi books and eight organisational notebooks from them.[78]
- On 26 August 2019, members of the United People's Democratic Front would get into a shootout with a group of patrolling soldiers in Dighinala Upazila, Khagrachhari during noon, 3 members of the United People's Democratic Front would die.[79]
2021
- On 18 January 2021, a Khulna court would sentence five cadres of Purbo Banglar Communist Party-Janajuddho to life imprisonment.[81]
- On July 2021, the United People's Democratic Front's Joan Chakma led a contingent of Buddhist-Chakmas to Suandrapara, a village of the Bawm Christian convert community, where they issued threats and conducted two violent raids leading to them damaging a church.[82]
- On 30 July 2021, four members of the United People's Democratic Front were arrested in Langadu Upazila, Rangamati for extortion.[83]
2022
- On 18 July 2022, Bangladesh Police announced arrests of Nur Mohammad, chairman of ARSA's fatwa committee, and Abu Bakkar, a commander of the group accused of the killings of Rohingyas in October 2021. The two were stated to have been arrested on 7 and 17 July respectively. Armed Police Battalion unit 14 commander Naimul Haque claimed that they had arrested 836 Rohingyas linked to ARSA in the last six months.[84]
2024
- On 18 May 2024, two members of the United People's Democratic Front would be shot dead by presumed rivals of the United People's Democratic Front in Langadu Upazila,[86] the United People's Democratic Front would blame the attack on the PCJSS.
- On 9 June 2024, four members of the Kuki-Chin National Front, identified as Moithang Bom, Jouthan Bom, Thomas Edison Bom and Lal Ronih Sang Bom, were arrested in Jurvarang, Paindu Union, Ruma Upazila, Bandarban District.[87]
Hussain, Ahmede (12 March 2004). "Everything Falls Apart". Star Magazine. The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 12 October 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2016.