Turkish Funding for Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami Poses Threat to India: Intel Sources
Intelligence sources further claim that Turkey, Pakistan's ISI, and Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami have formed a strategic alliance aimed at destabilising India
Turkish intelligence agencies are allegedly providing financial and logistical support to Islamist groups in Bangladesh, particularly the radical outfit Jamaat-e-Islami, raising serious concerns about India's national security, according to intelligence sources.
The sources claim that Turkey's support goes beyond ideological sympathy and now includes direct financial backing. A key example cited is the renovation of Jamaat's office in Dhaka's Moghbazar, which is believed to have been funded by Turkish intelligence-linked entities. The move suggests a structured effort to strengthen the group's organisational and infrastructural base.
Visits To Arms Facilities Raise Red Flags
In what is being seen as a worrying development, Turkish authorities are said to have facilitated visits by Bangladeshi Islamist leaders and student activists, including Sadiq Qayam, to Turkish arms manufacturing units. Intelligence inputs suggest that these visits may be aimed at enabling access to military know-how and possibly weapon supplies.
Ankara's Pan-Islamist Agenda
Under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey has reportedly expanded its influence among Islamist factions in South Asia. Turkish institutions are known to host religious seminars and workshops targeting South Asian Muslims, allegedly as part of Ankara's larger pan-Islamist outreach.
India's security agencies believe this ideological grooming could serve to radicalise vulnerable populations and align them with Turkish geopolitical ambitions, sources said.
Further raising eyebrows was the official visit by Mohammad Ashiq Chowdhury, Chief of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), to Turkish defence manufacturer MKE. The visit, reportedly conducted without the presence of senior Bangladeshi military or defence officials, has sparked concerns over covert defence arrangements under civilian pretexts.
In addition, intelligence reports claim that Bangladesh's national security and information advisers have been attending closed-door military briefings in Turkey. There is also suspicion that Turkish assistance may be directed towards arming the Arakan Army, an insurgent group operating in Myanmar near India's eastern border.
🇧🇩🇹🇷 BIDA Chairman Ashik Chowdhury visits Turkey's MKE to explore military cooperation & tech transfer in defence. Turkey emerges as a key supplier of military equipment for Bangladesh. pic.twitter.com/4KbOEAposX — Jahidul Islam Sajib (@jisajib1) May 31, 2025
Cross-Border Threats and Terror Financing
Jamaat-e-Islami and its affiliates are known to rely on diverse funding channels—including remittances, donations, and covert foreign intelligence support—to finance their activities. With Turkish backing, the group may now be better positioned to expand its operations and recruitment efforts in both Bangladesh and India.
Security officials warn that the strengthened nexus between Jamaat and Turkey could fuel cross-border terrorism, especially in India's Northeast. Turkey has previously been accused of backing radical elements in India, particularly in regions like Kerala and Jammu & Kashmir.
Strategic Alliance With Pakistan's ISI
The intelligence sources further claim that Turkey, Pakistan's ISI, and Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami have formed a strategic alliance aimed at destabilising India. This trilateral network reportedly facilitates the movement of funds, weapons, and extremist ideology across South Asia, using Bangladesh as a staging ground for anti-India activities.
The growing strength of this alliance, security analysts warn, poses a serious challenge to regional stability and India's internal security architecture.
What Is Jamaat-e-Islami?
Jamaat-e-Islami, the largest Islamist political party in Bangladesh, had sided with Pakistan during the 1971 Liberation War, opposing Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Awami League, which spearheaded the country's independence movement.
Under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Mujibur Rahman's daughter, the party was banned and several of its top leaders faced a crackdown. However, after the end of her tenure, the Supreme Court overturned the cancellation of Jamaat-e-Islami's registration, clearing the way for its formal re-entry into politics through the Election Commission.
Location :
New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
June 09, 2025, 17:33 IST
News world Turkish Funding for Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami Poses Threat to India: Intel Sources
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Khandu voices concern over ‘money culture' in elections
Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu expressed concern over the growing menace of 'money culture' in elections. Participating in a discussion during the special session of the golden jubilee celebration of the AP Legislative Assembly at Itanagar on Monday, Khandu said, "Money culture is threatening the democratic setup of the state. " He appealed to legislators and people to collectively fight the menace. Highlighting the assembly's journey from 1975, he said the 50 years of the assembly is not just a milestone but a testimony to the strength of our democracy. On the occasion, Khandu also highlighted the adoption of the e-Vidhan system in the assembly, making Arunachal the first state in the North East to go paperless. Earlier, deputy CM Chowna Mein urged members to take a pledge to work towards making the state developed by 2047. "The state govt under CM Pema Khandu is committed to tapping the immense potential of the state to make it developed by 2047," he said. Mein also highlighted various reforms introduced by the state govt. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona, Yachuli MLA Toko Tatung, Mebo MLA Oken Tayeng, Longding-Pumao MLA Thangwang Wangham, Bameng MLA Kumar Waii, and Borduria-Bogapani MLA Wanglin Lowangdong also spoke. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Earn Upto 5k Daily By This Method of Intraday Trading TradeWise Learn More Undo Arunachal's first chief minister PK Thungon, former CM Nabam Tuki, former ministers, and MLAs attended the special session. Earlier, Governor KT Parnaik on Monday unveiled the Commemorative Pillar of the golden jubilee celebration of the AP Legislative Assembly in Itanagar. The governor also visited the photo exhibition displaying the photographic records of the Assembly's rich history. As a mark of unity, Parnaik, along with CM Pema Khandu and his cabinet, poured waters and placed stones taken from different rivers of the state, namely Kameng, Subansiri, Siang, Lohit, and Tirap, in the Unity Aquarium in the assembly complex. On the occasion, the governor felicitated former CMs, speakers, and deputy speakers. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
India.com
3 hours ago
- India.com
Sitakund Chandranath Dham to Maheshkhali temple: Pakistan's ISI and anti-India Yunus are targeting Hindu temples of Bangladesh due to...
Muhammad Yunus- File image Dhaka: After the Muhammad Yunus led government came into power in Bangladesh, the situation of minorities has deteriorated and in the recent case, it has been reported that the anti-India government of Bangladesh under the leadership of Muhammad Yunus is targeting famous Hindu temples of Bangladesh. As per media reports, Pakistan's ISI is gaining a free hand to expand its operations and in the recent plan, the targets are the Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Bangladesh. Why is Pakistan's ISI fueling religious fundamentalism in Bangladesh? According to a report by Bangladeshi journalist Salahuddin Shoaib Chowdhury, Pakistan's ISI is fueling religious fundamentalism in Bangladesh, targeting Hindu temples through Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives, and using Bangladesh as a testing ground for extremist activities. Which Hindu temples are ISI attacking in Bangladesh? As per the local report, Hindu temples in Bangladesh are being continuously targeted in recent times. In a matter of concern for the Hindus of Bangladesh, extremist organizations linked to Pakistan and terrorist groups are attempting attacks and occupations of temples. The recent report mentions that Hindu temples, specifically the Medhas Muni Ashram in Chittagong, the Golden Temple in Bandarban district and the Adinath Temple in Maheshkhali in Cox's Bazar. Why India should be worried about Bangladesh? All these ancient religious sites are connected not only to Hindus but also to the faith of the entire South Asia. The purpose of attacks on temples is to intimidate Hindus and insult their religious traditions, which is increasing tension in society. Thus, it can be said that Bangladesh is becoming a launchpad for radical Islamic and terrorist forces under the role of Yunus government in Bangladesh and this is the reason why India should be worried.
Hans India
3 hours ago
- Hans India
Pakistan: Radical Islamists set ablaze two Ahmadiyya places of worship
A leading minority group on Monday condemned the violence against religious minorities in Pakistan, highlighting the recent torching of two Ahmadiyya places of worship by a mob led by leaders of the radical Islamist party Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). The Voice of Pakistan Minority (VOPM) mentioned that on the occasion of Pakistan's 78th Independence Day, extremists turned the country's streets into battlegrounds of hate. In Faisalabad district of Punjab province, two Ahmadiyya places of worship were set ablaze by the mob serving as an ugly reminder that in Pakistan, religious freedom remains an illusion. Citing police reports, the rights body revealed that more than 300 attackers, armed with rods and bricks, descended on Ahmadiyya worshippers under the cover of Independence Day processions in the Dijkot area. The VOPM highlighted that their main target was the two mosques built decades before Pakistan criminalized Ahmadiyya worship in 1984. They tore down minarets, delivered fiery hate speeches, and torched the buildings while hurling stones at nearby Ahmadiyya homes. The rights body stressed that the violent incident left families, including women and children terrorised, while several sustained injuries. According to the VOPM, the mob was reportedly led by TLP ticket-holder Hafiz Rafaqat, exposing once again how mainstream extremist groups openly incite violence under political and religious banners. It stated that TLP, notorious for its violent street power, enjoys immunity in Pakistan's political and judicial system while minorities pay the price. 'This was no spontaneous riot — it was organised terrorism, with cases now registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 and multiple sections of the Pakistan Penal Code. Yet, history shows such cases rarely lead to real accountability. Arrests are made, but justice seldom follows, as extremist groups continue to act as untouchable power brokers,' read a statement issued by VOPM. The rights body emphasised that the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) had, a day before the violent incident, warned about rising hate speech from clerics against non-Muslims. However, it said the warning was ignored and the Pakistani police response was reactionary, not preventive. Although 25 arrests were made, the VOPM noted that the police officials refused to confirm whether those detained included the nominated suspects. 'The silence of Faisalabad's police chief further reflects the institutional reluctance to confront extremism head-on,' said the rights body. Raising concern, the VOPM stressed that this is not an isolated incident but is part of a systemic, decades-long campaign against Ahmadiyyas and other minorities in Pakistan. 'From discriminatory laws to mob violence, the Pakistani state has allowed extremist ideologies to flourish unchecked. Every time the state bends to clerical power, it emboldens groups like TLP to dictate who belongs in the 'Islamic Republic' and who does not,' the VOPM stated. If Pakistan wants to have any credibility as a modern nation, the rights body demanded, then the authorities must crush extremist groups like TLP rather than appeasing them. Additionally, the VOPM called on to enforce Supreme Court rulings against hate speech and mob violence and also protect minorities as equal citizens, not "sacrificial pawns in a theocratic power game".
