36 Bangladeshis involved in allegedly setting up ISIL-inspired terror module nabbed in Malaysia
The statement added, 'Another 15 individuals have been issued deportation orders while 16 individuals are being further investigated regarding their involvement in this militant movement.'
'The planned security operation which began on 24 April 2025 was carried out in three phases of arrests around Selangor and Johor. In the operation, five of them were identified as being involved under Chapter VIA of the Penal Code (offences relating to terrorism) and have already been charged in the Shah Alam and Johor Bahru Section Courts,' Malaysia's Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said in a statement.
New Delhi: Malaysian authorities Friday announced the arrests of 36 Bangladeshi citizens this week after they were 'identified' as being involved in a 'radical militant movement' based on extremist beliefs and 'terrorist ideology'.
The group of individuals brought to Malaysia 'extremist' beliefs centred on the teachings of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and created recruitment cells within the community for the purposes of 'indoctrinating radical ideas, raising funds for terrorist activities and to overthrow the legitimate government in their home country'.
'I would like to emphasise that Malaysia will not be a haven, let alone a subversive elemental battlefield for any foreign extremist movement,' Ismail declared in his statement. The Malaysian home minister added the country will 'not tolerate' any elements that threaten national security.
Since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government last August in Bangladesh, the South Asian nation has seen an upsurge in extremist movements. Earlier this year, banned extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT) took out a rally called March for Khilafat in Dhaka, calling for the establishment of an Islamic caliphate. The rally witnessed violence.
The group was banned by the Hasina government in 2009. In October 2024, reports emerged from Bangladesh of elite Catholic missionary schools in Dhaka carrying out processions in favour of the establishment of a caliphate in the country.
The growth of extremist ideology in Bangladesh has worried India, with the Ministry of External Affairs consistently calling on the interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus to 'protect Hindus, their properties and religious institutions'.
The latest India statement on the matter came Thursday after reports emerged of the destruction of a Durga temple in Dhaka. There have been other incidents since the fall of Hasina government that have impacted the minorities in Bangladesh.
Also Read: Jaishankar says attacks on minorities in Bangladesh 'impact' Indian thinking, urges clarity in ties
'Firm and swift action'
In the statement on the arrest of 36 Bangladeshis Friday, Ismail also said, 'I reiterate my assurance that the Ministry of Home Affairs will continue to strengthen intelligence capabilities and enforcement, as well as collaborate with domestic and foreign security agencies to ensure that Malaysia remains peaceful, stable and free from the threat of terrorism.'
The Malaysian home minister added, 'Any attempt to turn Malaysia into a base of militant operations or transit centre for extremist movements will be dealt with firm, swift and effective action.'
At the same time as concerns heighten over the growth of extremist elements in Bangladesh, the interim government has sought to positively reset ties with Pakistan. Most recently, a trilateral meeting between officials from Dhaka, Islamabad and Beijing was held in the Chinese city of Kunming.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
Also Read: Hindu leader's killing in Bangladesh prompts stinging rebuke from India on 'systemic persecution'
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
Bangladesh-Adani dues: Bangladesh pays $384 million to Adani Power, trims outstanding to $500 million
Bangladesh has paid $384 million to Adani Power this month, significantly reducing its outstanding dues under a 2017 power supply agreement with the Indian company, according to sources. As of June 27, Bangladesh has paid $384 million of the committed $437 million scheduled for the month. Sources said this amount clears the country's "admitted" dues till March 31, though "claimed" dues by Adani remain about $500 million—provided Bangladesh completes its June-end payment commitment, PTI reported. The payments come amid Dhaka's ongoing struggle to meet obligations under the 25-year power supply pact signed during the tenure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The agreement had come under strain after rising import bills—exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine war—and a severe dollar crunch triggered by months of political turmoil that led to Hasina's ouster in August 2024. In response to mounting unpaid bills, Adani Power halved electricity supply to Bangladesh in November 2024. Full supply from its 1,600 MW Godda plant in Jharkhand resumed in March 2025 after Bangladesh resumed monthly payments. With the latest tranche, Bangladesh has paid nearly $1.5 billion of the total $2 billion billed so far. Adani has reportedly agreed to waive late payment surcharges for January to June 2025, amounting to $20 million, contingent on timely future payments. However, differences remain between Adani's 'claimed' and Bangladesh's 'admitted' dues—primarily due to disagreements over coal costs and plant capacity calculations. A spokesperson for Adani Power confirmed the June payments but declined to comment on outstanding disputes, calling the discussions private. The 2017 deal has faced renewed scrutiny under Bangladesh's interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. The administration has initiated a review of several power purchase agreements, including Adani's, through a committee comprising energy and legal experts. Adani's contract involves supplying the entire output from its coal-based Godda plant to Bangladesh. Following payment defaults, Adani had reduced supply by half in late 2024 but resumed full exports after partial liability clearance, the report said. Bangladesh's financial crunch, driven by reduced forex reserves and growing import bills for energy, had resulted in widespread power outages last year. The country has since been repaying monthly dues and recently sought an additional $3 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), atop an earlier $4.7 billion bailout package. Adani Power is among several Indian firms selling electricity to Bangladesh. Others include state-run NTPC and PTC India Ltd. The interim government has labelled several Hasina-era power deals 'opaque' and is in the process of evaluating their long-term financial and legal implications. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
CCTV cameras installed at South Calcutta Law College after student's gangrape
Police in Mumbai and Pune have arrested seven Bangladeshi nationals, including six women, for illegal residency. The arrests stemmed from information provided by Bayajid Khan, who had facilitated their accommodation and employment. The women worked in beauty parlours and as maids, while the group used a banned app for communication. They are now in judicial custody, amid ongoing investigations into human trafficking.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 hours ago
- Business Standard
18 illegal Bangladeshi nationals held in Delhi, five posed as transgenders
The police found a banned messaging app installed in seven mobile phones of the accused, using which they communicated with their families in Bangladesh Press Trust of India New Delhi Eighteen Bangladeshi nationals staying illegally in Delhi have been apprehended. Five of those detained had been living in the national capital disguised as transgenders, police said on Saturday. The police found a banned messaging app installed in seven mobile phones of the accused, using which they communicated with their families in Bangladesh, they said. During the first operation, police cordoned off nearly 100 jhuggis and 150 lanes in the locality and conducted verification drives, a senior police officer said. One person, initially evasive during questioning, later confessed to being a Bangladeshi national, the officer said. Following further inquiry, his family members were also traced. A total of 13 Bangladeshi nationals -- 10 adults and three children -- were found residing without valid travel documents or permits, violating provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946, the police said. In the second operation, the team apprehended five individuals, who had disguised themselves as transgender persons to evade detection, they said. "These people had adopted the attire, used wigs, makeup, and even undergone minor surgeries and hormonal treatment to alter their appearance and voice to blend into densely populated areas," the officer added. During interrogation, they admitted to using this disguise to avoid being flagged by enforcement agencies during routine verification drives, he said. All 18 people were shifted to the Foreigners Cell for detailed questioning and documentation. Seven mobile phones installed with the banned IMO app were recovered from their possession, police said. The arrested people include residents of various districts in Bangladesh, including Dhaka, Khulna, Gazipur, and Ashrafabad.
