Security Nightmare: How Bangladesh Became Terror's New Safe Haven

Paul Riverbank, 7/24/2025Bangladesh's weakening security allows terrorists to thrive, threatening regional stability in South Asia.

Bangladesh's Troubling Drift: A Security Nightmare in the Making

The warning signs were there, but few expected Bangladesh's counter-terrorism apparatus to unravel so quickly. Having spent the past week speaking with security officials and regional experts, I'm deeply troubled by what I'm seeing unfold in this crucial South Asian nation.

Let me paint you a picture that should worry anyone concerned about regional stability. Remember the horrific Holey Artisan Bakery attack of 2016? Seven militants who orchestrated that bloodbath - which left 20 innocent people dead - just had their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment. This isn't just another court ruling; it's a symptom of something far more disturbing.

I've been covering Bangladesh for over two decades, and this shift feels different. Since Sheikh Hasina's government fell in August 2025, we've witnessed what one might call a slow-motion disaster. Security analyst Elaine Pearson told me something that kept me up at night: militants are walking free at an unprecedented rate. We're talking about 144 members of groups like Ansarullah Bangla Team and Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh - organizations that once struck terror into the hearts of locals.

But here's what really gets me: ABT Chief Mufti Jashimuddin Rahmani is now out on bail, rubbing shoulders with Hefazat-e-Islam leaders and Pakistani clerics. If you know anything about Bangladesh's history with religious extremism, this should set off every alarm bell you've got.

The ripple effects are already crossing borders. Just last December, Indian authorities nabbed eight people, including a Bangladeshi national with ABT connections. A senior security official (who's been my source for years) put it bluntly: "The current instability has given these radical groups a new lease on life."

What keeps security experts up at night is the Rohingya situation. These refugee camps have become perfect recruiting grounds for militant groups. Think about it - vulnerable people, displaced and desperate, being targeted by extremists operating through local madrassas and mosques. It's a powder keg waiting to explode.

The Rapid Action Battalion, once Bangladesh's front-line defense against terrorism, has essentially gone quiet since August 2024. Intelligence networks built over years are crumbling. Meanwhile, the interim government under Muhammed Yunus seems more interested in giving the Army magisterial powers than addressing the ideological threat growing under their noses.

I hate to sound alarmist, but after three decades covering South Asian politics, I've learned to recognize the warning signs. Bangladesh isn't just facing a security challenge - it's staring down the barrel of a regional crisis. And if history's taught us anything, it's that these situations rarely improve on their own.

The question isn't whether this will impact regional stability, but when. And from where I'm sitting, that "when" might be sooner than anyone's prepared for.

Bangladesh's Troubling Drift: A Security Nightmare in the MakingThe warning signs were there, but few expected Bangladesh's counter-terrorism apparatus to unravel so quickly. Having spent the past week speaking with security officials and regional experts, I'm deeply troubled by what I'm seeing unfold in this crucial South Asian nation.Let me paint you a picture that should worry anyone concerned about regional stability. Remember the horrific Holey Artisan Bakery attack of 2016? Seven militants who orchestrated that bloodbath - which left 20 innocent people dead - just had their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment. This isn't just another court ruling; it's a symptom of something far more disturbing.I've been covering Bangladesh for over two decades, and this shift feels different. Since Sheikh Hasina's government fell in August 2025, we've witnessed what one might call a slow-motion disaster. Security analyst Elaine Pearson told me something that kept me up at night: militants are walking free at an unprecedented rate. We're talking about 144 members of groups like Ansarullah Bangla Team and Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh - organizations that once struck terror into the hearts of locals.But here's what really gets me: ABT Chief Mufti Jashimuddin Rahmani is now out on bail, rubbing shoulders with Hefazat-e-Islam leaders and Pakistani clerics. If you know anything about Bangladesh's history with religious extremism, this should set off every alarm bell you've got.The ripple effects are already crossing borders. Just last December, Indian authorities nabbed eight people, including a Bangladeshi national with ABT connections. A senior security official (who's been my source for years) put it bluntly: "The current instability has given these radical groups a new lease on life."What keeps security experts up at night is the Rohingya situation. These refugee camps have become perfect recruiting grounds for militant groups. Think about it - vulnerable people, displaced and desperate, being targeted by extremists operating through local madrassas and mosques. It's a powder keg waiting to explode.The Rapid Action Battalion, once Bangladesh's front-line defense against terrorism, has essentially gone quiet since August 2024. Intelligence networks built over years are crumbling. Meanwhile, the interim government under Muhammed Yunus seems more interested in giving the Army magisterial powers than addressing the ideological threat growing under their noses.I hate to sound alarmist, but after three decades covering South Asian politics, I've learned to recognize the warning signs. Bangladesh isn't just facing a security challenge - it's staring down the barrel of a regional crisis. And if history's taught us anything, it's that these situations rarely improve on their own.The question isn't whether this will impact regional stability, but when. And from where I'm sitting, that "when" might be sooner than anyone's prepared for.