Supervised by Submitted By
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
M.Phil Thesis on Religious Extremism and Terrorist Activities in Bangladesh: An Analysis Supervised by Dr. Nelofar Parvin Professor Department of Political Science University of Dhaka Submitted by Md. Farhad Nasim Tutul Department of Political Science Session: 2008-2009 Roll No. 210 Dhaka University Institutional Repository Acknowledgements I have always tried to relate connection between Religious Extremism and Terrorism. For this purpose i studied various books, journals, reports, newspaper and articles in connection of religious extremism. To collect the data for the study, I visited my field in varies areas of Bangladesh. Interview a number of people for this purpose. I must acknowledge with high appreciation the key informant and experts from different organizations for their time given for the interview despite their busy schedule. I am indebted to Professor Dr. Nelofar Parvin, Department of Political Science, supervisor of this thesis for the inspiration, insight and encouragement that he has provided to me to study a contemporary pressing issue in Bangladesh – the religious extremism and terrorism. I have also received insightful feedbacks, constructive suggestions and encouraging comments from my thesis supervisor. With proper guidance and supervision from Professor Dr. Nelofar Parvin, I have completed my work. Thanks are not enough to express my gratitude to him. I am grateful to Professor Sayfullah Bhuiyan for this generous support. I am also thankful to Mr. Sheikh Md. Jamal, Assistant Registrar, University of Dhaka, and Mr. Md. Abdul Mannan, Administrative Officer, Department of Political Science, University of Dhaka for their kind assistance. Finally, I acknowledge the contributions of my parents Alhaj Md. Nabir Uddin Pk and Mossamad Nazma Khatun, my wife Rabeya Binta Rafi and father in law Mr. S.M.Rafiqul Islam who have always provided me with much needed inspiration, mental support and understanding to complete my study successfully. i Dhaka University Institutional Repository Abstract The main purpose of this study is to document and highlight the connection between religious extremism and terrorism in Bangladesh. It examined the nature of various Islamist militant groups and the extent of their terrorist activities in Bangladesh. This study also investigated the underlying causes of militancy, the funding sources of militant groups, and the strategies and techniques used by terrorist groups. The study mainly used content analysis of secondary sources, interviews from expert and general people in convict area in old four Division Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna and Rajshahi. The study revealed that Islamist extremism and militant activities rose from 1999 to 2014. However, homegrown and internationally linked Islamist terrorist outfits and groups have continued to emerge in Bangladesh since 1992. The study revealed that JMB, JMJB, HUJI-B and HT are the major terrorist groups which generated thousands of members, and who have continued their activities under different names in different times. Most of the leaders and founders of these militant groups were educated in madrasha (Islamic seminary institution). These Islamist militant groups have symbiotic relationships among themselves and with foreign outfits based in Pakistan, India and Gulf countries. The study identified a number of funding sources, mostly from local areas generated through collecting zakat/sadka/fitra (donation on different religious occasions). External funding came through Islamic charitable NGOs from Gulf countries, USA, UK and other countries and through hundi (illegal money exchange) from individuals living abroad. The Islamist Militancy and terrorism has vandalized the lives of the people and endangered law and order, and national, regional and international security, and handicapped economic development. Therefore, we must eliminate the root causes of militancy and terrorism in Bangladesh. In addressing these risk factors, a comprehensive and integrated terrorism prevention strategy needs to be imparted, which is essential for a sustainable democracy and socio-economic wellbeing in Bangladesh. Therefore, political parties and civil society should work together to combat terrorism. ii Dhaka University Institutional Repository TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................................i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................ii TABLE OF CONTENTS....................................................................................................................iii LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................................ vi LIST OF APPENDICES ....................................................................................................................vii LIST OF ACRONYMS....................................................................................................................viii CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY. 1.1.Introduction.. .................................................................................................................................1 1.2. Background..................................................................................................................................01 1.3. Justification ................................................................................................................................03 1.4. Objective of the Study.. ..............................................................................................................04 1.5 Methodology.................................................................................................................................05 1.6 Literature Review ........................................................................................................................09 1.7 Structure of the dissertation ….................................................................................................... 23 1.8 Scope and Limitation ...................................................................................................................23 CHAPTER II: CONNECTION BETWEEN TERRORISM AND RELIGIOUS EXTRIMISM.. 2.1 Introduction...................................................................................................................................24 2.2. Terrorism.....................................................................................................................................25 2.3 Religious Extremism...................................................................................................................27 2.4. Relationship Between Religious Extremism and Terrorism .....................................................30 2.5.Religious Extremism around World Wide..................................................................................33 iii Dhaka University Institutional Repository 2.6 Conclusion....................................................................................................................................45 CHAPTER III: RELIGIOUS EXTRIMISM AND TERRORIST ACTIVITIES IN BANGLADESH 3.1 Introduction..................................................................................................................................47 3.2. Background..................................................................................................................................49 3.3. Number of Terrorist Groups .......................................................................................................69 3.4. Nature of Terrorist Activities .....................................................................................................73 3.5. Ideologies and Strength of Islamic Terrorists Groups ................................................................79 3.6 Militant Networks, Tactics, and Strategies ..................................................................................86 3.7 Terrorist Financing........................................................................................................................91 3.8 Factors and Causes of Islamist Militancy and Terrorism ............................................................96 3.9. Laws, statues and conventions related to terrorism ...................................................................99 3.10. Law enforcement measures against religious militancy and terrorism....................................101 3.11. Measures against militancy and terrorism ..............................................................................107 3.12 Conclusion................................................................................................................................110 CHAPTER IV: CASE STUDIES 4.1. Harkat -ul-Jihad-al Islami Bangladesh.......................................................................................113 4.2. Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh(JMB)..................................................................................122 4.3 Islami Chhatra Shibir(ICS) ........................................................................................................134 4.4 Madrashah Education in Bangladesh.........................................................................................140 4.5. Shaikh Abdur Rahman ..............................................................................................................152