Radical frontlines

Former HuT members claim that the group envisions Bangladesh's military joining with Pakistan as a united force capable of countering regional powers like India

- SHANTANU MUKHARJI

In a recent finding, the Hudson Institute has released a report revealing how the Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT) is intensifying its activities in South Asia, with Bangladesh emerging as its primary focus. Known for advocating the establishment of an Islamic Caliphate, HuT has targeted Bangladesh as a strategic location for expanding its footprint in the Indian subcontinent.

The Hudson Institute further assesses that HuT's South Asian operations are driven by an organized, long-term strategy aimed at recruiting local and diaspora communities, with a particular focus on Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India. The current HuT branch leader in Bangladesh, Ziauzzaman Hoque, a British-Bangladeshi, has publicly acknowledged his role within HuT. Hoque's appointment follows a history of HuT's attempts to build local influence in Bangladesh dating back to the 1990s when UK HuT members began establishing the organization's network.

According to the referenced report, Pakistan has served as HuT's operational centrepiece since its launch there in 2000, despite a government ban. UK-based members are alleged to have been involved in setting up HuT in Pakistan, which they viewed as a strategic location, possibly due to its nuclear capabilities. HuT leaders even hope to enlist Pakistan's military in advancing their vision for an Islamic state. Despite several legal and public pushbacks, HuT has maintained a presence in Pakistan through public agitations, rallies, and covert recruitment efforts.