Officials Dismiss Islamic State Claims of Fighters in Bangladesh
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The latest claim by the Islamic State (IS) that it has launched a new front in Bangladesh and its local fighters are gearing up to launch attacks on India and Myanmar has been dismissed by the government in Dhaka, which says the militant group has no presence in the South Asian nation.
In an interview published in the latest issue of the Islamic State magazine Dabiq, Shaykh Abu Ibrahim al-Hanif, who was introduced as the head of the organization’s Bangladesh wing, said efforts to recruit “soldiers of the Khilafah (Caliphate)” in Bangladesh has gained “great momentum” with many Muslims joining its ranks. [/su_column] [/su_row] “Bengal (Bangladesh) is an important region for the Khilafah and the global jihad due to its strategic geographic position… a strong jihad base in Bengal will facilitate performing guerrilla attacks inside India… Also, jihad in Bengal is a stepping-stone for jihad in Burma,” Hanif said in the interview.
Hanif added that IS has succeeded in building a base by attracting Muslims following the organization’s campaign in Bengali language in the social media. Continue Reading …