The UN Security Council has warned of al-Qaeda's efforts to establish a terrorist cell in Bangladesh, a development that analysts say must serve as an urgent signal for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. According to a report in the Times of Bangladesh, the current resurgence of violent extremism gained momentum during the preceding Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, which critics say failed to confront the growing threat decisively.

How the Post-Hasina Vacuum Enabled Extremism

The collapse of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government in August 2024 triggered not just a political transition but also opened space for resurgent extremist forces, according to the report. Banned outfits began holding rallies, processions, and public meetings without obstruction. Hizb ut-Tahrir, despite its proscribed status, reportedly staged open processions in Dhaka and publicly called for a caliphate.

The report noted that radical groups — both old and newly formed — grew increasingly visible at seminars, religious gatherings, educational institutions, and madrasas. Online campaigns also expanded, with efforts reportedly under way to unite disparate groups under a common platform aimed at establishing Islamic rule in Bangladesh along the lines of Afghanistan's Taliban model.

Key Incidents That Raised the Alarm

A series of troubling security incidents punctuated the Yunus interim period. In December 2025, a powerful explosion at a madrasa in the Keraniganj area of Dhaka caused extensive structural damage and injured four people. Investigators attributed the blast to extremist elements and identified two individuals with prior arrests linked to alleged militant activities. A woman detained at the site had also previously been jailed over suspected militant links, according to the report.

Following the Keraniganj blast, a mobile phone recovered at the scene led a joint forces team to the residence of the personal driver of banned Neo-JMB leader Hafiz Khalid Ibrahim in Jashore on 1 February of this year. The raid yielded ten powerful grenades, three foreign-made pistols, 19 rounds of ammunition, and other weapons, the report stated.

TTP Links and Broader Militant Networks

In April this year, 20 people — including members of the Bangladesh Air Force — were detained for their alleged links to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The development was described as a major shock, underscoring what the report called a 'disturbing reality' about the depth of militant penetration.

Further suspected militant incidents followed, including bomb blasts and the discovery of pipe and pressure cooker bombs across Dhaka, Cumilla, Ashulia, and Savar in recent months. Investigators reportedly believe several extremist networks may be connected to these incidents.

Interim Government's Response Under Scrutiny

The report argued that these developments demanded an immediate and comprehensive security response. Instead, it stated, the Yunus-led interim government appeared reluctant to confront the growing extremist threat — seemingly wary of alienating Islamist groups that had long claimed persecution under the Awami League regime.

With the BNP now in government, analysts and the report both argue that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman must adopt a policy of zero tolerance towards violent extremism. The UN Security Council's warning adds international weight to what has been, until recently, a largely domestic debate about Bangladesh's security trajectory.