Al-Qaeda, IS leaders' books sold openly at Bangladesh govt book fair
Synopsis
At a government-run book fair in Dhaka, reporters found books authored by Al-Qaeda and IS leaders — texts explicitly endorsing civilian killings and state sabotage — being sold openly, with no legal bar stopping their circulation. The same titles are available across 10 major online retailers and are reportedly being promoted through social media ads.
Key Takeaways
Books by Al-Qaeda and Islamic State leaders are openly sold at the Islamic Foundation 's government-backed book fair in Dhaka , which began on 12 September .
At least 10 publishers are offering the titles at the fair, held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque .
Authors represented include Abdullah Yusuf Azzam , Osama bin Laden , and leaders of Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent and Ansar al-Islam .
The books are also available through at least 10 online retailers , including Rokomari and Baatighar , and are reportedly advertised on social media.
The same publications are banned in Saudi Arabia , the UAE , and several other countries.
BNP 's scholars' wing has condemned the dissemination of such material, calling it 'unacceptable.'
Books authored by leaders of terrorist organisations Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) — publications that explicitly advocate killing civilians and destabilising governments — are being sold openly at a government-backed book fair in Dhaka, as well as through major online retailers and local shops, according to a report by Bangladeshi news website Dhaka Stream.
What Was Found at the Islamic Foundation Fair
Reporters from Dhaka Stream found the books on display at the Islamic Foundation's month-long book fair, which commenced on 12 September at the eastern premises of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka. The Islamic Foundation is a body run by the Bangladeshi government. Among the titles discovered were works attributed to Al-Qaeda ideologues Abdullah Yusuf Azzam and Osama bin Laden, as well as publications by leaders of Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent, Ansar al-Islam, and the self-styled Islamic State. At least 10 publishers are reportedly offering these books from stalls at the event.
Content of the Books
According to the Dhaka Stream report, the publications contain material that goes beyond religious discourse. One book reportedly instructs readers on sabotage techniques — targeting judges, police stations, highways, and oil pipelines — with the stated aim of disrupting government services and fomenting public anger. Another reportedly justifies the killing of civilians to achieve a strategic objective, urges readers to inflict maximum damage on countries and destabilise governments, and then 'appear to the people as rescuers.' A third book, according to the report, frames mass slaughter as a means to provoke international conflict.
Widely Available Online and in Physical Stores
The same publications are also reportedly available at stationery shops in Banglabazar and through at least 10 online retailers, including Rokomari, Baatighar, Wafilife, Kitabghar, Ruhamashop, Halalponno, Nafiun, Khidmashop, Mamunbooks, and Boitoi. Several of these platforms are also reportedly running paid advertisements for the titles on social media.
What Authorities and Political Bodies Said
Nazrul Islam Talukdar, former member secretary and current executive committee member of the Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Ulama Dal — the Islamic scholars' body affiliated with the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) — condemned the circulation of such material. He told Dhaka Stream: 'If such books are being sold, it is unacceptable. A state requires stability. These books can negatively impact society, the state, and the nation. This cannot be supported in any way.' Notably, the same report indicated that the BNP's own clerical wing does not endorse the dissemination of such views in any form.
Banned Elsewhere, Unchecked in Bangladesh
The report noted that such publications are prohibited in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and numerous other countries. In Bangladesh, however, their sale and promotion reportedly face no legal or regulatory obstruction. This comes amid broader international concern over the re-emergence of extremist literature in digital and physical retail spaces across South Asia. The government-run Islamic Foundation has not yet issued a public response to the findings, according to available reports.
Point of View
By government-linked publishers, with apparent impunity. That the BNP's own clerical wing has condemned the circulation while the Islamic Foundation itself remains silent suggests a governance gap that runs deeper than administrative oversight. Countries in the Gulf that are far less open on civil liberties have banned these exact titles — Bangladesh's failure to act is a policy choice, not an accident. With online platforms actively advertising these publications, the regulatory vacuum is no longer just physical; it has migrated to the digital marketplace.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of books are being sold at the Bangladesh Islamic Foundation book fair?
Books authored by Al-Qaeda ideologues Abdullah Yusuf Azzam and Osama bin Laden, as well as leaders of Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent, Ansar al-Islam, and the Islamic State, are reportedly on sale. The publications reportedly advocate civilian killings, state sabotage, and mass violence in the name of religion.
Where exactly are these books being sold in Bangladesh?
The books are being sold at the Islamic Foundation's month-long fair at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka, at stationery shops in Banglabazar, and through at least 10 online retailers including Rokomari, Baatighar, and Wafilife, according to the Dhaka Stream report.
Are these books banned in other countries?
Yes — the same publications are reportedly banned in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and several other countries. Bangladesh currently has no such prohibition in place, and their sale and promotion face no apparent legal obstruction.
What has the Bangladesh government said about this?
The government-run Islamic Foundation, which organised the book fair, has not issued a public response to the findings as of available reports. However, Nazrul Islam Talukdar of the BNP's Islamic scholars' body described the sale of such books as 'unacceptable' and said they could 'negatively impact society, the state, and the nation.'
How were these books discovered at the fair?
Reporters from Bangladeshi news website Dhaka Stream visited the Islamic Foundation's book fair and physically found the titles at stalls run by at least 10 publishers. The same report also identified the books on major online retail platforms and noted that some retailers were promoting them through social media advertisements.
