New Delhi, Oct 22 (NationPress) - A senior adviser to the Muhammad Yunus government in Bangladesh has revealed that the initial phase of establishing the Islamic Revolutionary Army (IRA) is in progress. On October 20, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, an adviser to the interim government, announced via social media that 8,850 individuals are currently being recruited and trained at various locations.

These recruits will receive training in martial arts, firearms proficiency, taekwondo, and judo. This information aligns with the warnings that Indian intelligence agencies have been voicing for months.

Critics label the Yunus government as a puppet regime influenced by Jamaat-e-Islami and the ISI, which has been orchestrating plans for the IRA for several months. The objective appears to be a replacement of the current military structure with the IRA, which, according to Indian officials, would mirror the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran.

The IRA is intended to be a highly radicalized entity that will facilitate the transformation of Bangladesh into an Islamic state. Officials suggest it will engage in moral policing reminiscent of practices in Iran.

However, the primary focus seems to be on India, suggesting that once the IRA is operational, tensions at the border could escalate significantly. Recently, Dr. Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, a leader within Jamaat, claimed in New York that five million Jamaat youth are prepared to confront India. He stated that if India were to invade Bangladesh, the negative perception from 1971 would be rectified. They aim to demonstrate their identity as genuine freedom fighters, with part of the Jamaat's cohort engaging in guerrilla warfare while others infiltrate India to carry out Ghazwa-e-Hind.

Analysts assert that these developments and the rhetoric indicate an increasing influence of the ISI in Bangladesh, which aligns with Pakistan's long-standing desire to revert Bangladesh to its pre-1971 state. Since the removal of Sheikh Hasina, there has been a concerted effort to execute this agenda.

Currently, seven training camps are operational, accommodating 8,850 trainees. These individuals are instructed by retired military officials sympathetic to Pakistan. There are plans to establish additional camps in the future.

The intention is to train over 160,000 individuals, matching the current size of the Bangladesh Army. Furthermore, these camps receive regular visits from officials of the Pakistan Army and ISI, who provide financial support and equipment.

Following the opening of a maritime route to Pakistan by Muhammad Yunus, arms and ammunition have been entering Bangladesh in large quantities. These supplies are reportedly stored in universities largely under the influence of Jamaat.

As required, these arms are transported openly to the training camps. Jamaat-affiliated institutions have been forthright about their intentions regarding the IRA. In December 2024, a group known as the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, consisting of students aligned with Yunus, announced the establishment of a militia called the IRA.

In a Facebook announcement, the group called for youths to assemble at Dhaka University for recruitment. The initial training phase is planned to include martial arts training followed by a month of military-style instruction, facilitated by military and paramilitary forces.

These events strongly suggest that the Yunus administration, influenced by Jamaat and the ISI, aims to dismantle both the military and the DGFI in Bangladesh. Rumors of discord between military leadership and the ruling government have emerged, with courts issuing orders to apprehend numerous military and DGFI members.

While the courts allege that these individuals have committed abuses, in reality, they are perceived to be loyal to Sheikh Hasina. These events have reportedly caused significant division within the Bangladesh Army, with many expressing support for the establishment of the IRA.