AL govt often described political opposition as terrorism in 2023: US report
However, Bangladesh had no reported instances of “transnational terrorist violence” as authorities continued to pursue militants rigorously, said the report
The Awami League government last year frequently described political opposition as terrorism, according to the US State Department's "Country Reports on Terrorism 2023" on Bangladesh.
"The government frequently conflated political opposition with 'terrorism', and some elements of the security forces allegedly have conducted extrajudicial killings and committed other human rights violations," said the report released on Thursday.
However, Bangladesh had no reported instances of "transnational terrorist violence" as authorities continued to pursue militants rigorously, said the report.
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US-trained Bangladesh police units arrested dozens of terrorist suspects, it mentioned.
The annual publication on global terrorism also said in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) carried out attacks, killing three soldiers in two incidents during March and May 2023.
The government had linked the KNF to providing training grounds for Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya (JAHS) in early 2023. JAHS conducted no known attacks during the year, but its alleged emir was arrested in July.
"Moinul Hasan Shamim and Abu Siddiq Sohel, both convicted for their role in the 2015 murder of Bangladeshi publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan, remained at large through 2023 after they escaped custody in a November 2022 attack on the Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate building," said the report.
The report highlighted the replacement of the Digital Security Act (DSA) with the Cyber Security Act (CSA) in 2023, noting that several provisions of the former law were reinstated.
It stated that the new law grants law enforcement agencies increased powers, including the authority to arrest government critics and civil society representatives for exercising free speech.
The report also mentions that the US imposed sanctions on the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in 2021 due to human rights violations. "In 2023, Bangladeshi law enforcement and the RAB arrested 163 people and filed 55 cases."
Border patrol and screening processes saw technological upgrades, enhancing security at key points like Chittagong port and Dhaka airport. The country also maintained its INTERPOL collaboration and welcomed further US assistance for refining its terrorist watchlist, according to the publication.
Regarding Rohingya camps, it said in 2023, the government flagged risks of radicalisation, though no terrorism-related threats were reported from these communities.
"Government officers often refer to gang violence in the camps as terrorism," it said.
On financial terrorism, the report said Bangladesh is a member of the Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering and that the Financial Intelligence Unit of Bangladesh Bank is a member of the Egmont Group.
However, it notes that there were no significant advancements in this area in 2023.
Concerning counterterrorism activities in 2023, the report said terrorist recruitment in the prison system remained a concern and a US programme provided training to prison officials on managing dangerous prisoners.
"Dhaka City North Corporation, Dhaka City South Corporation, Dhamrai, Narayanganj City Corporation, Savar, and Singra are members of the Strong Cities Network," it said.
The report highlighted Bangladesh's engagement in counterterrorism efforts through the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Although not a member, Bangladesh participated as an observer in a March meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Kuwait, focusing on Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs), and showed interest in future sessions.
"To date, Bangladesh has declined to repatriate any of its nationals, of whom fewer than 10 are detained in northeast Syria," according to the report.
