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Research Monograph
Understanding the Emergence of Islamic Extremist:
Causes in the perspective of Bangladesh

PS 802: Non-Traditional Security Issues: Environment and

Migration

Submitted to :
Dr. Mrs. Nelofar Parveen
Professor
Dept. of Political Science
University of Dhaka

Submitted By :
Md. Tanvir kabir
7th Semester, Roll: 29, Section : A
Dept. of Political Science
University of Dhaka
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Table of Contents
Chapter- One ................................................................................................................................................ 4
1.1 Introduction: ....................................................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Statement of the problem: ................................................................................................................. 4
1.3 Objectives of study: ............................................................................................................................ 5
1.4 Literature Review: ............................................................................................................................... 5
1.5 Justification of the study: .................................................................................................................... 5
1.5 Nature and Scope of the study: .......................................................................................................... 5
1.6 Research Methodology: ...................................................................................................................... 6
1.7 Sources and Modes of Data Collection: .............................................................................................. 6
1.8 Limitation of study: ............................................................................................................................. 6
1.9 Conclusion: .......................................................................................................................................... 7
Chapter- Two ................................................................................................................................................ 8
2.1 Concept of Extremism: ........................................................................................................................ 8
2.2 Concept of Fundamentalism : ............................................................................................................. 9
2.3 Fundamentalism and Islam ............................................................................................................... 10
2.4 Fundamentalism and Islamist Terrorism .......................................................................................... 11
2.5 Islam in Bangladesh :......................................................................................................................... 11
2.6 Political Islamic Parties:..................................................................................................................... 12
Chapter- Three............................................................................................................................................ 13
3.1 Introduction: ..................................................................................................................................... 13
3.2 The Transformation of Islamic Extremism ........................................................................................ 13
a) Mujib Regime: ............................................................................................................................. 13
b) Zia Regime: .................................................................................................................................. 14
c) Ershed Regime: ........................................................................................................................... 14
3.3 The Growth of Islamist Groups: ........................................................................................................ 14
3.4 Jamatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB): .......................................................................................... 16
3.5 The Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB): ................................................................................ 16
3.6 The Harkatul-Jihad-Islami (HuJI): ...................................................................................................... 16
3.7 The Islami Chhatra Shibir: ................................................................................................................. 17
3.8 The Hizb-ut-Tahrir: ............................................................................................................................ 17
3.9 Conclusion: ........................................................................................................................................ 17
Chapter-Four............................................................................................................................................... 18
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4.1 Relation of Islam with Different groups : .......................................................................................... 18

4.2 Religious effect for the emergence of the Extremism: ..................................................................... 19
4.3 Miss Interpretation of Islam :............................................................................................................ 19
4.4 Good relationship with different Islamic Groups and Politics : ........................................................ 20
5.5 Religion based Political party taking state power causes the Extremism:........................................ 20
4.6 Influence of the main stream Political Party:.................................................................................... 21
4.7 Knowledge lacking between Political Islam and Religious Islam: ..................................................... 21
4.8 Establishing a particular religion of a democratic country ............................................................... 21
4.9 Having no future oriented policy of the ruler and policy maker: ..................................................... 21
4.10 Having not much law and its enforcement: .................................................................................... 21
4.11 Religious parochial and austere: ..................................................................................................... 22
4.12 War participation of Neighbor Muslim countries: .......................................................................... 22
4.13 Misuse Satellite culture and Internet : ........................................................................................... 23
4.14 Influence of World Politics: ............................................................................................................. 23
4.15 Lack of Family Ties: ......................................................................................................................... 23
4.16 Not following the Copy Right Act: ................................................................................................... 24
4.17 Poor Socio Economic Condition: ..................................................................................................... 24
Chapter- Five .............................................................................................................................................. 25
5.1 Findings: ............................................................................................................................................ 25
5.2 Concluding Remark: .......................................................................................................................... 25
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Chapter- One
Introduction

1.1 Introduction:
Extremism has taken a new shape in Bangladesh for the last couple of months as we had to behold
some of the incidents including the killing of different foreign citizens residing in Bangladesh.
Various reports and studies pointed out that political gaming with the Islamist elements by the
political parties is inspiring the rise of Islamic political groups and Islamic extremism and
militancy. Different radical, extremist and militant groups are groups which generate thousands
of members and who have been continuing their activities under different names. Each of these
groups has several thousand activists in this country. Besides this, there are more incidents which
give us the warning of a resurgence of militancy in this country since it was stopped for a long
time. Issues behind resurgence of militancy in Bangladesh. The nature of various Islamist militant
groups and the extent of their terrorist activities have particular underlying causes of militancy In
Bangladesh. So, it is considered to find out the causes of emergence of Islamic extremism in the
perspective.

1.2 Statement of the problem:

In recent time the emergence of religion extremism is the most burning issue all over the world. It
is demanding some areas as its own territory by unlawful means and trying to establish caliphate.
With a view to fulfilling this motive the extremist are engaged in combat with many elected
governments in various countries. But the matter of regret that their way of establishing caliphate
is seemed to be much destructive and inhuman. Almost all of their activities are against the
international laws and human rights.
In Bangladesh the activities of Islamic extremism are expanding very quickly and alarmingly also.
For the geographical importance Bangladesh is too much concern for them. They are trying to
establish a strong tent in Bangladesh in order to attack in India and Myanmar. So I think
Bangladesh is passing a bad time and the threat of Islamic state should not be taken lightly. I hope
my research, would evaluate the real factors and issues behind the emergence of Islamic extremism
and would give better suggestion for controlling it.
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1.3 Objectives of study:

This study will explore the causes of the emergence of Islamic extremism. So main objectives of
my study are as follows-
To give a comprehensive idea about the emergence of Islamic extremism in Bangladesh

To find out the causes of the emergence of this Islamic extremism.

1.4 Literature Review:

The people of Bangladesh is religious. The majority people are the believer of Islam. Due to the
miss interpretation of Islam some group used the religious explanation in a political interest which
tends the youth people of different circumstances. It is strongly believed by the security analysts
and law enforcing agencies that the religious extremism in Bangladesh was inaugurated in the late
1980's period. Some Afganistan back Edmund soldiers called 'Afgan Mujahidin' established such
extremist organizations in the remote areas of the country. The growth and spread of religious
extremism of various radical groups in Bangladesh have a wide range of social,political and
economic reasons. Security analysts and researchers have found that the religious fundamentalists
and socio-economic condition of Bangladesh contributed for the growth and development of
religious extremism in Bangladesh. Extremist groups targeted poor Madrasah students and other
less educated and indigent class of rural Bangladesh.

1.5 Justification of the study:

Islamic extremism is very recent issue thats why available research work have not been conducted
in this field. And in the third world country especially country like Bangladesh it is rarer. But after
all of these scarcity with reviewing few research which had been conducted in some sophisticated
region I can be able to identify the gaps. This research topic is a very important issue in the present
political, social and economic condition as well as overall security. I shall try to show the causes
of emergence of Islamic militancy in Bangladesh.

1.5 Nature and Scope of the study:

The main scope of this research is to give a special and exhaustive idea about the the causes of
emergence of Islamic militancy in Bangladesh. The prime object of this study is to give clear and
comprehensive idea of causes of the emergence of this Islamic extremism .This research also
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includes the process of making awareness among the public about the bad side of the emergence
of the extremism. As a political science student this topic covers the main part of the political use
of religion to understand the whole scenario.

1.6 Research Methodology:

In preparing any research paper the research methodology is most important. In order to get fruitful
and best result in research, methodology must be followed. At the time of my research about
Understanding the Emergence of Islamic Extremist: Causes in the perspective of Bangladesh.
It is followed interview method and survey method to get primary data. In case of date collection,
it is also followed the selected question. In many research, it is adopted qualitative method and
quantitative method for analyzing my research. I think those research methodology would be very
much helpful for bringing a slandered result on this topic.

1.7 Sources and Modes of Data Collection:

For preparing any research project the sources and modes of collecting data is of prime importance.
The study is based on both primary and secondary sources. Primary information shall be collected
from the record and data of government and non-government organization who are dealing with
the subject matter of my research project. Secondary information shall be collected from available
research work, articles, journals and newspaper. It is also to be mentioned here that all references
from books articles and other sources shall be cited in the footnotes in the prescribed manner.

1.8 Limitation of study:

Everything has some limitation. My research is not exception of it and it is limited by time and
proper record of data. The time and data problem are most notable factors to my research. I
conducted five intensive interviews and data from survey method on selected questions over the
young people whose age twenty to thirty to understand the opinion of the emergence of Islamic
extremism in Bangladesh. To make a comprehensive idea and fruitful result the time and date need
to be available. Besides these there is also limitation in books and information over my topic.
However I shall try my level best to make a standard research within limited time and time and I
hope I would be able to complete my research project on time.
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1.9 Conclusion:
Extremism has become the most dangerous threat for the nation as weel as Bangladesh. They are
engaging in murder, bombing on villages and dwellings. Not only these, they are also attacking on
the buildings like religion, education, art, science or charitable purpose, historic monuments, and
hospitals. Finally it must be stated that a developing country like Bangladesh which is densely
populated is under worse situation. The international extremist groups are very much keen to
establish their branch and has already established in some extant in Bangladesh. So the initiatives
for prevention of growth of emergence of the extreme activities should be taken at once for safe
and sound development and also proper service to the people of Bangladesh.
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Chapter- Two
Understanding the Basic Concepts

It is convenient that to understand the basic concepts of the research that cover some basic terms
like fundamentalism, extremism and terrorism. Sometimes it is related to each other and
overlapping in different perspective. Moreover it is seen frequent in the religious based developing
countries like Bangladesh. By examining how religious fundamentalism has accelerated and
intensified terrorism within the modern world, scholars can focus on determining the why. By
historically defining terrorism and fundamentalism and then placing them within the context of
current religio-political and socio-political discourse, one can observe the shift from nationalism
into terrorism and therefore understanding the innate interconnectedness of fundamentalism and
terrorism as a whole.

2.1 Concept of Extremism:

Extremism means, literally: driving something to the limit, to the extreme or the quality or state of
being extreme, advocacy of extreme measures or views. Nowadays, the term is mostly used in
a political or religious sense, for an ideology that is considered to be far outside the
(acceptable) mainstream attitudes of society.1 But extremism can, for example, also be meant in
an economic sense. The term "extremism" is usually meant to be pejorative: to express (strong)
disapproval, but it may also be meant in a more academic, purely descriptive, non-condemning
sense. Extremists are usually contrasted with centrists or moderates. For example, in contemporary
discussions in Western countries of Islam or of Islamic political movements, the distinction
between extremist 'bad and moderate 'good' Muslims is typically stressed.2 Political agendas
perceived as extremist often include those from the far-left politics or far-right politics, as well
as radicalism, reactionaism, fundamentalism, and fanaticism.

Eric Hoffer and Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. were two political writers during the mid-20th century who
gave what purported to be accounts of "political extremism". Hoffer wrote books such as The True
Believer and The Passionate State of Mind about the psychology and sociology of those who join
"fanatical" mass movements. Schlesinger wrote books such as The Vital Center, championing a
supposed "center" of politics within which "mainstream" political discourse takes place, and

1
Anderson, Owen. Philosophical Perspectives; in Jeffrey Ian Ross (ed.). Religion and Violence: An
Encyclopedia of Faith and Conflict from Antiquity to the Present. Vol. 2. Armonk, N.Y.: M. E. Sharpe,
2011, pp. 557-556.
2
Bleich, E. Faith and state: British policy responses to Islamist extremism. In R. Eatwell and M. J.
Goodwin, eds. The New Extremism in 21st Century Britain, pp.67-84. London: Routledge, 2010
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underscoring the alleged need for societies to draw definite lines regarding what falls outside of
this acceptability.3

2.2 Concept of Fundamentalism:

The term fundamentalism and its usage arose in a uniquely Christian context, whence it has
migrated into other arenas of discourse. A series of booklets, simply titled The Fundamentals, was
published in America early in the twentieth-century to promote the view that there is a fundamental
defining and non-negotiable set of traditional Christian doctrines. As a distinctive term,
fundamentalism arose to refer to the generic idea proposed by the publication of the booklets. In
an age where theological liberalism had been in the ascendancy, a fresh term enabled a new
countering viewpoint to be identified and promoted.4 There was abroad the sense of needing to do
battle royal for the fundamentals of the faith, and in this context the badge of fundamentalism was
proudly worn. However, subsequent and wider application of the term has not been without
problems and difficulties. It does not transfer well into religious contexts other than Christian, and
it is imprecise enough even within the Christian camp. Nevertheless, it has gained wide coinage.

In a nutshell, fundamentalism may be understood in terms of whatever it is against. Often it

is used as a pejorative description for anyone who is regarded as having a closed mind with regard
to a particular issue. As a subject of critical academic scrutiny, fundamentalism, in its Christian
context, has been the focus of a number of notable books and studies in the closing decades of the
twentieth century. This has broadened out into studies on a wide-ranging front, inclusive of both
religious and political variants of fundamentalism. The five-year Fundamentalism Project
sponsored by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences has made a major contribution. This
project commenced in 1987 and led, during the 90s, to the 3 publication of several substantial
volumes of research output. More recently there have been a number of studies where the focus
has been on Islamic fundamentalism. The result of such academic development has been, among
other things, to identify a number of generic elements or dimensions of fundamentalism per se.
For example, Martin E. Marty observed that fundamentalisms look backward and set out to
freeze some moment, some event, some text or texts from the past as the perfect place in time
or space from which to measure life in the present. An imagined golden-age, believed to have
pertained at the religions foundation, is held up as the model and reference point for contemporary
reality. In response to the critique that religion, and in particular fundamentalist religion, is but an

3
Cordesman, A. H. Islamic Militancy Can Be Defeated Only by Muslims, Not by Western Governments.
In Amanda Hiber, ed. Islamic Militancy. (Opposing Viewpoints Series), pp. 189-201. Detroit: Greenhaven
Press, 2008.
4
This is an expanded version of a paper entitled Religious Fundamentalism: A paradigm for terrorism?
given to the National Counter Terrorism Capability Seminar, Victoria University of Wellington, New
Zealand, in August 2005.
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epiphenomenon riding on what are really political ideas and actions, or that fundamentalism is
really just a passing fad, such studies have only served to highlight what subsequent history and
recent events underscore: that religious fundamentalism is a deeply rooted phenomenon that can
give rise to, rather than itself relies upon, political acts.5

2.3 Fundamentalism and Islam:

Islamic fundamentalism as an outgrowth of tensions that hold between the secular worldview of
western cultural modernity and the monotheistic worldview of Islam. It is these tensions which
can become a source of international socio-political conflict. Nevertheless it is an interpretation
and application of religious sources that predominate in the forming of Islamist ideologies, and
Tibi acknowledges that. As he notes, In their writings Islamic fundamentalists present
themselves as true scripturalists, though they invoke the scriptures in a highly selective manner.

Furthermore, such Muslim fundamentalists, he argues, are not traditionalists; their 6 ideal is the
selectively perceived and arbitrarily purified state of seventh-century Islam. That Islamic
fundamentalists go beyond the Quran is given credence by an Egyptian example of a
fundamentalist sheikh, or legal scholar, a renowned authority on the Islamic concept of human
rights who declared in a fatwah of June 1993 published in a London-based Arabic newspaper
that every Muslim who pleads for the suspension of the shariha is an apostate and can be killed.
The killing of those apostates cannot be prosecuted under Islamic law because this killing is
justified. However, nowhere in the Quran is there support for such a fatwah. The command to
slay reasoning Muslims is un-Islamic, an invention of Islamic fundamentalists. Tibis critique is
trenchant and far-ranging, although he does tend to gloss the religious basis and component of
Islamic fundamentalist ideology. In the end I think he provides an example of the critical scholar
who yet underplays the religious dimension. I suggest it is the ideology of religious
fundamentalism as such that needs to be addressed if there is to be any sustained successful counter
to the contemporary threat of Islamist terrorism, or indeed of any terrorism that arises out of, or in
conjunction with, a particular religious milieu. 6

5
Bassam Tibi, The Challenge of Fundamentalism: Political Islam and the New World Disorder. Updated
Edition. Los Angeles, University of California Press: 2002, iv.
6
Bryan Gilling, ed., Be Ye Separate: fundamentalism and the New Zealand experience, Red Beach:
Colcom Press, 1992, xi.
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2.4 Fundamentalism and Islamist Terrorism:

What 9/11, the subsequent bombings in Madrid, and more recently London 7/7, have revealed is
that suicide-bombing Muslims, enacting out their warped jihad, are by no means the poor,
oppressed, and dispossessed of this world. Whatever their lot in life they have been well educated
for the most part; they have had sufficient affluence to travel with impunity; they have had access
to sophisticated technology. Indeed, in the aftermath of the London bombings there is increasing
evidence of the recruitment of affluent middle class Muslims in British universities to the radical
Islamist cause. A joint Home Office and Foreign Office dossier on Young Muslims and Extremism
places likely recruits in two categories: those well-educated, especially in the engineering and IT
(Information Technology) fields, together with those who may not be unintelligent, but who have
emerged in their youth as underachievers, often having already come to the attention of authorities
in relation to criminal activities.7

Furthermore, the report claims that young professionals from privileged backgrounds, as well as
students, have become involved in extremist politics and even terrorism. Such young Muslim
men have enjoyed all the benefits and opportunities of the contemporary globalized industrialized
world. These are not the warrior peasants of 7 old, intent on sweeping out the corrupt and decayed
administrations in order to inaugurate a renewal of their society. There may have been an echo of
that ancient Islamic paradigm motivating Pashtun tribesman of the Taliban. It is most certainly not
the agenda of an al Qaeda terrorist cell. Extreme actions are not being called for in the name of a
societal reformation and the overthrow of evil. Rather evil is being employed for no more reason,
practically speaking, than a cruelly quixotic tilting at the windmill of Western society per se. As
Johann Hari remarked of the July 2005 London bombers, they were not poor, they were not
persecuted, they were not personally humiliated. For Hari, any explanation of their actions can
only lie in the extraordinary power of political ideas. But the political dimension is clearly
embedded in the religious, as Hari implies: With one leap of faith they were soldiers in the
International Jihad, doing the work of Allah himself to liberate Muslim peoples across the world.8

2.5 Islam in Bangladesh:

Islam is the largest religion of Bangladesh, the Muslim population is approximately 150.0 million,
which is the fourth largest Muslim population in the world (after Indonesia, Pakistan, and India),
constituting 92.00 % of the total population as of 2016 . Religion has always been a strong part of
identity, but this has varied at different times.9 A survey in late 2003 confirmed that religion is the

7
Bale, J. Denying the Link between Islamist Ideology and Jihadist Terrorism: Political Correctness and the
Undermining of Counterterrorism. Perspectives on Terrorism, 7, no. 5, pp. 1-46

8
Bleich, E. Faith and state: British policy responses to Islamist extremism. In R. Eatwell and M. J. Goodwin, eds.
The New Extremism in 21st Century Britain, pp.67-84. London: Routledge, 2010.

9
Miller, Tracy, ed. (October 2009), Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and
Distribution of the World's Muslim Population
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first choice by a citizen for self-identification. The constitution makes Bangladesh a secular state
and guarantees freedom of religion, however the United Nations has recognised the country as
moderate Muslim democratic country. Islam was introduced to Bengal in the 13th century and
later become main religion, coming from mainly by the arrivals of Arab and Persian missionaries
and merchants. 10

Table: Muslims in Different Caste in Bangladesh

Religion Percentages
Sunni Muslim 94%
Shia Muslim 1%
Nondenominational Muslim 4%
Other Muslim 1%

Source: Statistics Bangladesh, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, 2015

2.6 Political Islamic Parties:

Although Islam played a significant role in the life and culture of the people, religion did not
dominate national politics because Islam was not the central component of national identity. When
in June 1988 an "Islamic way of life" was proclaimed for Bangladesh by constitutional
amendment, very little attention was paid outside the intellectual class to the meaning and impact
of such an important national commitment. Most observers believed that the declaration of Islam
as the state religion might have a significant impact on national life, however. Aside from arousing
the suspicion of the non-Islamic minorities, it could accelerate the proliferation of religious parties
at both the national and the local levels, thereby exacerbating tension and conflict between secular
and religious politicians. Unrest of this nature was reported on some college campuses soon after
the amendment was promulgated. The main political parties are: East Pakistan Awami Muslim
League (Pre-independence) Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Nizam-e-Islam Party, Bangladesh Islami
Front, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan, Bangladesh Khelafat
Majlish,Islamic Unity Front, Islami Jatiya Oikya Front, Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh11

10
"National Volume - 2: Union Statistics"). Population and Housing Census. Bangladesh Bureau of
Statistics. 2011.
11
Banu, U.A.B. Razia Akter (1992). Islam in Bangladesh. New York: BRILL. pp. 3435.
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Chapter- Three
The Emergence of Islamic Extremism in Bangladesh

3.1 Introduction:
Bangladesh has generally been heralded as a stable, democratic Muslim state that has made great
strides in economic and human development. Following the restoration of democracy in 1990, it
carried out three largely free and fair general elections in 1991, 1996, and 2001. Since 1999, attacks
by Islamist militants have been increasing. They have targeted opposition politicians, scholars,
journalists, members of the judiciary, religious minorities, and members of the Islamic Ahmadiyya
sect. Recent years have seen a deepening crisis in governance with continued politicization of civil
society, deterioration of judicial independence, and diminishing rule of law and respect for human
rights. Until very recently, the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia (backed by two
Islamist parties) denied the existence of Islamist militancy in Bangladesh, dismissing these charges
as hostile propaganda, designed to besmirch the countrys reputation. Following a countryside
terrorist attack in August 2005 and recent suicide bombings, the government has begun cracking
down on selected individuals.12 So it should to necessary to know the process the Islamic
extremism.

3.2 The Transformation of Islamic Extremism:

a) Mujib Regime: During the political upheaval of 1971, elements of East Pakistans society,
most notably the members of the Jamaat-i-Islami, chose not to support the independence
movement. Instead they supported the Pakistani army and were implicated in some of the
massacres that took place. As a result of their role in the civil war, immediately after
Bangladeshs independence they were largely marginalized. In addition, Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman, the founder of Bangladesh, had a pro-Indian bent and sought to forge a secular,
democratic republic.As a result of their initial setback, Islamist elements in Bangladeshi
society remained dormant. They held the secular Muslim intelligentsia in disdain but were
unable to publicly challenge their authority. Their ability to reassert themselves came about
as a consequence of the Awami Leagues governance. Its incompetence, corruption, and
maladministration, coupled with natural disasters, led to Sheikh Mujibs assassination and
the overthrow of his regime in August 1975.13
Sheikh Mujib and the Awami League had faced a monumental task of reconstruction
following the creation of Bangladesh. The insurrection against Pakistan and its violent
repression had cost the country dearly in both human and physical capital. However, some

12
Cherian, John, Politics of Animosity, Frontline, September 1124, 2004
13
Chattopadhay, Suhrid Snkar and Haroon Habib, Challenges in the East, Frontline [Chennai], January
1427, 2006.
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segments of Bangladeshi society, though disaffected from Pakistan, had viewed Sheikh
Mujibs pro-India policies with considerable distrust.

b) Zia Regime: After a brief interregnum, in November 1975 General Ziaur Rahman, the
chief of staff of the Bangladesh army, seized power. In an attempt to legitimize his rule
General Ziaur first opened the door to radical Islamists. He encouraged the return of those
who had collaborated with the Pakistani army and built ties with the Jamaat. He also
dismantled constitutional provisions prohibiting the formation of communal parties and
associations. Finally, he started the erosion of the constitutional commitment to secularism
with a series of amendments that gave primacy to Islam.14

c) Ershed Regime: Internecine rivalry within the military contributed to his assassination in
May 1981. After his demise there was a brief span of civilian rule under Abdul Sattar, a
former Supreme Court judge. He was overthrown in another military coup in March 1982.
Under the new military dictator, General Husain Mohammed Ershad, the march toward the
Islamicization of Bangladeshi society and state continued. In 1988 Ershad amended the
constitution and declared Islam the state religion. In late 1990 Ershad was overthrown as a
result of a mass popular uprising. Since then Bangladesh has moved fitfully toward civilian
rule.15

3.3 The Growth of Islamist Groups:

In the past several years a number of militant Islamic groups have emerged in Bangladesh. Some
are affiliated with particular political parties, while others have no specific political affiliation.
What factors helped spawn these groups? The answer is complex. In part they arose as a result of
the general transformation of Bangladeshs political and social milieu. In their quest for legitimacy,
two military rulers had wrapped themselves in the mantle of Islam. In the process they created
conditions for the emergence of various radical groups. Specifically, they allowed elements of the
conservative Muslim clergy to express their views more freely and granted them opportunities to
preach against religious minorities and insist on particular interpretations of Islamic theology. In
effect, they not only altered the terms of political discourse in Bangladesh but also helped fashion
a new political culture that could accommodate a shift toward a more pristine, austere, and
parochial vision of Islam.
Even when military rule ended in Bangladesh and civilian and, at least nominally, democratic rule
was restored, the emerging political culture supplanted previous notions of cultural pluralism and
tolerance. Attacks against Hindus, the principal minority population, increased, and the state
proved unwilling to stop the perpetrators.The military had overthrown Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
because of growing lawlessness, widespread corruption, and economic mismanagement. Under

14
Kibria, Nazli, Political Violence Spreads in Bangladesh, The Japan Times, April 10, 2005.
15
Ganguly, Sumit, Bangladesh and India, in Assessing the Quality of Democracy, Larry Diamond and
Leonardo Morlino, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2005.
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military rule Bangladesh did enjoy a modicum of political stability and modest economic growth.
However, the problems of corruption and political chicanery became endemic.
Despite the militarys return to the barracks and the restoration of democracy in 1990, these
problems contributed to institutional decay. According to many observers, the judiciary was
backlogged and corrupt; the police and paramilitary forces were brutal and venal; the press, though
combative, did not adhere to robust norms of professional reporting; and the bureaucracy was
mostly slothful and inept. With the principal organs of the state failing, Bangladesh saw a
phenomenal growth in nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). However, NGOs, even highly
effective ones, cannot take over the functions of a modern state.
Despite their ideological and political differences, the parties are outgrowths of the personalities
of these two leaders. There is little intra-party democracy in either organization. Once in
parliament, neither party has shown regard for the notion of a loyal opposition. Both have resorted
to extra-parliamentary tactics to undermine the functioning of parliament. Consequently, most
parliamentary proceedings have the quality of political theater and little else. The ongoing conflict
between them has contributed to fundamental failures of governance. The reliance of the BNP on
the Jamaat for support enables the latter to wield political influence well beyond its parliamentary
(and electoral) strength. One of the most troubling aspects of the Jamaats presence in parliament
is its links with various radical Islamist organizations. In the wake of the 2005 bomb blasts that
rocked Bangladesh, the authorities arrested seven members of the Jamaatul Mujahideen. All had
been members of either the Jamaat or its student wing, the Islami Chhatra Shibir.
Radical Islamists direct their wrath against any individuals or groups that profess secularism and
express unrelenting hostility toward sectarian and religious minorities. They intimidate members
of the dwindling Hindu community and harass the minuscule Ahmadiyya Islamic sect. Evidence
continues to mount that this harassment occurs with the complicity of the Bangladeshi state. In its
most recent annual report, the United States Commission for the Protection of Religious Freedom
noted that non-Muslims in Bangladesh face societal discrimination and are disadvantaged in
access to government jobs, public services, and the legal system. The commissions report
expressed concern about the governments decision, under militants pressure, to ban the
publication and distribution of Ahmadiyya religious literature in January 2004. The courts
suspended the ban in December 2004 (with further legal action pending), but the government has
not withdrawn it, despite international pressure.16
In addition, radicals have harassed, intimidated, and even killed journalists and writers they deem
un-Islamic. They have launched periodic attacks against the vulnerable Hindu population and have
threatened to destroy the mosques of the Ahmadiyya community. There is little doubt that the
Bangladeshi state in general, and the Khaleda Zia coalition regime in particular, has tacitly
permitted these groups to pursue their activities without much hindrance.
When in power, the AL also is hardly immune to criticism along these lines. For example, in its
last days in 2001 the AL dismantled the Vested Property Act (which had deprived Hindus of their
homes and land holdings as early as 1969). However, the provisions of the law that annulled the

16
Karlekar, Hiranmay, Bangladesh: The Next Afghanistan? New Delhi: Sage, 2005.
 P a g e | 16

act were so anemic that it did little to protect Hindu property rights. Nor did subsequent regimes
make much effort to vigorously enforce the new provisions. Observers of Bangladeshi politics
have described this half-hearted attempt to overturn the law as a mostly symbolic gesture designed
to court the Hindu vote before a national election. More recently, in an attempt to subtly outbid
the BNP in courting the orthodox, key AL members have publicly used religious symbols and
slogans.
Marked Islamic Extremist Groups:

Currently several militant Islamist groups exist in Bangladesh. They are the Jamatul Mujahideen
Bangladesh (JMB), the Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB), the Harkatul-Jihad-Islami
(HuJI), the Islami Chhatra Shibir, and the Hizb-ut-Tahrir.17

3.4 Jamatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB): The JMB formed in Jamalpur district in 1998. Its
precise antecedents are unclear. Some reports in the Bangladeshi press contend that it is the youth
wing of the outlawed militant organization, the Harqat-ul-Jihad. It first came to the attention of the
press, political authorities, and the public in May 2002, when eight members were arrested while
allegedly in possession of incendiary bombs. In February 2005, faced with growing pressures from
international donors, the government of Bangladesh banned the organization.

3.5 The Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB): The JMJB derives its inspiration from the
Taliban movement in Afghanistan. It is widely believed to have formed in 1998 but came to public
attention in 2004 when it started to Radical Islamists direct their wrath against any individuals or
groups that profess secularism and express unrelenting hostility toward sectarian and religious
minorities. Radicals have harassed, intimidated, and even killed journalists and writers they deem
un-Islamic. target members of the left-wing organization, the Purbo Banglar Communist Party
(East Bengals Communist Party). The JMJB was banned in February 2005. In March 2006, under
international pressure, the Bangladesh government finally arrested one of the most notorious JMJB
operatives, Siddiqur Islam, who was known by his nom de guerre, Bangla Bhai (Bengali
brother).

3.6 The Harkatul-Jihad-Islami (HuJI): According to press reports, the HuJI formed in 1992
with the assistance of Osama bin Ladens International Islamic Front. Since its inception it has
demanded that Bangladesh be converted into an Islamic state. Like its counterparts, the JMB and
the JMJB, it is acutely hostile to secular organizations and individuals. Some sense of its
ideological leanings can be gleaned from its slogan, Amra Sobai Hobo Taliban, Bangla Hobe
Afghanistan (We will all become the Taliban and we will turn Bangladesh into Afghanistan). The

Ahsan, Zayadul, Inside the Militant Groups, 1: Trained in Foreign Lands, They Spread Inland, The
17

Daily Star [Dhaka], August 21, 2005.

 P a g e | 17

HuJI is suspected of working in concert with the ISI-D and the United Liberation Front of Assam
(ULFA). Press reports suggest that HuJI operatives have helped the ULFA set up and run training
camps in the Chittagong Hill Tracts next to the Indian state of Tripura.
3.7 The Islami Chhatra Shibir: Jamaat-i-Islami (founded as early as 1941) has a student wing
called Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS). It shares the other Islamist groups goal of establishing an
Islamic state in Bangladesh. Its influence is most pronounced on a number of university campuses,
notably in Chittagong, Dhaka, Jahangirnagar, and Rajshahi. It is also expanding its presence at
Khulna and Sylhet universities. Press reports link the ICS to the activities of Pakistans ISI-D in
Bangladesh.

3.8 The Hizb-ut-Tahrir: The Hizb-ut-Tahrir intriguingly enough, was founded in Jerusalem in
1953. Its Bangladeshi chapter started in November 2001 in the wake of a rising tide of anti-
Americanism. The organization has managed to gain considerable strength in various public and
private universities through extremely deft recruitment tactics. Several press reports have
implicated the group in serious acts of violence18

3.9 Conclusion: The most compelling, proximate cause of the emergence of extremism of Islam
in Bangladesh is the states failure to address endemic problems of unemployment, poverty,
environmental degradation, and political order. As a result large segments of the population have
little faith in the efficacy of state institutions. In such a political milieu, religious With the principal
organs of the state failing, Bangladesh saw a phenomenal growth in nongovernmental
organizations. One of the most troubling aspects of the Jamaats presence in parliament is its links
with various radical Islamist organizations. The most compelling cause of militant Islam in
Bangladesh is the states failure to address unemployment, poverty, environmental degradation,
and political order. groups and organizations, which provide basic social services, assume an
important role.19 Furthermore, they underscore the states inability to perform the quotidian tasks
of maintaining public order, providing essential social services, generating employment, and
pursuing public works.

18
Rashid, Harun ur, The Rise of Islamic Extremism in Bangladesh, The Daily Star, March 2, 2005.
19
Riaz, Ali, God Willing: The Politics of Islamism in Bangladesh. Lanham, Md.: Rowman and
Littlefield, 2004
 P a g e | 18

Chapter-Four
Understanding the causes of the Islamic Extremism in Bangladesh

Here it is going to show the result of survey method and interview method to find out the causes
of Islamic extremism in the perspective of Bangladesh. Different hypothesis are formed to ask the
participants to explore the main causes of this extremism. By Interview methods it is got an
intensive information about the causes.

It is going to be discussed the reason of the emergence of the Bangladesh militancy as well as
extremism. It was asked that the meaning of Islamic extremism. After asking the reply was like
The Islamic extremism means a fundamental interpretation of Islam, potentially including the
promotion of violence to achieve the political goal. 20

4.1 Relation of Islam with Different groups :

In the some causes of Islam various political and nonpolitical party are directly involved in
extremism among the JMB, Huzi. They also misconducted the followers of the groups in their own
way 21. This is way, a question was given in the survey. See the result:

Does relation of Islam with different groups

causes extrimism?
no comment yes
13% 17%

partly yes
27%

no
43%

yes no partly yes no comment

20
Interview no-1 : Sohel Rana
21
interview no-4: Monhurul Hasan
 P a g e | 19

4.2 Religious effect for the emergence of the Extremism:

It sometimes has the religious effect on the emergence the Islamic extremism in Bangladesh. The
wrong interpretation of Islam and the leader of the group miss guide the fellow members of a
extreme Islamic group. This is why, this question is raised and the survey report says:

DOES RELIGIOUS EFFECT CAUSES THE

EMERGANCE OF ISLAMIC EXTRIMISM?
13
11
10

Yes No Partly yes No Comment

4.3 Miss Interpretation of Islam :

It is seen that Miss interpretation is one of the main reason to increase the Islamic militancy as
well as extremist. People also think so that miss interpretation causes the emergence this
extremism. Lets see what shows the survey:

Comment Of the 30 persons

yes 30
No 0
Partly Yes 0
No comment 0
 P a g e | 20

4.4 Good relationship with different Islamic Groups and Politics :

Some Islamic groups have always the maintaining a relationship with the politics so that they can
do their job smoothly. This also causes the spread the extreme group in Bangladesh. The report
says:

Does good relationship with

different Islamic Groups and
Politics?
20

10

0
YES
NO
Partly yes
No comment

5.5 Religion based Political party taking state power causes the Extremism:
In the recent times there is seen the religious political parties have the influence to vote business.
It creates the position to the main stream secular political parties to come the state power. So, it is
considered one of the main reason for emerging Islamic extremist in Bangladesh.

Does religion based Political party

taking state power causes the
Extremism ?
No
10%

YES YES
Partly yes
33% NO
20%
Partly yes

NO No
37%
 P a g e | 21

4.6 Influence of the main stream Political Party:

Asking that does the influence of the main stream political parties causes the emergence of the
Islamic extremism. 11 person say yes, 4 persons say no, 13 persons say Partly yes and 2
persons did not answer of 30 participants
4.7 Knowledge lacking between Political Islam and Religious Islam:
The question was : Does the knowledge lacking between Political Islam and Religious Islam
causes the Islamic extremism. See the result of the survey:

Comment Of the 30 persons

yes 29
No 0
Partly Yes 1
No comment 0

4.8 Establishing a particular religion of a democratic country:

Asking if establishing a particular religion of a democratic country help the emergence of the
Islamic extremism . The Survey report says 3 persons say yes, 19 persons say no, 3 persons
say Partly yes and 5 persons did not answer of 30 participants.

4.9 Having no future oriented policy of the ruler and policy maker:
The question was: Does having no future oriented policy of the ruler and policy maker the
emergence of the Islamic extremism? The Survey report says

Comment Of the 30
persons
yes 19
No 3
Partly Yes 5
No comment 3

4.10 Having not much law and its enforcement:

The law is not apparently enough to remove this extremism. There also need to enforce the existing
laws. Sometimes having not much law and its enforcement causes the Islamic extremism.
 P a g e | 22

Does having not much law and

its enforcement causes
extrimism?

17

5 6 2

YES NO PARTLY YES NO COMMENT

4.11 Religious parochial and austere:

Asking if religious parochial and austere helps the emergence of the Islamic extremism . The
Survey report says 24 persons say yes, 1 persons say no, 3 persons say Partly yes and 2
persons did not answer of 30 participants.

IS RELIGIOUS PAROCHIAL AND

AUSTERE CAUSES THE EXTRIMISM?
No comment 2
Partly yes 3
NO 1
YES 24

4.12 War participation of Neighbor Muslim countries:

Asking if war participation of neighbor Muslim countries helps the emergence of the Islamic
extremism . The Survey report says 15 persons say yes, 7 persons say no, 7 persons say
Partly yes and 1 person did not answer of 30 participants.
 P a g e | 23

Asking if war participation of Neighbor Muslim

countries helps the emergence of the Islamic
17
extremism
5 6 2

YES NO 1 yes
Partly No comment

4.13 Misuse Satellite culture and Internet:

The question was: Does misuse Satellite culture and Internet the emergence of the Islamic
extremism? The Survey report says

Comment Of the 30
persons
yes 18
No 3
Partly Yes 4
No comment 5

4.14 Influence of World Politics:

The question was: Does influence of World Politics the emergence of the Islamic extremism?
The Survey report says

Does influence of World Politics the emergence of

the Islamic extremism?
10%
YES
10%
NO

20% 60% Partly yes

No comment

4.15 Lack of Family Ties:

Asking if the lack of family ties helps the emergence of the Islamic extremism in the recent times.
The Survey report says 17 persons say yes, 5 persons say no, 6 persons say Partly yes and
2 persons did not answer of 30 participants.
 P a g e | 24

Asking if the lack of family ties helps the

emergence of the Islamic extremism in the recent
times
20
15
10
5
0
YES NO Partly yes No comment

4.16 Not following the Copy Right Act:

Due to not maintaining the copy right act, the book of miss interpretation are published anywhere
at any time. Thus the readers are being read the actual thing which causes the spread the Islamic
militancy as well as the extremism. So, the copy right act should be enacted strictly. 22

4.17 Poor Socio Economic Condition:

The poor socio economic condition also causes the emergence of of the Islamic extremism in
Bangladesh. It is seen that the madrasha student are very poor, so for money they can be diverted
to the extremism.23

This is how the causes are finding in two different methods. In the survey methods 19 participants
are male and 11 participants are female. From these two methods, it is seen that all the young
people are considered the problem and they have a clear understanding of the causes of Islamic
extremism.

22
Interview no-1 : Sohel Rana
23
Interview no-2 : Omor Farukh
 P a g e | 25

Chapter- Five
Findings and Concluding Remark

The results section is where a report the findings of A study based upon the methodology or
methodologies that is applied to gather information. The results section should simply state the
findings of the research arranged in a logical sequence without bias or interpretation. A section
describing results is particularly necessary if your paper includes data generated from this research.

5.1 Findings:
As this paper focuses on the topic The emergence of the Islamic Extremism: Causes in the
Perspective of Bangladesh. Now we have a clear understanding of the major causes of the
emergence of Islamic extremism. They are:

Miss Interpretation of Islam

Good relationship with different Islamic Groups and Politics
Knowledge lacking between Political Islam and Religious Islam
Religious parochial and austere
War participation of Neighbor Muslim countries
Not following the Copy Right Act
Poor Socio Economic Condition
Misuse Satellite culture, internet and adventurous TV shows
Having no future oriented policy of the ruler and policy maker
Influence of the main stream Political Party
Religion based Political party taking state power
Religious effect for the emergence of the Extremism

5.2 Concluding Remark:

Throughout the paper this it shows the causes of the emergence of Islamic extremism. The growth
and spread of religious extremism of various radical groups in Bangladesh have a wide range of
social, political and economic reasons. Security analysts and researchers have found that the
religious fundamentalists and socio -economic condition of Bangladesh contributed growth for the
growth and development of religious extremism in Bangladesh. So, the government should take
the necessary steps to control the factor which helps the emergence the Islamic extremism. Not
only the government but also the people should aware of this fact.
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