Abdul Malik, who led the Chattogram region of the banned group Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), was arrested while fleeing after a bomb attack at a Chattogram court on October 3, 2005. He and seven others, including top leader Shaykh Abdur Rahman, were charged in the case. After the trial, Abdul Malik and two others were sentenced to 14 years in prison. He later escaped amid the 2024 student–led mass uprising and remains at large, with law enforcement agencies yet to trace him.
Besides him, authorities have failed to recapture more than 700 fugitive inmates including terrorists and hardened criminals. Separately, at least a dozen top criminals and extremists have been released on bail since the mass uprising.
Crime analysts warn that those at large risk reactivating their old networks. Criminal syndicates may also exploit the post–election period, administrative reshuffles and the early phase of a new government’s term. The next administration could therefore face a perilous security situation, echoing previous periods when terrorism and extremism posed major challenges in the country.
The September 11, 2001 attacks on New York’s Twin Towers altered global politics. Western security and diplomatic strategies were fundamentally reshaped — with immigration, banking, intelligence sharing and development aid reconfigured under a counter–terror framework. Scrutiny intensified on Muslim–majority nations over political alliances, religion–based parties, madrasah education and internal security. It was against this global backdrop that the four–party alliance government, led by BNP and Jamaat, came to power in Bangladesh in October 2001. Amid this unstable geopolitical climate, extremism gained ground in the country. On August 17, 2005, coordinated bomb attacks struck 63 districts — killing two people including a judge, and injuring many others. International pressure then mounted on the BNP–Jamaat government.
Western concerns intensified further after two attacks in 2004: a grenade attack on a public rally addressed by Sheikh Hasina on August 21, and a bomb blast at the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (Rh) in Sylhet that injured several people including the British high commissioner. On July 11, 2006, Delhi claimed Bangladesh–based networks were directly or indirectly involved in a series of bombings on trains in Mumbai, India. Data from the South Asia Terrorism Portal shows at least 73 people were killed in sabotage attacks across Bangladesh between 2001 and December 2005.
The specialised police unit Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) was formed during that period to counter extremists. The force later carried out operations that led to the arrest of senior militant leaders, including “Bangla Bhai”. On March 30, 2007, death sentences were carried out against the top leadership of JMB, namely Abdur Rahman, Siddique ul Islam (aka Bangla Bhai), Abdul Awal, Khaled Saifullah, Ataur Rahman Sunny, and Iftekhar Hasan Al Mamun. Police later arrested more than a hundred additional JMB members nationwide, severely weakening the organisation after the loss of its top leadership.
A decade later, on July 1, 2016, an attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka’s Gulshan area brought Bangladesh’s terrorism problem back into global focus. The assault killed 29 people, including 20 foreigners. In its aftermath, the government adopted a hardline approach to anti–terrorism operations and said it had dismantled multiple extremist networks. The nature of the crackdown, however, became contentious. Allegations surfaced that during the Awami League’s extended rule, the “terrorism” label was used to harass and suppress political opponents, with critics saying dissidents were falsely branded as extremists.
A formal charge sheet has recently been filed against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and seven others, accusing them of involvement in the killing of nine people during a raid on an alleged militant hideout in Dhaka’s Kallyanpur area, locally known as the “Jahajbari”.
According to data from the Prisons Directorate, inmates at 17 prisons across the country rioted after the events of August 5, 2024. Nearly all prisoners fled facilities in Narsingdi, Sherpur and Satkhira. Several other jails also recorded escapes during the period. A total of 2,232 inmates escaped nationwide, including 826 from Narsingdi, 500 from Sherpur, 600 from Satkhira, 105 from Kushtia, and 200 high–risk prisoners from Kashimpur High–Security Jail. Of those, 1,450 later surrendered or were recaptured. More than 700 remain at large, including inmates charged with militancy and extremist offences.
Confirming the figures, Prisons Directorate Assistant Inspector General Jannatul Ferdous told Bonik Barta: “Over 700 inmates who escaped from prison are still fugitives. We are working in coordination with police to apprehend them. Among these prisoners are hardened criminals.”
Experts warn that failure to recapture the fugitives, particularly those accused of terrorism and extremism, could pose a major challenge for the next government. At large, they could rebuild networks, secure shelter and funding, and operate beyond the state’s surveillance.
Commenting on the situation, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told Bonik Barta: “We believe the interim government must be vigilant on these matters. Law enforcement agencies must also suppress this with a firm hand. If we form a government, we will control these issues very effectively.”
Concerned observers note that if the fugitives include trained extremist leaders who previously helmed such organisations, they could attempt to influence new recruits, reunite scattered cadres and rebuild the group’s structure. They may also seek to establish safe houses, secure funding, and reactivate clandestine communication channels.
Dr. Tawohidul Haque, associate professor at the University of Dhaka’s Institute of Social Welfare and Research and a criminology specialist, believes the newly elected government will have to confront these challenges of terrorism. He told Bonik Barta: “Whichever government assumes power must adopt a zero–tolerance stance against all criminals from day one. Otherwise, there’s a risk of the country’s global standing deteriorating further. However, this depends on which party forms the government. The BNP was in power from 2001 to 2006, and they had coalition partners. This time, the situation is different. If the BNP comes to power, it could act much more unilaterally. If a genuine zero–tolerance policy towards criminals is adopted, the situation can be improved.”
Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies are concerned about the militants who escaped from jail. Their records show nine militants remain uncaptured: Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) Chattogram regional leader Abdul Malek, Abdul Matin, Azizur Rahman Polash, Amir Hossain, Nur e Alam, Nasir Hossain, Jahangir Shawkat Jewel, Sagar Ahmed and Mohiuddin Naim.
Assistant Inspector General of Police (Media and Public Relations) at Police Headquarters AHM Shahadat Hossain said authorities are working to locate and arrest the fugitive criminals. He told Bonik Barta that police are working to recapture the escaped prisoners and that many have already been apprehended in different regions and returned to custody. He said efforts continue to locate those who remain at large.