The Awami League government frequently labeled political opposition as terrorism in 2023, according to the US State Department's "Country Reports on Terrorism 2023" for Bangladesh.
"The government frequently conflated political opposition with 'terrorism', and some elements of the security forces allegedly conducted extrajudicial killings and committed other human rights violations," the report stated, released on Thursday.
Despite this, Bangladesh reported no incidents of "transnational terrorist violence" during the year, as authorities maintained rigorous anti-militant operations.
Counterterrorism efforts and militant activities
The report highlighted US-trained Bangladeshi police units' role in arresting dozens of terrorist suspects. It also documented attacks in the Chittagong Hill Tracts by the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), which killed three soldiers in separate incidents in March and May 2023.
The government had earlier linked the KNF to training grounds for Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya (JAHS). Although JAHS did not launch attacks during the year, its alleged leader was arrested in July.
The report further noted that Moinul Hasan Shamim and Abu Siddiq Sohel—convicted for the 2015 murder of publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan—remained at large throughout 2023 after escaping custody in November 2022.
Digital laws and human rights concerns
The 2023 replacement of the Digital Security Act (DSA) with the Cyber Security Act (CSA) drew attention, as many provisions of the DSA were reinstated. The new law granted law enforcement agencies increased powers to arrest government critics and civil society representatives for exercising free speech, the report observed.
The US also imposed sanctions on the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in 2021 for human rights violations. In 2023, the RAB and other law enforcement agencies arrested 163 individuals and filed 55 cases, the report said.
Enhanced border security and Interpol collaboration
The report praised technological upgrades in border patrol and screening processes, particularly at Chittagong port and Dhaka airport. Bangladesh continued its collaboration with INTERPOL and welcomed further US assistance for refining its terrorist watchlist.
In the Rohingya camps, the government flagged risks of radicalization but reported no terrorism-related threats. "Government officers often refer to gang violence in the camps as terrorism," the report added.
Financial and institutional counterterrorism efforts
Bangladesh remained a member of the Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering and the Egmont Group through its Financial Intelligence Unit. However, the report noted no significant advancements in countering financial terrorism in 2023.
Terrorist recruitment in the prison system persisted as a concern. To address this, a US program provided specialized training for managing dangerous prisoners.
Global counterterrorism engagement
Bangladesh participated in counterterrorism efforts through the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and attended a meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Kuwait as an observer. The session focused on Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs), though Bangladesh declined to repatriate its nationals detained in northeast Syria.
The report also noted Bangladesh's membership in the Strong Cities Network, with cities like Dhaka, Narayanganj, and Savar actively engaging in the initiative.
In summary, while Bangladesh has made notable progress in counterterrorism measures, challenges remain regarding human rights concerns, prison recruitment, and the conflation of political opposition with terrorism.