Mahfuz Alum: An ISI-Trained Islamist in Bangladesh’s Leadership Crisis
Bangladesh’s recent descent into chaos mirrors the trajectory of other Islamized nations like Syria and Pakistan. Just a year ago, Bangladeshis took pride in their economic progress, with some even claiming their advancements outpaced India’s. This optimism, however, quickly unraveled. By August, the country plunged into turmoil, with unrest brewing for a year or two prior.
The elected leader, Sheikh Hasina, had fallen out with the United States for reasons still unclear. Influenced by Biden-era “Deep State” politics, the U.S. reportedly sought regime change in Bangladesh, enlisting Pakistan’s ISI for support. The ISI exploited radicalized madrassa graduates, whose archaic views of the world made them ideal recruits. Funds, funneled through a Middle Eastern Sheikhdom, fueled their efforts to disrupt the status quo.
The unrest began with attacks on ruling party offices, provoking police action that was decried as brutality. Unknown to the Americans, they were inadvertently backing an Islamist movement. As violence escalated, madrassa recruits targeted Hindu households and temples, further inflaming the streets. Media coverage painted the situation as extreme police oppression, amplifying public outrage.
Amid the chaos, the Bangladeshi Army intervened, seemingly aware of the larger conspiracy. They forced Sheikh Hasina to leave her official residence and the country. Strangely, Western nations like Britain and France refused to grant her asylum, likely aware of the U.S. role in the crisis. Only India, albeit reluctantly, offered her refuge.
Who Are the Unknown Conspirators?
At the center of the conspiracy is Mahfuz Alam, a 29-year-old madrassa graduate steeped in extremist Islamic ideologies. Unconfirmed reports suggest he trained with Pakistan’s ISI at the urging of local Islamist clerics. Upon returning to Bangladesh, he kept a low profile and managed to enroll at Dhaka University’s Law College, despite his madrassa credentials being insufficient for admission. This enrollment was reportedly orchestrated to place him among college students and expand his influence. While at the university, Alam established secret Islamic cells across the city and beyond, devoting more time to organizing an Islamic revolution than to his studies.
In July or August, he and his network launched their plan, catching the government off guard. The resulting street riots have been widely documented.
Has the American Plan Failed?
The U.S.-backed regime change has backfired. Islamist forces now dominate Bangladesh, with Nobel Laureate Mohammad Yunus, a critic of Sheikh Hasina, acting as the de facto prime minister. However, real power lies with Mahfuz Alam, who is guided by Islamist clerics and the ISI. Unwittingly, Yunus took him to the UN General Assembly meeting in September and introduced him as the brains behind the uprising. Alam’s agenda includes targeting Bangladesh’s Hindu population, aiming to provoke India and sever Bangladesh’s economic and cultural ties with its neighbour India. His ultimate goal, aligning with ISI’s vision, is to reunite Bangladesh with Pakistan, recreating East and West Pakistan after 53 years.
This development has left the U.S. blindsided by Pakistan’s duplicity, while India faces a delicate challenge. Any action against Bangladesh could play into Islamist propaganda. The situation, largely engineered by Pakistan and unwittingly enabled by the U.S., has created a significant problem for India. One hopes the incoming President Trump recognizes this U.S. misstep and distances the U.S. from the rising Islamist forces in Bangladesh.
(The above is all published information)