Notorious jihadist outfits Hizbut Tahrir and Hizb Ut Towhid, in affiliation with members of Islami Chhatra Shibir [student front of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami] have reportedly established a number of training camps with hill tract areas in Bangladesh, especially Banderban and Cox's Bazar. Members of Islami Chhatra Shibir are also continuing propaganda in favor of these jihadist outfits by using various means, including social networking sites.
For past few days, one of the members of Islami Chhatra Shibir, named Shaokat Osman has been continuing to comment "We have Islam in Egypt, now we need in Bangladesh." He also has been propagating in favor of Professor Golam Azam, Delwar Hossain Sayeedi and other leader of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, who now are facing trial into their alleged war crimes. Shaokat Osman also continues to put jihadist slogans and notions as well as critical comments on the ruling Bangladesh Awami League in the social networking sites. It is seen from searching the social websites that, various individuals as well as jihadist groups in Bangladesh are now using the social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube in spreading propaganda materials as well as hate materials against the ruling party in Bangladesh.
Staffs of Weekly Blitz, getting the scoop of the activities of Shaokat Osman, started investigating into the matter and found fearsome information on the spread of jihadist groups such as Hizbut Tahrir or Hizb Ut Towhid, through the help of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its wings in Bangladesh. It is also learnt from various sources that hidden agents of Hizbut Tahrir and Hizb Ut Towhid are actively trying to propagate the "Khelafat" [Caliphate] mission of these groups amongst the students of various English medium schools and colleges. This was particularly done by some of the colleague teachers and friends of Mohiuddin Ahmed [kingpin of Hizbut Tahrir in Bangladesh] as well as some affluent members of Hizb Ut Towhid.
In attracting youths towards jihad, agents and members of Hizb Ut Towhid use the social networking sites and continue to spread hate materials against the West as well as neighboring nations of Bangladesh. These members also publicize imaginary stories on repression of Muslims or even non Muslims being oppressed in the non Muslim nations. They portray the Western societies as "perverts" and even try to draw a picture, where youths in Bangladesh would see the Western people growing up with extreme hatred for Islam. In some sites, such as Facebook, jihadist group Hizb Ut Towhid publishes portions of the hate materials from their infamous book and DVD named 'Dajjal' or even sermons of Wajed Panni aka Selim Panni, the kingpin of this group. In most of such sermons, people are called towards jihad against the West. This group has established an office in Malaysia few years back with a Bangladeshi national as the chief of this outlet of the jihadist group. Hizb Ut Towhid donors send millions of dollar every month to this Malaysia representative, who maintains several luxurious vehicles as well as a posh apartment, wherefrom the activities of this group in Malaysia is continuing. Hizb Ut Towhid publicity materials are secretly distributed from this office, while one of the main tasks of the Malaysia representative of Hizb Ut Towhid is to coordinate with various jihadist outlets in the world. According to sources, currently Hizb Ut Towhid alone has more than 98,000 activists inside Bangladesh, many of whom have joined this group from other jihadist outlets such as Harkatul Jihad or Lashkar-e-Toiba. On the other hand, Hizbut Tahrir has already expanded its network in most parts of Bangladesh, recruiting above two hundred thousand people. Major segment of these activists of Hizbut Tahrir are from affluent or educated class in the society.
It is learnt from a number of sources that, both Hizbut Tahrir and Hizb Ut Towhid are secretly planning bomb attack on a number of posh hotels and bars in Bangladesh along with some of the foreign NGOs during the Valentine's Day. Members of these groups are secretly collecting information on the targeted places to finalize their bombing plan. It is even apprehended that these groups are planning for suicide bombing or planting car bombs or bombs inside rooms of some posh hotels in the country. Prime targets of these groups are Westin Hotel, Radisson Hotel, Dhaka Regency Hotel, Royal Park Hotel, Sonargaon Pan Pacific Hotel, Dhaka Club, Fu Wang Club, Royal Park Hotel, Pyongyang Restaurant, Arirang Restaurant, Ruchita Bar, bar at Zakaria International Hotel, bar at La Vinci Hotel etc.
