US Report: Bangladesh‍‍`s opposition leaders targeted under Terrorism charges in 2023

A recent report by the United States State Department has revealed some troubling details about the situation in Bangladesh in 2023. 

The report claims that many opposition political leaders were detained under the accusation of terrorism. 

In addition to this, there were serious concerns about human rights violations during the same period.

The report states that there were no major international terrorist attacks in Bangladesh in 2023. 

However, it highlights that the government often labeled political opponents as “terrorists.” 

This led to accusations of human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings and other violations by certain security agencies.

The Bangladeshi government focused heavily on fighting terrorism during the year. 

They cracked down on groups like al-Qaeda, Ansarullah Bangla Team (also known as Ansar al-Islam), and the ISIS-linked New Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (Neo-JMB). 

According to the report, U.S.-trained police units in Bangladesh arrested several people suspected of being involved in terrorism.

The report also mentions a number of violent attacks. 

In May 2023, two soldiers were killed in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts by the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), an ethnic separatist group. Another soldier was killed in a similar attack in March. 

There were also claims that the KNF was involved in training a new group called Jamaat-ul-Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya (JAHSH), which is said to have links to al-Qaeda. 

However, Bangladeshi authorities took action early in the year to control this group. 

By July, the group’s leader had been arrested, which greatly reduced their activities.

The report also talks about changes to Bangladesh’s Digital Security Act, which was renamed the Cyber Security Act. 

This law was meant to stop online terrorism. However, the report suggests that it could also limit people‍‍`s freedom of speech and allow for arrests over political disagreements.

On a positive note, the report also mentions ongoing security cooperation between Bangladesh and the United States. 

The U.S. has been helping Bangladesh by training its law enforcement officers and judges. 

They have also assisted in improving airport security in the country.

This report paints a picture of a year where the government of Bangladesh took strong steps to combat terrorism but also used its power in ways that affected political freedoms and human rights.