Tarique Rahman wants inciting jihadism and anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh

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Pro-Islamist Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), with the help of its cohorts, the notorious Jamaat-e-Islami, Hefazat-e-Islam and militancy groups such as Jamaatul Mujahedin Bangladesh, Ansar Al Islam, Hizbut Tahrir and Hizbul Mujahedin (in India) wants to push forward the agenda of destabilizing Bangladesh. This was suggested by BNP’s fugitive leader Tarique Rahman, who has expressed his willingness of playing the jihadist and anti-India cards as the “most convenient” tools of putting Awami League government under pressure. During the recent closed-door web-meetings with his party comrades, Tarique reportedly has asked them to “further deepen” relations with “Islamic” and “anti-India” forces in Bangladesh.

According to party-insiders, Tarique Rahman citing Afghanistan issue said “Look what has happened in Afghanistan. A mighty America had to flee the country like rats. If a superpower like America could not help its favorable government in Kabul, what Indians can do if we stand united? Mobilize yourselves in awakening anti-India sentiment within the people. With people’s help, Insha Allah we shall succeed in overthrowing this government”.

Tarique assured his party men, BNP enjoys support from the Muslim world and Pakistan.

It was earlier reported in Blitz, Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman has instructed party members to generate a massive media campaign targeting the 2023 Bangladesh general elections. A budget of BDT 3 billion has been finalized, which will be spent for campaigns in Bangladesh and abroad. According to sources, the party has also contacted 3 lobbyists in the US to lobby for Washington’s support. Two of the lobbyists are known to be pro-Democrats, while another is a pro-Republican. The party has also contacted a large Public Relations firm in the US, which has previously extended service to a number of key political events including the election campaign of Barack Obama in 2007, and played an important role in generating massive media support in his favor.

From January 2022, BNP will launch at least a dozen YouTube channels and three news websites to further their propaganda before the polls.

Following recent social media campaigns by anti-government individuals such as Kanak Sarwar, Shahidul Islam and Shahid Uddin Khan, which has gained a substantial momentum, Tarique Rahman has decided to shift the party’s focus towards campaigning vigorously before the 2023 polls. Although Awami League has created a cyber activists unit comprising 100,000 members, the members of the ruling party are not conspicuous in social media. In contrast, members of BNP-Jamaat and Hefazat already are extremely active on social media platforms, mostly countering pro-Awami League and anti-BNP, Jamaat and Hefazat contents.

Additionally, Tarique Rahman is going to set up a media cell in London with several BNP activists with a target of providing anti-Awami League feedback and contents to global media outlets, including Al Jazeera and BBC. According to information, a British journalist, who is also related to a pro-BNP politician, is also going to play a vital role in BNP’s media cell.

Tarique Rahman speaks to Pakistani ISI chief

On September 14 at 11:47 pm (Bangladesh time), BNP leader Tarique Rahman spoke to Pakistani ISI’s chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed and discussed strategies of beginning anti-government activities in Bangladesh by the end of this year.

According to credible source, Tarique Rahman shared his desire of inciting anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh and mobilizing people against Awami League government. But a skeptical Faiz Hameed told Tarique, Islamabad believes BNP is gradually becoming isolated from the people.

When Tarique Rahman reminded the ISI chief that a world superpower had to flee Afghanistan because of strong resistance of the Taliban, Lt Gen Faiz Meer said, such things may not happen in Bangladesh as BNP has missed the opportunity of mobilizing its total force during the March 26 Bangladesh visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He suggested Tarique of “minimizing differences” with Jamaat-e-Islami and “other stake holders”.

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