Staff Correspondent
Dhaka, July 18 — A group of demonstrators marched in front of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka on Friday, chanting radical slogans and waving flags associated with global jihadist groups, including Al-Qaeda and ISIS.
Eyewitnesses said the crowd chanted “Who are you, who am I? Jihadi! Jihadi!” after the Friday prayers. Many held black flags with Arabic script, similar to those used by Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The rally began at the High Court intersection, passed through Paltan, and ended at the mosque’s northern gate, where the group entered the premises.
About 100 people gathered at the site before the prayers, shouting slogans like “Establish the Caliphate” and “Jihad is obligatory.” Video clips from the rally have since circulated on social media, showing masked men carrying militant flags and repeating the same chants.
Security officials have not released an official statement. However, a senior officer at the police headquarters, speaking anonymously, said the incident was serious and that intelligence agencies were reviewing footage to identify the participants.
Security analyst Aminul Haque called the rally deeply concerning. He said a public show of extremism in such a high-profile location pointed to an organised attempt to spread radical ideology in both physical and digital spaces.
The rally follows recent political changes in Bangladesh. After the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5 last year, an interim administration was formed under Dr Muhammad Yunus. Since then, at least 50 convicted militants have reportedly been released, including Jasim Uddin Rahmani, a key figure behind several blogger killings.
Observers allege that banned groups like Hizb ut-Tahrir have become more active in recent months, emboldened by what they describe as leniency or indirect backing from the new administration.
The rally has triggered alarm among both law enforcement and civil society groups, with calls growing for the government to act before further escalation.