In recent times, the joint forces of the Military and RAB have been conducting anti-terrorism operations in the Chittagong Hills to dismantle the extensive terrorist organization. During these operations, numerous militant members and leaders were arrested including the Jama’atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya’s ‘chief weapons supplier’. Over the massive operation flushing, even on 19 May, 3 KNF members were killed during the army operation.
Joint Forces operations traced the activities of another Islamic militant group operating in the CHT, known as Jama’atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya, this Islamic extremist group which is having deep ties with Kuki-chin.
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The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police disclosed that Abdur Rahim, the ‘chief weapons supplier’ was arrested. Following his arrest, a raid was conducted in Naikhongchhari, Bandarban, where weapons and bomb-making equipment were discovered buried deep within the forest.
On August 10, 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs of Bangladesh banned this militant group due to its threat to public safety and the country’s law and order. In June 2023, the CTTC also apprehended the group’s founder and leader, Shamin Mahfuz, along with his wife, who is also a member of the Sharqiya group.
Background of Jama’atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya
The terrorist group Jama’atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya was formed in 2017 with support from some other banned militant outfits. Two years later, the group had gained a foothold and its leaders joined hands with the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), a separatist group in Bandarban, to train militants in using assault rifles and creating Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
The activities of Jama’atul Ansar came to light in October 2022, when the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) was investigating the disappearance of seven youths from Cumilla. Later, a list of 55 trainees, mostly students from across the country, was discovered.
It is learned that the top leaders of Jama’atul Ansar are linked to Ansar Al Islam, Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and the Bangladesh chapter of the Pakistan-based group Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami (Huji). Jamaatul Ansar is mainly a splinter group of Harkatul Jihad and some other militant groups.
According to Md Asaduzzaman, the chief of CTTC, Jama’atul Ansar members spread militancy under the guise of people running a madrasa, converting people of other religions to Islam, and preaching Islam. It also planned to establish a caliphate in Bangladesh through armed struggle and carry out attacks on key installations and important personalities in India, Pakistan, and Myanmar.
Same Activities but Different Goals
Interrogating the KNF members arrested in the recent operation, the law enforcers learnt that
The Kuki-Chin National Army aims to establish an autonomous region in the same area, focusing on the Bowm, Khiam, Pangkhua, Lushai, Khumi, and Mro communities. On the other hand, Jama’atul Ansar primarily seeks to create an Islamic state in that region to fulfill their ultimate goal for caliphate in Bangladesh. Although their goals differ, the Kuki-Chin National Army provides training and shelter to Jama’atul Ansar members.
Simultaneously questions have come to the fore as to how members of pro-Al-Qaeda extremist groups formed relations with different ethnic groups, and how one group accepted another group.
Analyzing information from sources, Jama’atul Ansar had a strategic target to build up a safe den and train in the hills. For this purpose, cooperation is required with groups on the hill as this is a complicated terrain for security forces to monitor. So, they built up relations with the armed terrorist group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF). A written agreement was signed between the two organizations in 2020.
The head of RAB’s intelligence branch, Lt. Colonel Moshiur Rahman told media that KNF members are mainly from the Bowm ethnic community. The militant leaders convinced the KNF citing an example from Islamic history.
Meanwhile, questions have also come to the fore as to why KNF provided shelter to a different religious group. As per the information available, increasing manpower or strength was more important for the KNF’s survival in the hills to face many other rival terrorists to take control.
How Did They Become One?
The CTTC Chief said that while studying at the University of Dhaka, Jamaat-ul-Ansar leader Shamin Mahfuz planned to establish camps in the mountains. After finishing his studies, he started his career as a teacher at Bangladesh Open University. Eventually, he enrolled in a Ph.D. program at Jahangirnagar University. His research focused on the ethnic minorities in the hills. He desired to study this subject so that he could go to the hills and create safe havens there.
Mr. Asaduzzaman also said that during his university years, Shamin Mahfuz developed a friendship with Nathan Bowm. Shamin Mahfuz studied Sociology, while Nathan Bowm studied in the Department of Fine Arts. Through these interactions, Shamin Mahfuz engaged in discussions with Nathan Bowm about providing weapons training to the KNF.
The Secret Agreement
An officer involved in the investigation and interrogating of the arrested Sharqiya militants said that as a result of the friendship of the leaders of both militant groups, in April 2020, Shamin Mahfuz reached an agreement with the KNF at the Hotel Bay Wonders in Cox’s Bazar’s Kolatoli area. The agreement was signed on behalf of the militant organization by Myinul Islam, alias Roxy, and Shamin Mahfuz. Nathan Bowm signed on behalf of the KNF. Shamin Mahfuz drafted the agreement. Police have recovered the two-page agreement in an anti-terrorism drive.
According to the agreement, Jama’atul Ansar paid KNF three lakh taka per month for shelter and training. Apart from this, Jama’atul Ansar used to pay the food expenses for the 150 members of KNF. Training began in November 2021, contract until 2023. This financial gain prompted the KNF to ally with the disparate religious militant group.
The CTTC said, so far 55 Jama’atul Ansar members have received training in three batches at the KNF camp. Their training was supervised by KNF chief Nathan Bawm. Jama’atul Ansar also bought some arms (15 AK-22 rifles and shotguns) from them after taking training from KNF in their camps. Some country-made guns were also bought.
Apart from this, the military clothes they wear in training are made by the Islamic militants. They have two tailors in their team. One has been identified as Md. Didar, whose house is south of Cumilla Sadar. For more than a year, KNF and Jama’atul Ansar militants have stayed together in the hideouts of remote hills.
According to CTTC, the Sharqiya group even attempted to purchase AK-47 rifles through the KNF. However, they were unable to collect these weapons at the end.
The collaboration between Jama’atul Ansar and the Kuki-Chin National Front highlights the threat to the country’s sovereignty that may get extended to encompass other terrorist groups with divergent ideologies and goals. Despite their differing motivations for establishing an Islamic state versus an autonomous ethnic region, these groups found common ground in their violent methods and willingness to provide training, shelter, and resources to one another counting the government as their common enemy.
