Hizb ut-Tahrir in Bangladesh is a banned[1] international Islamist organization.[2]
Mohiuddin Ahmed, Dhaka University teacher, is the chief coordinator of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Bangladesh. He was forced into retirement after the organization was banned in 2009. He was charged under Anti-terrorism Act in 2016.[3] Shafiur Rahman Farabi, a leader of the organization was charged in the murder of blogger and secular activist Ananta Bijoy Das in March 2017.[4] The group is alleged to have ties with government, security, and university officials.[5]
In 1993, Dr Syed Golam Maula had gone to London, United Kingdom to pursue his PhD degree where he was introduced to Hizb ut-Tahrir. He also met Nasimul Gani and Kawsar Shahnewaz in London. After returning to Bangladesh they set up the local chapter on 2000 in a coaching centre in Road 6A, Dhanmondi, Dhaka.[6] Hizb ut-Tahrir was banned on 22 October 2009. The group wants to establish a Kaleefa in Bangladesh and does not support democracy in the country. At the time of its ban, the group listed its address as HM Siddique Mansion, 55/A Purana Paltan, 4th Floor, Dhaka.[7][8]
The group supported the 2011 Bangladesh coup d'état attempt by some members of Bangladesh Army who had ties with the group.[9] On 9 February 2013 charges were framed against 6 members of the group including chief coordinator Mohiuddin Ahmed.[10] In October 2014 the members of the group clashed with the police after they bought out a rally in Muhammadpur, Dhaka.[11] On 15 June 2016 Golam Faizullah Fahim, a member of the group, was arrested after trying to kill a Hindu college teacher in Madaripur. He died in custody after a “gunfight with police,”.[6] The group had promised legal aid to captured members and support to their families if they died in the terror attacks.[12] As of 2016, 650 members of the group were arrested; of whom 400 were able to secure bail. The group conducts protests outside of mosques and has a well maintained online presence.[6]
In January 2016, six members of the group were expelled from Dhaka University.[13] The organization has been trying to recruit students from different educational institutes in Bangladesh.[14] In October 2016 Hizb ut-Tahrir asked the members of Bangladesh Army to fight against Myanmar over the Rohingya crisis.[15] A number of students and professors of North South University in Bangladesh were arrested over ties to this group and terrorist activities.[16] The government had kept an eye on the university after 7 of its students were arrested for involvement in the Murder of blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider.[17][18] North South University is private university with about 22,000 students in Dhaka.[19] In 2015 printed material of the group was found in the Library of North South University.[20] Pro-Vice Chancellor Gias Uddin Ahsan was arrested for providing shelter to those involved in the 2016 July Dhaka Attack.[21]