Bangladesh: Counter-terrorism operation highlights terror threat

Event

The Counter Terrorism and Transnational unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police led an operation on Monday, October 15, in Narsingdi, 50 km (30 mi) northeast of the capital Dhaka. Two buildings were identified as harboring suspected Islamist militants. At least 100 security forces were mobilized for the operation. On October 16, the local authorities confirmed that two suspected members of the Islamist Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) terrorist group had been killed during the raid. This latest operation highlights the high terror threat in the country.

Context

Such counter-terrorism operations are not uncommon in Bangladesh and have greatly intensified since the July 2016 attack on a café popular with foreigners in Dhaka. In August 2017, a plot targeting Mourning Day commemorations in Dhaka was foiled. Further attacks cannot be excluded in the short to medium term.

Advice

Individuals in Bangladesh are advised to remain vigilant particularly when visiting sites deemed likely to be targeted in an attack (airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners etc.).