Bangladesh and LeT: Separating assertion from verification

By Dr. Mohammad Asaduzzaman*

began reporting on 10 November that the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) may be seeking to use Bangladeshi territory to conduct attacks in India. These reports emerged soon after the vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) attack near the , which killed at least 13 people and injured more than 20. Indian authorities have described the incident as a terror attack and detained at least nine Indian nationals for suspected involvement. While there has been no official attribution from the Indian government, several Indian media reports have linked the attack to either the LeT or the Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), another Pakistan-based armed group.

Both the LeT and the JeM have been implicated in high-impact attacks in India over the past two decades. The LeT has claimed or been linked to the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2005 Delhi bombings, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the 2010 Pune bombing, and the 2025 Pahalgam attack. The JeM has claimed responsibility for the 2001 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly bombing and is suspected in the 2016 Uri and 2019 Pulwama attacks. India considers both groups to be supported by elements within Pakistan, and their activities have contributed to several periods of heightened tension between the two countries.

These armed groups are also designated as terrorist organizations by the United Nations, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Russia, Canada, Australia, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s designation reflects its legal obligations under UN Security Council resolutions rather than any involvement in India’s disputes with these organizations.

Successive governments in Bangladesh—regardless of party—have pursued a policy of “zero tolerance” toward terrorism. Measures include the ; counter-terrorism units within the Bangladesh Police, , and ; and public positions by major political parties rejecting violent extremism. Bangladesh has also formally conveyed condolences to India following incidents such as the recent Red Fort attack.

Bangladesh’s ranking of 35th on the —compared with Pakistan at 2nd and India at 14th—indicates relatively lower levels of terrorism-related incidents. Bangladesh also ranks ahead of several major states with greater resources. While rankings are not definitive assessments, they suggest that the country has achieved some success in limiting terrorist activity. Against this backdrop, characterizing Bangladesh as a potential base for transnational operations requires careful substantiation.

The current claims regarding LeT activity in Bangladesh rely primarily on a video attributed to an LeT commander, Saifullah Saif, in which he reportedly states that LeT operatives are active in the country. Such statements, without corroborating evidence, cannot verify whether the group has operational networks in Bangladesh. Militant organizations often issue statements that inflate operational presence or capability as part of psychological or propaganda strategies.

Other reports cite unnamed sources claiming LeT leader Hafiz Muhammad Saeed has sent an associate to Bangladesh to recruit and train youth. While anonymous sourcing can sometimes be necessary, it is widely seen as insufficient on its own to support conclusions about cross-border militant activity. Indian media outlets have relied frequently on anonymous sources in recent reporting on Bangladesh, which warrants caution in interpreting such claims. If credible information exists, established channels for intelligence sharing between India and Bangladesh would provide the appropriate pathway for verification and response.

Speculation also links the recent improvement in Pakistan–Bangladesh relations to an alleged expansion of LeT influence in Bangladesh. However, Bangladesh’s efforts to normalize bilateral ties with Pakistan have not involved security cooperation, nor have they signaled any tolerance for armed groups. Normalization efforts are political and diplomatic in nature and have not been directed against any third country, including India.

These reports also occur in a broader media and political environment in which some Indian commentators have advanced highly contentious proposals related to Bangladesh, including military intervention or territorial adjustments. While such positions represent individual views rather than official policy, their prominence underscores the need for careful, evidence-based reporting on bilateral matters.

India and Bangladesh have established mechanisms for cooperation on security and counter-terrorism. If Indian authorities possess actionable intelligence on LeT or any other militant activity in Bangladesh, engaging Dhaka through these mechanisms would enable an appropriate and mutually beneficial response. Bangladesh has consistently indicated a willingness to cooperate with India on issues of security, provided such engagement is based on mutual respect and established diplomatic protocols. Clear communication and evidence-based dialogue remain essential as both countries navigate complex regional security dynamics.

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*Professor, Department of Linguistics, University of Dhaka

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