The eight Bangladeshi workers arrested for forming the Islamic State in Bangladesh (ISB) had drawn up a list to target at least 13 categories of people and agencies in their homeland, including the police, senior government leaders, and “disbelievers” who did not share their religious faith.
The list of targets was found in a document titled “We Need for Jihad Fight”, and recovered from alleged ringleader Rahman Mizanur who wanted to bring Bangladesh under the caliphate of the Islamic State (IS).
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the group had no specific plans to target Singapore. But the ministry added that Rahman had said he would launch an attack anywhere if he was instructed by the IS to do so. They were also planning to raise funds to buy firearms.
The group’s plans were foiled last month when they were detained under the Internal Security Act. Rahman had been recruiting members for his group since January, and set up the ISB in March.
The Border Guard of Bangladesh, the Rapid Action Battalion and the police topped the list of what the group called “Target of Enimies (sic) Forces Need to Kill”. Military targets also included the Civil Information Defence, the air force and the navy.
Government officials such as MPs, government officials at general or secretary level, and government leaders were also on the list.
The eight also listed media professionals and “disbelievers”, which they identified as Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, “Nastiks” and “Munafiks”, on their hit list. “Nastiks” and “Munafiks” are derogatory terms used respectively to describe atheists and Muslims deemed to be working to undermine their own faith.
Apart from the hit list, material on weapons and bomb making was also found. The cover of the bomb making material had the text “How to make explosives through action and reaction?” A manual for the AX50 sniper rifle was also recovered.
Five other Bangladeshis were found with jihadi-related material or supporting the use of armed violence for a religious cause, and have been repatriated.
In January, it was revealed that 27 Bangladeshi construction workers had been arrested for planning to wage jihad overseas. In March, four Singaporeans were dealt with under the ISA for taking part in violence, or planning to take part in armed conflict abroad.
Source: TODAY Online
