Days after Bangladesh’s Supreme Court reinstated the political registration of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir, reports came out about Turkish intelligence agencies allegedly giving financial and logistical support to Islamist groups in Bangladesh.

News 18 reported, citing intelligence sources, that Turkish intelligence agencies particularly supported the radical outfit Jamaat-e-Islami. This raised serious concerns about India’s national security.

The report, citing sources again, claimed that Ankara’s backing went beyond ideological sympathy. It now includes full-fledged financial support. A key example cited was the renovation of Jamaat’s office in Dhaka’s Moghbazar, which sources believed had been funded by entities linked to Turkish intelligence. This effort pointed to an organised attempt to strengthen the group’s organisational and infrastructural base.

Founded in 1941 by Islamist ideologue Abul Ala Maududi in pre-Partition India, Jamaat-e-Islami entered East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) politics with a mission to create an Islamic state governed by Sharia law. Its role in Bangladesh’s Liberation War placed its name among the nation’s darkest chapters.

Intelligence inputs revealed a concerning trend. Turkish authorities reportedly facilitated visits by Bangladeshi Islamist leaders and student activists, including Sadiq Qayam, to Turkish arms manufacturing units. The inputs suggested that these visits aimed to enable access to military know-how and possibly weapon supplies.

Under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey reportedly expanded its influence among Islamist factions in South Asia. Turkish institutions hosted religious seminars and workshops targeting South Asian Muslims. Intelligence sources said this was part of Ankara’s larger pan-Islamist outreach. Indian security agencies believed this ideological grooming could radicalise vulnerable populations and align them with Turkish geopolitical ambitions.

News 18, citing intelligence sources, further reported that Turkey, Pakistan’s ISI, and Bangladesh’s Jamaat-e-Islami formed a strategic alliance aimed at destabilising India. This trilateral network reportedly facilitated the movement of funds, weapons, and extremist ideology across South Asia. It used Bangladesh as a staging ground for anti-India activities. Security analysts warned that the growing strength of this alliance posed a serious challenge to regional stability and India’s internal security.

Jamaat’s resurgence did not happen in isolation. It followed months of political turmoil in Bangladesh. The unrest began with anti-quota protests that quickly evolved into a nationwide anti-government movement in 2024. The violence left more than 400 people dead. It also forced Sheikh Hasina into self-imposed exile. Her party, the Awami League, has since been banned.

For India, Jamaat’s active role in Bangladeshi politics did not represent a mere procedural change in a neighbouring country. It represented a potential strategic reversal. India had long viewed the Hasina-led government as a dependable partner on issues such as counterterrorism, intelligence sharing, border stability and regional trade. Jamaat’s ideological leanings, its pro-Pakistan posture, and its history of minority persecution placed it in direct conflict with India’s security interests.