The UN Security Council has expressed “some concern” over attempts by al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) to exploit Bangladesh to establish cells in the country, according to a new report.
The 38th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, prepared pursuant to relevant Security Council resolutions and published on 10 August, said the overall threat level remained broadly unchanged but had intensified in the Sahel and South Asia.
The report comes as improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found in different parts of the country and half a dozen suspected militants were arrested over the past year.
“Regional tensions in South Asia remained high as cross-border attacks between Pakistan and Afghanistan continued,” the report said.
Referring to developments in India and Bangladesh, the report said the November 2025 attack on Delhi’s Red Fort was officially attributed to AQIS.
“There was some concern about AQIS trying to exploit Bangladesh to establish cells there,” it said.
Former ambassador Md Mostafizur Rahman, who served twice at Bangladesh’s permanent mission to the UN in New York, said, “Different technical committees are formed to assess the implementation of different UNSC resolutions. Usually, the committees are manned by experts, and they make credible and logical recommendations. Unless there are political considerations, committee reports are usually endorsed by the UNSC.”
A retired general and security expert, speaking on condition of anonymity, said some radical elements subscribing to al-Qaida or Islamic State ideology operate in Bangladesh but generally maintain a low profile.
“They usually keep their profile low and work as sleeping cells,” he said.
“If the situation demands, or if they feel that the government is weak and unable to contain them, they usually become active and engage in destructive activities,” he added.
The security expert said authorities in Dhaka should remain alert and vigilant to prevent any attempt by AQIS or other militant groups to establish operational networks in Bangladesh.
The report covers the period from 16 December 2025 to 9 June 2026. It noted that the reporting period marked 15 years since the death of al-Qaida founder Usama bin Laden, while the next reporting period will mark 25 years since the 11 September 2001 attacks in the United States.
“If al-Qaida fails to mark these events in some way, it may be seen as further evidence of its declining relevance as a global movement,” the report said.
Chemical and biological weapons
The report also said al-Qaida and ISIL (Da’esh) had maintained a sustained interest in developing chemical and biological weapons but had so far failed to overcome the technical challenges involved.
Instructions on developing such weapons, however, have been widely circulated within online extremist communities, it said.
“For example, in February, ISIL (Da’esh)’s English-language Invade magazine included instructions on how to develop botulinum toxin and cyanide,” the report said.
The report said ISIL-K had shown a “particular interest” in developing biological toxins and had circulated instructions on producing ricin over the past year.
It also noted that Indian authorities arrested three people, including a doctor, at the end of 2025 who had allegedly been tasked by an ISIL (Da’esh) cell based abroad with developing ricin.
The report reiterated that regional tensions in South Asia remained high, particularly amid continuing cross-border attacks between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The latest assessment highlights continuing concerns among UN monitoring bodies over the ability of transnational militant groups to exploit political instability and regional tensions to expand their networks in South Asia.
