Malaysia Arrests 36 Bangladeshi Nationals in ISIS Terror Crackdown: Uncovering a Hidden Network of Radicalization and Financing

Image: Jihad Watch

According to Malaysia’s Home Minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, the recently detained suspects were actively engaged in promoting and spreading ISIS ideologies within the country. Intelligence collected by the Special Branch of the Royal Malaysian Police uncovered that this group had been operating covertly, skillfully leveraging informal community networks to identify, influence, and recruit vulnerable individuals susceptible to extremist jihadist narratives. Malaysian authorities revealed that the suspects were not only focused on ideological propagation but were also involved in the collection of financial contributions intended to support jihadist organizations operating abroad. This illicit activity is a direct violation of Malaysia’s stringent anti-terrorism laws, which strictly prohibit any form of support or facilitation of terrorist enterprises.

Out of the total 36 Bangladeshi nationals detained in connection with this operation, five individuals have been formally charged under Chapter VIA of the Malaysian Penal Code, a section dedicated to addressing terrorism-related offenses. These suspects were subsequently brought before Sessions Courts in Shah Alam and Johor Bahru, where they face legal proceedings for charges including aiding and abetting terrorist activities, supplying resources to jihadist groups, and posing a tangible threat to the nation’s security. Meanwhile, an additional 15 individuals identified as jihadi operatives have been served deportation orders and are set to be sent back to Bangladesh. The remaining 16 detainees continue to be held in custody as Malaysian authorities conduct further investigations to ascertain the full extent of their involvement and any connections they may have within the broader extremist network.

The Malaysian government has been unequivocal in reiterating its zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism and foreign jihadist influence within its borders. Minister Saifuddin emphasized that this recent crackdown serves as a clear demonstration of Malaysia’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding national security and ensuring that its territory does not become a sanctuary or operational base for international terror networks. He credited the success of this operation to the vigilance, dedication, and professionalism of Malaysia’s security and intelligence agencies. Under the framework of the “Madani Government,” Malaysia continues to prioritize proactive and preventative measures designed to detect, disrupt, and dismantle terrorist threats before they can escalate into more severe security challenges.

Malaysia, which hosts over half a million Bangladeshi migrant workers, faces significant challenges in regulating undocumented labor and mitigating the risk of jihadist recruitment within these vulnerable migrant communities. Security experts have expressed serious concerns that certain Islamic extremist groups may exploit these migrant populations, quietly disseminating radical jihadist ideologies and recruiting individuals who often live on the fringes of society, thereby evading detection by national security agencies. Human rights organizations, often critical of government actions perceived as targeting minority or foreign groups, have voiced opposition to what they term “blanket criminalization” of migrant labor communities. However, Malaysian officials have firmly defended the operations as highly targeted and based exclusively on verified intelligence, aimed solely at individuals posing legitimate threats to national security.

The ongoing legal proceedings against the five formally charged suspects may set important precedents for future anti-terrorism enforcement in Malaysia. The individuals facing deportation will be handed over to Bangladeshi authorities for further action, while investigations continue into the remaining detainees to fully uncover the extent and nature of the network’s activities, affiliations, and potential local collaborators.

By dismantling what appears to be a significant recruitment and funding hub for ISIS operations, these arrests send a strong and unequivocal message about Malaysia’s commitment to remaining vigilant and uncompromising in its counter-terrorism efforts. This development underscores the nation’s resolve to prevent the spread of violent extremism within its borders.

Bangladesh, in recent years, has increasingly become a focal point for jihadist activity in South Asia and beyond, with a notable surge in recruitment efforts linked to global jihad networks. The tragic 2016 Dhaka Holey Artisan Bakery attack, in which ISIS-affiliated jihadis killed 22 people including many foreigners, shocked the international community. Other significant incidents include the 2012 attempted bombing of the Federal Reserve in New York by Bangladeshi national Quazi Mohammad Rezwanul Ahsan Nafis, who was arrested and sentenced to 30 years in prison. Similarly, Akayed Ullah, another Bangladeshi immigrant, was convicted for the 2017 Times Square subway pipe bomb attack inspired by ISIS ideology.

Indian authorities have also reported multiple cases involving Bangladeshi nationals connected to jihadist activities. In 2017, Abdullah al Mamun was arrested in Uttar Pradesh for operating a terror cell linked to ISIS-style recruitment and identity fraud under the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT). In 2021, Mohammed Abdul Mannan Bachu was arrested in West Bengal for online recruitment for Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), accused of facilitating fake Indian identities for militants infiltrating India. The same year, Najiur Rahman Pavel was sentenced to six years in prison by India’s National Investigation Agency for financing JMB through informal money transfers (hundi) aimed at destabilizing India. In December 2024, Indian authorities arrested eight operatives, including Md Sad Radi, a Bangladeshi national connected with sleeper-cell networks under ABT, which operates as an Al-Qaeda affiliate. Earlier in 2025, West Bengal’s Special Task Force apprehended Ajmol Hossain and Saheb Ali Khan for plotting attacks, recruitment, and spreading JMB’s jihadist ideology.

Experts warn that inadequate enforcement, increasing online recruitment targeting Muslim youth, and porous cross-border terror networks have allowed extremist groups to embed themselves deeply within Bangladesh’s Islamic society. Without urgent and sustained countermeasures, this trend threatens not only Bangladesh but the broader South Asian region and global efforts to curb jihadist terrorism.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)