Security crackdown continued against opposition figures including paramilitary Rapid Action Battalion’s reported abduction 3 Dec of three Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) activists in Natore district, found dead two days later. BNP chair Khaleda Zia pleaded not guilty to corruption charges in special court 1 Dec. High court 13 Dec issued three-month stay on anti-corruption case against BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas. Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha 10 Dec pressed parliament to scrap constitutional provisions dating from military-backed caretaker regime in 2007 empowering president to control postings, promotions and discipline of lower court judges, arguing they contradict basic constitutional principles. Supreme Court 12 Dec ordered law ministry to issue notification by 15 Jan establishing conduct rules for lower courts consistent with separation of powers. Amid continued clampdown on civil society, free speech and political opposition, authorities early Dec launched fresh investigation into financial affairs of Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus. In 18 Dec meeting, BNP delegation urged President Hamid to form interim cabinet to oversee next national election, due by early 2019. BNP 6 Dec submitted proposal to president’s office to reconstitute Election Commission and amend Representation of the People Order to give military more authority during polling. Security forces 20 Dec arrested two suspected members of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) faction believed to be involved in July Gulshan attack. Woman believed to have JMB links blew herself up during police raid on house in Dhaka 24 Dec. Awami League MP Manjurul Islam shot dead by masked men at his home in Gaibandha district 31 Dec. As tens of thousands of Rohingyas fled military crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine state to Bangladesh (see Myanmar), Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan 1 Dec said they would be sent back to Myanmar at “convenient time”; Zia called on govt to give refugees shelter, calling Myanmar’s action “genocide”.

Police and paramilitary Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) raids on suspected Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) hideouts continued. RAB 17 Nov claimed to have arrested five JMB and al-Qaeda-linked Ansarul Islam members in Dhaka allegedly involved in 1 July Gulshan attack. Police 6 Nov charged eight JMB operatives with 23 April murder of Rajshahi University professor A.F.M. Rezaul Karim. Amid widespread reports of increasing human rights violations connected to counter-terrorism operations, Supreme Court 10 Nov published final verdict of 24 May ruling ordering govt to amend two sections of criminal procedure code relating to arrests without warrant and interrogation in custody; verdict established guidelines to ensure due process in arrests as well as accountability procedures in cases of torture and custodial death. Political tensions between ruling Awami League (AL) and opposition Bangladesh National Party (BNP) continued. BNP 17 Nov announced it would contest Narayanganj district mayoral elections 22 Dec, however maintained plans to boycott local council elections, alleging rigging. BNP leader Khaleda Zia 18 Nov proposed deployment of military personnel during mayoral elections, as well as granting military magisterial powers. BNP also proposed new process requiring president to consult all 40 registered political parties on candidates for next Election Commission to oversee parliamentary elections, scheduled to be held by 2019. Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu called Zia’s proposals “illogical, unrealistic, anti-constitutional and abnormal”. AL sec gen Obaidul Quader also rejected proposals. Following 30 Oct attacks on Hindu community in Brahmanbaria district in which over 100 homes and five temples were vandalised, at least ten similar attacks occurred early Nov, including several houses set on fire 4 Nov in Upazila town; wave of anti-Hindu attacks were reportedly sparked by alleged comment on social media. Bangladesh Coast Guard and Border Guard 19 Nov reportedly prevented some 125 Myanmar ethnic Rohingyas, including women and children, from crossing Naf river as they fled military crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine state (see Myanmar); Bangladesh officials 28 Nov said over 1,000 Rohingyas had been turned away at border in last two weeks of Nov.

Counter-terrorism crackdown continued: police and paramilitary Rapid Action Batallion (RAB) 8 Oct killed eleven suspected militants in joint police and paramilitary raids in Gazipur and Tangail; during raid in Savar same day, RAB killed alleged top financier of “neo-Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB)”, JMB offshoot believed to be involved in July Gulshan attack. Local human rights group Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) 30 Sept reported some 150 people have been killed in police custody and crossfire during operations in 2016. Police late Sept announced plans to establish SWAT-like teams in each divisional city to conduct high-risk counter-terrorism operations. Law enforcement officials 16 Oct reportedly arrested leader of five-member team of al-Qaeda-linked Ansarul Islam militants who hacked and shot online activist Nazim Uddin Samad to death in April. JMB operative Asadul Islam executed 16 Oct for killing two judges in 2005. Dhaka police counter-terrorism chief 18 Oct said JMB is regrouping under new head and financing operations through robberies. Dhaka courts 5 Oct dismissed charges against Canadian student Tahmid Hasib Khan, accused of involvement in 1 Jul Gulshan attack, but asked that new charges be filed against him for concealing information during investigations. Hasnat Karim, former professor also accused of involvement in attack, remained in custody. International Crimes Tribunal responsible for prosecuting crimes committed during 1971 liberation war launched investigations into war crime allegations against Ameer Maqbul Ahmad after he formally assumed leadership of Jamaat-e-Islami 17 Oct. In apparent move to tighten restrictions on international NGOs, parliament 5 Oct released Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Bill 2016 (FDRB), requiring foreign NGOs to submit activities to bureau under PM’s office for approval. Law controversially gives bureau power to cancel NGOs’ registration for making “derogatory” remarks against govt.

Security forces 2 Sept killed alleged Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) commander suspected of providing arms and training gunmen responsible for July Gulshan attack. Police 11 Sept reported another suspect in Gulshan attacks, Abdul Karim, killed himself during police raid on alleged militant hideout in Dhaka. Opposition Bangladesh National Party (BNP) leader Khaleda Zia 1 Sept accused police of political motivations in anti-militant raids, less than one week after home minister claimed that Gulshan and Sholakia attacks had been “politically instigated”, implicating Jamaat-e-Islami. Police 6 Sept pressed charges against Tarique Rahman, BNP senior vice chairman and son of Khaleda Zia, on sedition case filed Jan 2015 for “provocative” speech; Dhaka court 29 Sept issued warrant for Rahman’s arrest. Visiting Dhaka 29 Aug, U.S. Sec State Kerry reinforced U.S. support to country in fight against militancy; also met with Zia and BNP’s Sec Gen, who sought U.S. support for restoring democracy and rule of law. Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem Ali executed 3 Sept after Supreme Court 30 Aug dismissed his petition to review judgment upholding death sentence for atrocities committed during 1971 war. Pakistani and Turkish govts condemned execution; Dhaka dismissed criticisms as “brazen interference”.

Govt crackdown on suspected jihadists including those responsible for July Gulshan and Sholakia attacks continued. Security forces 27 Aug killed three alleged militants in Dhaka, including Bangladeshi-Canadian, Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, accused of masterminding Gulshan attack. Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) 4 Aug killed two alleged militants in Mymensingh district, reportedly linked to 7 July Sholakia attack. Law enforcement arrested at least ten alleged Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen (JMB) operatives throughout month, including five reportedly arrested with explosives and detonators 11 Aug. Police 5-6 Aug detained at least eighteen suspected jihadists in four different districts, including fourteen Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists allegedly possessing jihadist propaganda. Police 4 Aug detained Bangladeshi-UK national Hasnat Karim and Bangladeshi Canadian permanent resident Tahmid Hasib, both present at café during attacks, for suspected involvement. Officials 13 Aug said investigation had yielded evidence of Karim’s involvement, Hasib interrogation ongoing. Police 12 Aug said they had identified another “top-level militant organiser” responsible for coordinating attack. Following July announcement of plans for national convention against militancy, Bangladesh National Party (BNP) continued efforts to forge “national unity” against jihadist violence; smaller opposition parties raised objections to participating in platform that would include BNP ally Jamaat-e-Islaami, several of whose members were detained for suspected involvement in attacks. BNP 6 Aug constituted new national executive committee, prompting criticism from PM Sheikh Hasina for inclusion of family members and personal staff of convicted war criminals Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Abdul Alim. Dhaka court 17 Aug issued arrest warrants for 67 leaders and activists of BNP-led opposition alliance, in connection with Feb 2015 arson case. Two separate Dhaka courts 10 Aug granted BNP chief Khaleda Zia bail in sedition and nine arson cases. International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) 10 Aug sentenced one former Jamaat-e-Islaami lawmaker to death, seven others to life imprisonment for crimes committed during 1971 war.

Brutal attack on café in Dhaka’s upscale Gulshan neighbourhood 1 July left 22 dead, mostly foreigners, in hostage siege, first incident of its kind. Attackers reportedly included affluent, educated youth, including son of ruling Awami League (AL) member. Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility, though some experts and officials pointed to likely involvement of al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent (AQIS) affiliates. PM Sheikh Hasina vowed to bring terrorists to justice; opposition BNP leader Khaleda Zia 3 July condemned attack. Special investigation team claimed to have identified mastermind of attack, who allegedly fled at least seven months prior and now hiding in India’s West Bengal state; described incident as combined operation by Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Ansarul Islam (previously Ansarullah Bangla Team) and banned Hizb ut-Tahrir. Four killed in 7 July attack on country’s largest Eid prayer congregation site in Sholakia, Kishoreganj district. Police arrested scores of alleged JMB and Ansarul Islam members across country; 26 July killed nine alleged militants in Dhaka; identified new suspect, Bangladeshi-Canadian Tamim Chowdhury, as mastermind of Gulshan and Sholakia attacks. In latest in series of targeted killings, Hindu priest hacked to death 1 July in SW Jhenaida district. BNP-led opposition alliance 13 July announced it would hold anti-militancy national convention; pro-BNP professionals advised Zia to insist Jamaat apologise to nation and sever links with extremist groups. Rapid Action Batallion (RAB) Director General Benazir Ahmed said state would offer 1mn takas (over $12,700) to any militant renouncing terrorism.

Controversial counter-terrorism efforts exacerbated tensions between ruling Awami League and opposition Bangladesh National Party (BNP) as target killings continued. Hindu priest killed 7 June by attackers in Jhenidah Sadar sub-district; Hindu temple volunteer hacked to death 10 June in Babna Sadar sub-district. Islamic State (IS) reportedly claimed responsibility for both attacks. In first apparent instance of extremist retaliation against police, wife of senior police official hacked to death in Chittagong 5 June. Police 7 June killed three suspected Jamaat Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) militants in Dhaka, Rajshahi and Brahmanbaria. Govt 10 June launched weeklong crackdown on jihadist groups, reportedly arresting over 11,000 people; civil society activists claimed mass extortion by police during operation, while opposition accused govt of using counter-militancy efforts as pretext to target political opponents, reporting that majority of detainees were BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) activists. PM Sheikh Hasina insisted “BNP-Jamaat clique” had replaced previous mass street agitation with “secret killings” to destabilise country. Police 6 June pressed new charges against BNP leader Khaleda Zia and 38 other BNP figures in arson cases from Feb 2015 violent govt-opposition clashes. International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) 6 June upheld Nov 2014 conviction and sentencing of senior JeI member Mir Quasem Ali for atrocities committed during 1971 war of independence. High Court 7 June granted bail to Daily Star editor, Mahfuz Anam in ten out of 82 sedition and defamation charges brought against him after he admitted to publishing uncorroborated reports on PM Sheikh Hasina’s alleged corruption. Six-phase local council polls concluded 4 June, with a record of over 120 people killed in election-related violence before and during polls; most deaths reportedly linked to intra-Awami League clashes.

Brutal extremist killings continued: Sufi spiritual leader hacked to death in Rajshahi 6 May; Buddhist monk found murdered in temple in Chittagong Hill Tracts Bandarban district 14 May; homeopathic doctor and secularist killed in machete attack in Kushtia town in west Bangladesh 20 May, reportedly claimed by IS; Hindu man found hacked to death in Gaibandha 25 May, police suspected local extremist group. Police 14 May reported two suspects, members of Ansarullah Bangla Team, identified for role in 25 April double murder of LGBT activist and his friend, one of the suspects arrested next day; 16 May claimed detained operative of extremist Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh had confessed to involvement in 23 April killing of university professor. High court 5 May declared sixteenth constitutional amendment, passed in 2014 to restore parliament’s power to impeach higher court judges through two-thirds majority, violated principle of separation of powers and judicial independence and therefore unconstitutional; law minister said govt would appeal decision to Supreme Court. Police 11 May filed fresh charges against BNP chief Khaleda Zia and 26 other BNP leaders/activists for arson attacks during violent govt-opposition standoff in early 2015, fifth such case against Zia. Police 15 May arrested BNP joint Sec Gen Aslam Chowdhuri for allegedly plotting coup in collusion with Israeli intelligence; Chowdhuri and BNP denied allegations. Meeting with U.S. officials 16 May, BNP leaders appealed for U.S. support to ensure 2019 election free and fair. Controversial International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) 3 May convicted five men of murder, torture and abductions during 1971 liberation war, sentencing four to death and one to life imprisonment. Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami executed 11 May provoking Jamaat street protests and fresh diplomatic tensions with Pakistan, which summoned Bangladeshi envoy in protest; Bangladesh condemned Islamabad’s “interference”. Dhaka 16 May lodged protest with Myanmar over recent reported mortar shell attacks into Bangladesh, including 12 May shelling of Border Guard Bangladesh camp from area where Myanmar security forces are fighting ethnic armed group.

Several brutal murders during month underscored growing power and impunity of violent extremist groups. Law student and secular blogger Nazimuddin Samad hacked to death in Dhaka 6 April; al-Qaeda-linked Ansarullah Bangla Team claimed responsibility. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal 10 April called on secular bloggers to “control” their writing, strongly criticised those writing against “religious establishment”. In 14 April address to party leaders and workers PM Hasina condemned writing that “hurt religious sentiments” as “unacceptable”, however stressed Islam does not allow individuals to murder alleged blasphemers. Jagannath University students 7 April protested over govt inaction following Samad’s killing. University professor Rezaul Karim Siddiquee hacked to death NW of Dhaka 23 April; Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility. Two people including LGBT magazine editor and activist Xulhaz Mannan hacked to death in Dhaka 25 April; govt blamed opposition Bangladesh National Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), al-Qaeda affiliate Ansar al-Islam 26 April claimed responsibility. Hindu man hacked to death in Tangail 30 April; IS claimed responsibility, authorities 1 May detained secretary of local JeI group, local BNP activist and local madrasa over killing. Violent clashes around second phase of local elections continued early-April, including between rival supporters of Awami League (AL) and between supporters of AL and BNP; more than 30 party activists reported killed. BNP leader Khaleda Zia, granted bail 5 April “considering her age and physical condition”, following 30 March arrest warrant over alleged role in fire-bomb attack during Jan 2015 opposition blockade. Senior police official 17 April said daily Amar Desh acting editor Mahmudur Rahman (detained in 2013 on charges of sedition, defamation and corruption) accused of plotting to abduct and murder PM Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.

First round of local elections 22 March saw at least eleven killed and over 500 reported injured in election-related violence, reportedly including by Awami League (AL) supporters who, fearing local party losses, attacked police taking ballot boxes; opposition Bangladesh National Party (BNP) contested local polls despite alleging widespread rigging ahead of vote. BNP leader Khaleda Zia and son Tarique Rahman won chair and senior vice-chair positions respectively in uncontested BNP internal elections 7 March. At 19 March triennial national council meeting between BNP leaders to discuss reforms and elect council, Zia pledged BNP would, if voted to office, introduce “new govt model” for better balance of power between PM, cabinet, and parliament; called for transparency in appointments to constitutional bodies. Ahead of meeting, party leaders considered revising party manifesto to explicitly reject “extremism and religious militancy”, in apparent bid to counter criticism of having turned a blind eye while in govt. Court 30 March issued arrest warrant for Zia and 27 other BNP officials over role in instigating firebomb attack during opposition blockade Jan 2015; court 10 March cleared BNP acting Sec Gen and 25 other members of BNP-led 20- party alliance of arson charges over alleged election-related violence in Jan 2014. Shia doctor hacked to death in Jhenaidah district of Khulna Division 15 March, Christian man stabbed to death north of Dhaka 22 March; Islamic State reportedly claimed both attacks. Raids on suspected Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) cells continued, including paramilitary Rapid Action Battalion’s arrest of five alleged JMB members 13 March in Dhaka. Supreme Court 8 March upheld International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) death penalty for senior Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) member Mir Quasem Ali, believed to be party’s main financier. ICT 15 March issued death warrant for JeI chief Motiur Rahman Nizami.