Bangladesh Gears Up for 'Islamic Revolutionary Army': 8,850 Trainees Enrolled Amid Ghazwa-e-Hind Rhetoric

New Delhi — Bangladesh appears to be in the early stages of setting up an Islamic Revolutionary Army (IRA), with 8,850 individuals undergoing training at seven camps across the country, according to Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, a senior adviser to the Muhammad Yunus interim government.

The recruits are reportedly being trained in martial arts, firearms, taekwondo, and judo, confirming intelligence warnings raised by Indian agencies in recent months. Analysts say the IRA is being modelled along the lines of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and is intended to serve both domestic and regional objectives.

“The IRA would be a highly radicalised institution, helping the establishment convert Bangladesh into an Islamic state, with moral policing akin to Iran. Its bigger target would be India,” officials said.

Statements from Jamaat-e-Islami leaders, including Dr Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, have fueled concerns. Speaking in New York, Taher claimed five million Jamaat youth are ready to fight India, asserting they would engage in guerrilla warfare and implement Ghazwa-e-Hind if needed.

Reports indicate that the Yunus administration, allegedly influenced by Jamaat and Pakistan’s ISI, has been actively expanding the IRA network, with retired Bangladesh Army officials pro-Pakistan overseeing the training. Plans reportedly aim to eventually train over 160,000 personnel, matching the current strength of the Bangladesh Army. Pakistan army and ISI officials are said to be funding and supplying equipment to these camps.

The opening of a sea route to Pakistan under the Yunus government has facilitated the flow of arms and ammunition, stored in universities controlled by Jamaat-linked groups. The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, affiliated with Yunus, had earlier announced the formation of a militia called the IRA in December 2024, inviting youth to Dhaka University for enrolment and initial martial arts and military-style training.

Reports also highlight growing tensions within Bangladesh’s armed forces. Court actions targeting army and DGFI personnel perceived to be loyal to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have deepened internal divisions, with some factions reportedly supportive of the IRA.

Analysts warn that the ongoing developments could significantly heighten tensions along the India-Bangladesh border, with the IRA potentially emerging as a destabilizing force in the region.

With inputs from  IANS