The interim government of Bangladesh, led by Muhammad Yunus, has made a controversial decision that has raised alarms in both India and the United States. The administration has reportedly initiated the process to acquit Syed Zia-ul Haque, a former Major of the Bangladesh Army with alleged links to Al-Qaeda, who is also a high-priority target for US authorities.

In December 2021, the US Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, through its Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program, announced a bounty of up to $5 million for information leading to the capture or conviction of Haque (also known as Major Zia) and Akram Hussain. Both were implicated, along with four others, in the 2015 attack in Dhaka that resulted in the murder of US citizen Avijit Roy and severe injuries to his wife, Rafida Bonya Ahmed.

According to a media outlet report, the attack occurred while Roy and Ahmed, both US citizens of Bangladeshi origin, were attending a book fair in Dhaka. The extremist group Ansarullah Bangla Team, which aligns with Al-Qaeda, later claimed responsibility for the killing. Zia, believed to have fled to Pakistan, was also wanted by Bangladeshi authorities, who announced a Tk 2 million bounty for his capture in 2016. He has been implicated in several high-profile murders, including those of publisher Foysal Arefin Dipon and LGBTQ activists Xulhaz Mannan and Mahbub Rabbi Tonoy. Additionally, he played a role in orchestrating a failed military coup attempt in 2011.

Following the collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024, Bangladesh has seen rising instability, with Islamist groups gaining increasing influence under the Yunus-led administration. Recently, a policy requiring mandatory security clearance for Pakistani citizens applying for Bangladeshi visas was significantly relaxed. This reportedly allowed Zia to return to Dhaka on a Pakistani passport just weeks ago.

Shortly after his return, on December 29, 2024, Zia formally requested acquittal from all charges and removal from Bangladesh’s most-wanted list. He also sought to nullify his previous convictions and have the US bounty withdrawn. Adding to the controversy, local media reports indicate that Justice Mainul Islam Chowdhury, who leads the disappearance committee of Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD), which will review Zia’s case is his father-in-law. The decision to clear Zia’s name has sparked widespread concern, as both India and the United States perceive the move as emboldening radical forces in the region, potentially threatening security and stability.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.