Bangladesh Welcomes Zakir Naik 9 Years After Dhaka Attack

9 years after the deadly Dhaka Holey Artisan Bakery terror attack, Bangladesh is once again making headlines — this time for welcoming the very man whose speeches once inspired one of the attackers. The Muhammad Yunus-led government has approved a month-long visit by controversial preacher Zakir Naik, starting November 28 and ending December 20 — a decision that has sparked widespread shock, anger, and debate across South Asia.

Zakir Naik, wanted in India for hate speeches and inciting communal tension, has long been accused of spreading radical Islam and glorifying terror groups. His Peace TV channel was banned by the Sheikh Hasina government in 2016 after the Dhaka attack revealed his influence over the assailants. But now, under the Yunus government, Naik is set to receive a red-carpet welcome — a move critics say highlights the growing radicalisation in Bangladesh.

Officials confirm that Zakir Naik will travel across Bangladesh, addressing public gatherings and delivering speeches in various cities. His visit is being described by analysts as a strategic move — not merely religious, but deeply political. Indian intelligence agencies have repeatedly warned that Naik’s activities are being used to fuel anti-India sentiment, with links emerging between his NGOs and forced conversion cases tied to banned outfits like the Popular Front of India (PFI).

During his Pakistan visit last year, Zakir Naik met with known terror commanders of Lashkar-e-Taiba — individuals blacklisted by the United States since 2008. Analysts fear his Bangladesh visit could follow a similar pattern, possibly involving secret meetings with the leadership of Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HuJI) and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) — groups the ISI reportedly uses to plot anti-India operations.

The decision to host Zakir Naik comes at a time when the Yunus government is under fire for releasing convicted terrorists and allegedly working under the influence of Jamaat-e-Islami. Security experts warn that this open endorsement of a radical figure could embolden extremist networks in the region.

For India, the return of Zakir Naik to the limelight is a grim reminder of how ideology and politics often intertwine dangerously. His past statements — including the one where he declared, “If bin Laden is fighting the enemies of Islam, I am with him” — continue to haunt the global fight against radical extremism.

From being denied visas by the UK and Canada to living in self-exile in Malaysia, Zakir Naik has remained a controversial figure. Yet, his influence persists, amplified by online platforms and satellite channels broadcasting in Urdu and Bangla. His re-entry into Bangladesh signals a worrying shift — one that could once again push the region into the shadow of radicalisation and terror-linked politics.

The world watches closely as Zakir Naik prepares to step foot on Bangladeshi soil after nearly a decade. Will this visit reignite old wounds, or expose deeper political motives within Dhaka’s power corridors? For now, one thing is certain — the preacher’s return has reopened a painful chapter in Bangladesh’s fight against extremism.