Bangladesh, Aug. 14 -- In a move raising serious counterterrorism concerns, the Trump administration has quietly removed a $5 million US bounty on Al Qaeda-linked fugitive Syed Ziaul Huq Zia — a convicted killer of Bangladeshi-American writer Avijit Roy, coup plotter, and jihadist recruiter tied to Pakistans ISI. The decision comes amid allegations of political lobbying, the release of high-profile extremists in Bangladesh, and fresh calls from Zia for insurgent groups to set up bases inside the country.

The US State Department has come under sharp criticism after it quietly removed the US $5 million bounty on Al Qaeda operative and sacked Bangladesh Army major, Syed Ziaul Huq Zia — a death-row convict and fugitive since 2012...