Bangladesh, Dec. 23 -- On December 21, 2024, under the cover of darkness, Kashimpur Central Jail in Gazipur became the epicenter of a covert operation. Authorities reportedly facilitated the clandestine release of Jikrullah, a convicted operative of the Al Qaeda-affiliated Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), now rebranded as Ansar Al Islam. Jikrullah was convicted for the brutal murder of blogger Wasikur Rahman Babu in 2015, an act he carried out as part of his extremist mission. Despite his heinous crimes, his release was executed without the knowledge or approval of Bangladeshs top intelligence agencies, raising critical concerns about the countrys commitment to counterterrorism.

As Jikrullah exited the prison compound, he was reportedly esc...