The interim government of Bangladesh, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has formally approved a month-long nationwide tour of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. The visit, scheduled from November 28 to December 20 2025, will see Naik deliver a series of sermons across the country under government facilitation.
This marks a striking departure from the policy of the previous administration of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, which had banned Naik’s television channel and barred him from the country following the 2016 attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka.
Historical Context: 2016 Attack and Naik’s Status
In July 2016, militants carried out a massacre at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka, killing dozens of foreigners and Bangladeshis. Investigators cited one attacker as being influenced by Naik’s online videos, prompting the Hasina government to block his Peace TV and label him a security threat.
Naik fled India soon after and has since been living abroad, primarily in Malaysia, while India’s National Investigation Agency filed charges against him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and other statutes for alleged hate speech and incitement. Bangladesh’s new approval thus signals a dramatic shift in Dhaka’s posture toward the preacher.
Policy Shift Under the Yunus Government
The decision to welcome Naik is being interpreted as part of a broader recalibration by the interim government toward Islamist groups and a more overt religious posture. Political analysts note the change aligns with other recent moves by the Yunus administration, including earlier engagements with Islamist-led rallies and reforms perceived as tilting toward religious conservatism.
The government says Naik’s visit is “purely religious in nature” and insists his speeches will focus on social values and harmony. Organisers say the tour is officially government-approved and will use state facilitation.
Regional & Diplomatic Repercussions
India has long flagged Naik’s activities as harmful to communal harmony, and this invitation from Dhaka has already raised alarms in New Delhi. Analysts warn the move may strain Bangladesh-India relations, especially given Dhaka’s recent comments about India’s northeastern states and broader foreign-policy realignment.
Naik’s recent tour of Pakistan, where he was welcomed and seen meeting leaders linked to the banned militant group Lashkar‑e‑Taiba, adds to the diplomatic sensitivity. During the Pakistan visit, footage showed Naik embracing LeT commanders designated as terrorists by the United States, raising further questions about his networks and influence.
Implications for Bangladesh’s Security and Minority Rights
Critics say the invitation signals a troubling message on judicial independence, secular governance and minority protection in Bangladesh. Human-rights groups have documented a surge in attacks on Hindu, Buddhist and Christian minorities since August 2024, when the Yunus-led interim government assumed power after the ouster of Hasina.
The move to host a preacher under global suspicion of encouraging radicalisation may be viewed as tacit legitimisation of extremist-adjacent figures. Legal and security experts warn that such a high-profile platform could embolden radical narratives and complicate Bangladesh’s efforts to control religious-based violence.
What to Watch
- The locations and content of Naik’s sermons: will they remain within the stated “social values” remit, or move into more politically or ideologically charged territory?
- India’s diplomatic reaction: Will New Delhi protest formally, recall privileges for Bangladesh or raise the matter in regional forums like SAARC or BIMSTEC?
- Domestic backlash within Bangladesh: Minority communities, secular groups and parts of the legal fraternity may push back strongly, given the implications for justice and equality.
- The international counter-terrorism context: With Naik flagged by several countries, Bangladesh’s decision may alter its posture in global efforts against extremist financing and networks.
This development marks more than a guest preacher’s visit. It signals a pivot in Bangladesh’s internal, judicial and foreign‐policy calculus—one that merits close scrutiny for how the country balances religious freedom, state neutrality and security in a turbulent era.
