Dhaka: Days after a terror attack in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka, the Islamic State today sent out a video message warning of more terror attacks in the country, adding that last week's attack was merely a glimpse of what is to come.
"What you witnessed in Bangladesh ... was a glimpse. This will repeat, repeat and repeat until you lose and we win and the sharia is established throughout the world," said a man in the video monitored by SITE intelligence portal. The man was identified as Bangladeshi fighter Abu Issa al-Bengali.
The video starts with pictures of all recent attacks in Paris, Brussels and Orlando, claimed by the IS.
Speaking both Bengali and English, the man in the video said Bangladesh must know that it was now part of a bigger battlefield to establish the cross-border "caliphate", proclaimed by the group in 2014.
"I want to tell the rulers of Bangladesh that the jihad you see today is not the same that you knew in the past," he said.
"The jihad that is waged today is a jihad under the shade of the Caliphate."
Responding to the video, the Bangladeshi police said they were stepping up security in the country.
"We are taking this issue seriously. All our concerned units are working tirelessly," said deputy police inspector general Shahidur Rahman.
Last Friday, Islamic State had claimed responsibility for the killing of the hostages, mostly foreigners, and two police officers during an 11-hour siege that ended after the army stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery popular with expats in the diplomatic zone here, killing six attackers and capturing one alive.
The attack is a matter of concern for India also as there's a possibility that Bangladesh is being used as a base for IS to launch attacks on India.
However, Bangladesh refuted IS’ claim of responsibility, saying the attack was perpetrated by a homegrown militant group.
