Bangladesh’s interim government, under the leadership of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, is set to welcome the controversial Islamic preacher and wanted Indian fugitive Zakir Naik with open arms. This decision marks a significant policy shift as Naik is approved for a month-long nationwide tour, his first visit to Bangladesh.
Scheduled from November 28 to December 20, 2025, the government has officially sanctioned Naik’s tour, which will include a series of sermons across the country. This move contrasts sharply with the previous Sheikh Hasina government’s stance, which had banned Naik’s Peace TV following the 2016 Dhaka Holey Artisan Bakery terror attack.
Following the ban, Naik left India after being linked to influencing one of the attackers through his YouTube channel. He has since faced charges in India for hate speech and inciting communal disharmony, leading to him becoming a fugitive. Despite India’s extradition requests, Naik has been residing in Malaysia since 2016 without compliance from Kuala Lumpur.
Notably, this approval by the Bangladesh government comes shortly after Pakistan hosted Naik for a similar nationwide visit. During his visit to Pakistan, Naik was seen meeting members of the banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), including designated international terrorists like Muzammil Iqbal Hashmi, Muhammad Harris Dhar, and Faisal Nadeem. The meeting took place at Lahore’s Badshahi Mosque, where Naik addressed a large crowd under tight security provided by Lahore police.