IS has grown root in Bangladesh, NBC reports

Apart from being fully operational, middle east-based Islamist terrorist outfit Islamic State has grown its root into Bangladesh, reports US news channel NBC.

Citing a document placed at the White House, NBC reports that as of August IS expanded to 18 countries with roots in at least six, including Bangladesh.

Egypt, Indonesia, Mali, the Philippines and Somalia are the other five where IS grew its roots. According to US State Department’s own numbers in 2015, IS was operational in 13 countries.

A New York Times report has already said Islamic State sent its foot soldiers to Bangladesh as well as to Indonesia and Malaysia in Asia.

NBC News terrorism analysis Malcolm Nance said the US has been successful in attacking the "ISIS core" in Iraq and Syria, but that the "heat map" obtained by NBC News "could probably be a lot bigger if they were to show all the aspirational regions where ISIS wants to operate and has carried out terrorist attacks."

"It's fair to say that the whole battle space is expanding for ISIS," he added.