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IGP rules out calling Interpol, FBI to probe militancy

Prayer for Shaikh’s fresh remand today, grilling awaits Bangla Bhai

STAFF REPORTER

The captured Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) supremo Shaikh Abdur Rahman is expected to be produced before the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM), Dhaka, with an appeal seeking fresh remand this morning, as the first phase of his ten-day’s remand expired today, a high official in RAB has said.

Shaikh Abdur Rahman, the much-sought-after linchpin of militant Islamist outfit JMB and mastermind of last year’s countrywide bomb blasts and suicide bombings, finally surrendered to RAB and other law enforcers at around 7.25am on March 2, at Shaplabagh in Tilagarh in Sylhet marking the end of nearly a 33-hour nerve-wrecking but efficiently handled unprecedented siege of his hideout.

Earlier, on March 1 at about 12:30pm, Shaikh’s wife Ayesha Akhter Rupa, daughters Afifa Begum and Nabila Begum, sons Mahmud, Fuad and Ahmed, grandson Talha, domestic help Taslima and Sabina Yasmin Chameli, wife of an active member of JMB, surrendered to the law enforcers. Shaikh’s family members and his two followers are now being interrogated at the Task Force Intelligence (TFI) cell.

After the peaceful surrender, the JMB supremo was whisked away by RAB and other security agencies straight to the nearby RAB office under heavy guard and then produced before Sylhet Magistrate Ershadul Haq, who allowed a 10-day remand for Shaikh and 10 others . Two children were excluded from the remand list. The RAB team later drove him, his aides and family members to the capital in a heavily guarded convoy.

Militant leader Shaikh Abdur Rahman has admitted to having personally ordered all the bomb attacks, from cinema bombing in Mymensingh to the last serial bombings, RAB officials said Thursday.

The JMB chief was further quoted as telling the interrogators that he had also ordered assassination attacks on several intellectuals, including Professor and writer Humayun Azad of Dhaka University and Prof Yunus of Rajshahi University.

Quoting Shaikh Abdur Rahman, a high official at one of the intelligence agencies said that the JMB supremo used to get a big fund from Jakat, the sale of hides of sacrificial animals during the Eid-ul-Azha and private donations. The source also added that Shaikh had said that a huge quantity of arms and explosive were smuggled into the country through Sherpur and Rajshahi borders.

Shaikh Abdur Rahman, will be produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court in Dhaka this morning with a prayer for ten days’ remand. He might be taken on remand for a case filed under Explosive Act in Dhaka.

Talking to The Independent, a high official of RAB said that there are several cases against Shaikh Rahman in Dhaka and he would be taken on remand in any of the cases.

Seeking anonymity, the source told The Independent that Shaikh Abdur Rahman would be brought face to face with his second-in-command Bangla Bhai, who was captured after being seriously wounded during a pre-surrender ‘bomb blast’ and exchange of gun shots with RAB in Muktagacha on Monday, for interrogation about the network of the militant outfit.

They are also looking into their sources of funds and explosive supplies at home and abroad, the official said, adding this might take two or three days more in view of the ongoing treatment of Bangla Bhai at the BDR hospital in the city.

The Task Force Intelligence (TFI) personnel have grilled the most-wanted top militant Shaikh Abdur Rahman for nine consecutive days until Saturday.

Interrogators are trying to learn about JMB’s funding sources and also origins of the arms and explosives they procured and later used during the countrywide serial bomb blasts and subsequent suicide attacks. They also grilled them on the hideouts of the remaining JMB and other militants.

But the TFI personnel are yet to get any specific information about the sources of funds and explosives.

The TFI personnel also interrogated Shaikh’s wife Ayesha Rahman Rupa, daughters Afifa and Bangla Bhai’s wife Fahmida Khatun who are also detained in the TFI cell.

On the other hand, Bangla Bhai is undergoing treatment at the BDR hospital in the city. Bangla Bhai’s health condition is improving gradually and he was shifted to a general cabin from Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on Friday night, hospital sources said. RAB, police and BDR have intensified security measures in and around the BDR headquarters.

A medical team comprising 18 doctors was formed for the treatment of Bangla Bhai. By turns, all the doctors are taking care of him round the clock. Access to Bangla Bhai had been heavily limited to doctors and high officials only, sources said.

After getting permission from the doctors who were taking care of him, Bangla Bhai will be produced before the Mymensingh court for remand within two or three days.

RAB arrested the second-most-wanted militant kingpin Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai from a village in Muktagachha of Mymensingh on March 6. The arrest came four days after the capture of Shaikh Abdur Rahman from a hideout in Sylhet.

Bangla Bhai received serious burn and splinter injuries as his bodyguard Masud apparently tried to blow himself up by exploding explosives kept with him. Earlier, Bangla Bhai and Masud opened fire on the advancing RAB team, injuring RAB Sergeant Rafiq in his head. He was rushed to Dhaka and admitted to CMH.

Some 229 cases have been filed with different police stations across the country in connection with the serial bomb attacks. Of the cases, 52 were filed against Shaikh Abdur Rahman, 48 against Bangla Bhai and 28 against Ataur Rahman Sunny. Some 22 of the accused were awarded death penalties by Speedy Tribunals so far.

The law enforcement agencies, especially RAB, have continued their massive drives across the country including the capital city to arrest the two other Majlish-e-Sura members of the JMB and unearth JMB’s dens of arms and explosives.

RAB members yesterday raided the Demra area in Dhaka, Rupganj in Narayanganj, different parts of Rajshahi and Khulna for nabbing the JMB top leaders including Salahuddin and Khaled Saifullah.

Meanwhile, the possibility of inviting any Interpol or Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) team is little, regarding the investigation of the August 17 countrywide bomb blasts and the suicide attacks in 2005.

Talking to The Independent, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abdul Quaiyum said, "I am very happy with the performance of police and RAB personnel as they successfully arrested the masterminds of the August 17 bombings -- Shaikh Abdur Rahman, Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai, Ataur Rahman Sunny, Abdul Awal and Hafez Mahmud. The law enforcers also have done a good job in the investigation of the bombing incidents so that they were able to arrest the top leaders of the Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). They also submitted charge sheets of the maximum cases lodged with different police stations across the country. Trial of the five cases have already been completed in which 22 JMB cadres were awarded with the capital punishment death penalty."

Referring the performance of police and RAB personnel in operation, investigation and also prosecution, the police chief ruled out the possibility of inviting any Interpol or FBI team at the moment to investigate the bomb blast incidents.

The IGP also said, "Interpol or FBI teams usually come here to assist the local intelligence wings in their investigation. If deemed necessary, Interpol or FBI teams will be called in but now we do not feel the necessity of inviting any international intelligence agencies as the performances of police and RAB are praiseworthy."

It is learnt from another source that a three-member Interpol team will come to Bangladesh to investigate the bomb blast incident at the Sylhet Mazar (shrine) in which British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Anwar Chowdhury received serious injuries. The Interpol team will come here to find out the link of the JMB with the bombing at Sylhet Mazar.

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Splinter JMB groups may strike on 26th March

Steps taken to tackle assaults; militants start regrouping

DEEPAK ACHARJEE

Keeping the Independence Day of Bangladesh (March 26) in view, it is apprehended that ‘Ahsar members’ and ‘Gayare Ahsar members’ of Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) might be planning to launch bomb attacks on public places like rail stations, bus stations, different key point installations (KPIs) as well as government offices at district and upazila levels in the country, according to sources at intelligence agencies.

Sources said that the intelligence agencies recently submitted a report to the government in this regard and the government has ordered the joint forces including Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) to conduct massive drives to locate and arrest the militant members including the fugitive supremo of JMB Salauddin from different areas, especially southwest region of the country.

The joint forces have yet to arrest two remaining linchpins of JMB, although the drives are continuing.

After the arrests of the JMB chief Shaikh Abdur Rahman, the militant outfit’s second-in-command Siddiqul Islam alias ‘Bangla Bhai’ and some other top bosses, members of JMB are reorganising under different guises to establish their mission of creating an Islamic society in the country, sources added.

Earlier, State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar told newsmen that special security measures would be taken to celebrate the Independence Day in a peaceful way against the current militancy-related situation in the country.

"Besides, joint-force drives will continue throughout the country until the arrests of the other top-ranking members of JMB, he added.

According to reports, around 500 of ‘Ahsar’ members and ‘Gayare Ahsar’ members of JMB are active and they have assumed roles of ‘commanders’ at district and upazila levels in the country. Md Mamunur Mamun (27), son of Md Foyjur Rahman Master of Barokona village under the Gaibandha district, is the chief or ‘commander’ of the Rajshahi division and also the ‘commander’ of Bogra district. His elder brother Md Lutfur Rahman (36) is also involved with JMB as an ‘Ahsar’ member.

Sources said, Md Mamunur Mamun and Md Lutfur Rahman travelled across the country to spread the ‘message’ of fanaticism and they have introduced themselves to different segments of society under different identities. It has been learnt they now moved to the remote areas of the country in order to organise JMB and recruit new activists. They are also collecting tolls from different places and spending the money on the new members of JMB. The two are also training up their cadres on how to manufacture bombs, ammunitions, use firearms, blow out establishments by bomb attacks, carry out car bomb blasts, and, if necessary, destroy high-rise buildings by suicide attacks.

The names of the ‘Ahsar’and ‘Gayare Ahsar’ members, trainers, finance providers of JMB, who are now active, are Md Khorshed Alam (24), Anamul Haq (35), Md Altafur Rahman Biltu (25), Dinajpur district ‘commander’ of JMB Md Fazleh Rabbi (26), Jahangir Alam (25), Shahidul Islam, Md Alauddin (35), Md Amirul Islam (40), Md Abdul Mawla (23), Md Harunur Rashid alias Hanu, ‘commander’ of Gobindaganj thana Mahbub (25), second-in-command of Gobindaganj thana Sabuj Mia (25), Kajal (25) and Atiqur Rahman Sohel (22).

After the arrests of the JMB dons Shaikh Abdur Rahman and ‘Bangla Bhai’, the above persons have continued their activities in full swing across the country, albeit under various guises. They also scattered themselves in the far-flung areas of the country, although they mostly belong to the district of Gaibandha.

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Murder of Ctg dollar trader being hushed up

STAFF CORRESPONDENT, CHITTAGONG

Mar 11: Police was allegedly trying to hush up the sensational murder of businessman Selim Uddin Swapan. The family members of the victim said that police has released the arrested prime accused in the case by taking bribes.

According to the sources, Selim Uddin Majumdar Swapan, a dollar trader of Chittagong went out his residence as his friend Akter Hamid called him through Mojammel Haque Raju for selling 6000 US dollar on the evening of March 5 last. Getting a message sent by Mojammel Haque Raju, nephew of Akter Hamid, the dollar trader Swapan came out his residence with the messenger and did not ever return home.

The family members of the victim said, Swapan went out with cash money of four and a half lakh taka to buy 6000 US dollar from Akter Hamid.

According to the local people and sources, Akter Hamid and his nephew Mojammel Haque Raju stabbed Swapan in his house at Nazirpole at Moghultoli at Agrabad in the city. As soon as Selim entered a room the miscreants started to stab him one after another. At one stage Swapan cried out for help. But, no body came forward to help the victim as Akter and his nephew were the notorious criminals of the area. However, the local people and police recovered the body of the slain businessman Swapan from the room of Akter Hamid on that night.

Ashraf Hossain Mishu has filed a case against Akter Hamid and Mojammel Haque and other accomplices with Doublemooring thana in this connection.

Meanwhile police arrested Mojammel Haque Raju and Akter Hamid. But, the Investigative Officer Sub-Inspector Ismail allegedly released the arrested Mojammel Haque Raju.

He did not show him arrest on March 6 and released him mysteriously.

Besides, police produced Akter Hamid before the court last week. The court granted five days police remand of him. Akter Hamid confessed to the police during the remand that he and his nephew Mojammel Haque Raju were involved in the killing. They snatched the money from the victim after stabbing him on March 5.

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Five held by RAB in Rangpur, arms recovered

OUR CORRESPONDENT, RANGPUR

Mar 11: Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested five terrors with arms from the district town area last night.

The terrors are - Shakil (21), Milon (19), Mal Sumon (22), Crack Rana (24), Sohel (18) and fugitive Chanchal Kumar (24). The arms recovered from them include two pipeguns, three shutterguns, four long knives and three chapatis.

ASP Saiful Islam, In-charge RAB-5, informed at a press briefing that acting on a secret information his team raided Hanumantala and Dhap area last night, picked the six criminals and following their confessions the arms were recovered.

He said the five terrorists were involved in a number of incidents including murder at different points of the town area and Chanchal Kumar was wanted by police for a long time.

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12 AK-47, 3 M-16 rifles recovered in Bandarban

UNB, BANDARBAN

Mar 11: The army and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) personnel in separate joint raids recovered 115 firearms including 12 AK-47, three M-16 rifles and 7,000 rounds of bullet from the district in last 11 days.

The law-enforcers also arrested three tribal terrorists with arms, during the raids.

Sources said the security forces raided many dens of the terrorists in remote hill areas of the district and seized the arms and ammunition.

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Over 100 injured as villagers clash in B’baria, Habiganj

UNB, DHAKA

Over 100 people were injured in clashes in Brahmanbaria and Habiganj yesterday.

In Brahmanbaria some 50 people were injured in a widespread clash between two groups of people in Nasirnagar upazila on Saturday.

Sources said the people of Nurpur and Brahmansashan villages fought with lethal weapons over the ownership of a plot of land. The violence started at 8am and lasted about three hours.

Seven of the injured were rushed to Nasirnagar hospital.

"On receipt of information, police rushed in and brought the situation under control. Tensions gripped the area," says a spot account of the incident.

In Habiganj over 50 people were injured when people of five villages in sadar upazila locked in a bloody clash over trifling matter. Police fired shotgun shots and teargas shells to disengage the rioters.

Police said a clash ensued between Jolfu Mia of Purbo Katakhali village and Kabir Mia of Pashchim Katakhali on Friday afternoon when they both wanted to buy the same fish from Sadhur bazar.

In a sequel to the incident, another clash flared up involving the inhabitants of the two villages at Telikhal at 11 am today (Saturday). "Soon joined in hordes from Chanpur, Sadhur bazar, Godainagar, Joyrampur and Katli villages—chasing and attacking one another in the Armageddon," says a spot report.

On receipt of information, police rushed in and brought the situation under control by charging baton and firing rubber bullets and teargas shells.

Seventeen of the seriously injured were rushed to sadar hospital.

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Accused snatched from police custody in Khulna

STAFF CORRESPONDENT, KHULNA

Mar 11: About a dozen people snatched away an accused in a criminal case from the custody of the police at village Chandnimahal under Digholia upazila this morning.

The accused was in handcuffs when the snatchers took him away.

The incident took place while accused Sumon, 22, after his arrest by the law enforcers, was being escorted from village Chandnimahal to the nearby Senhati police camp by police constable Mahbub Alam and ansar lance nayek Abdul Kader.

Police have not been able to trace accused Sumon till 6 pm. Sumon was an accused in a case filed earlier with Digholia police station under the women and children repression prevention act.

A case has been filed by ansar nayek Abdul Kader against 12 persons with Digholia police station in connection with the snatching. There has been no arrest so far till this evening.

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Illegal telephone line

BTTB probe body formed

STAFF REPORTER

Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB) yesterday has formed an enquiry committee to investigate into the allegation of giving illegal telephone connection to the Hotel Parabat at Fakirapol in the city, a press release said.

Press release also said, all duty officers of the area have already been withdrawn for the sake of investigation and punitive measures would be taken if any of them is found guilty.

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