Warning: Undefined array key "rbname" in /data/rantburg.com/www/pgrecentorg.php on line 14
Hello !

Bangladesh

Suspected militant hideout cordoned off in Narsingdi

2017-05-21

[Dhaka Tribune] Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has cordoned off a suspected holy warrior hideout in Narsingdi’s Gabtoli area. Whoa! How is it that this was not concluded in a rapid crossfire in the small hours of the night, while all honest citizens are snugly asleep in their little beds? However, nothing needs reforming like other people's bad habits... those inside the building claimed that they were not bully boyz when contacted by the Dhaka Tribune. Even more off script. This will not do. "We have surrounded an under-construction building ...a suitably proletarian location... from Saturday afternoon Eh? Since when is the RAB about during the day, except to receive an award for ridding the world of a substantial number of serious miscreants wanted on twelve systems? on suspicion that a few bully boyz are holed up in the ground floor of the two-storey building," RAB 11 Commanding Officer Lt Col Kamrul Hasan said. That would be information received, as they say, from Mahmoud the Weasel's fourth cousin twice removed, who is handling the family business in this locality. Later, RAB-11 Assistant Director Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police Alek Uddin told the Dhaka Tribune: "Five to six bully boyz may be inside the residence. We have asked them to surrender, but there has been no response from inside the building." No, no -- first the miscreants' Spidey Sense is triggered, causing them to exit their proletarian meeting place (strawberry field, brick manufactury, banana plantation, etc) shooting wildly, then the RAB respond with two precisely placed shots --one behind each ear -- at the miscreant in question, who dies promptly on The Spot. This time it has gone very, very wrong. "We could not confirm the existence of any woman or child in the residence," he also said; adding that RAB and local police have cordoned off the residence and surrounded areas since 4pm. "Yo, miscreants! Ya got any wimmen and kiddos in there?" "Yes, Mr. jawanwallah: four wimmen and 17 kiddos, half each boys and girls -- Aishaullah is a hermaphrodite." "Got it, thanks. *aside* They could be lying, Sarge -- I checked the form for not sure." The decision to start an operation inside the den will be taken soon, after RAB high-ups from Dhaka reach the spot. The Spot is a necessary part of the script... Azar Bin Mahfuz, who claims to be the brother-in-law of one of those in the building, ...his wife married up... spoke to news hounds after rushing to the scene upon hearing news of the raid. The Mahamoud the Weasel clan inform in both directions, it appears; keeping their extensive offspring in braces and piano lessons is an expensive undertaking... He alleged that those inside were madrasa students, ...Eh? What are they doing meeting in so proletarian a spot as a half-built building? not holy warriors, and provided the contact number of his brother-in-law Masudur Rahman. When contacted, Masudur told the Dhaka Tribune that he was in the building with four others. They are: Salahuddin, Moshiur Rahman, Mojibur Rahman and Abu Zafar. You can't fool me. That last one is a Disney cartoon monkey. Masudur claimed that none of them were bully boyz and that four of them had gone to the building to receive private tuition from Abu Zafar. They have a madrassah, so why do they need a dangerous and dirty building site? He added that the doors and windows of the building were unlocked, ...and, in fact, nonexistent... but law enforcement officials were not allowing them to leave. He also denied having been asked to surrender by the officials. The house is owned by Mainuddin, a Bangladeshi expatriate in Libya. His family had lived there before the death of his wife a year ago. The building has been empty since then. "One Salauddin rented the ground floor flat by introducing himself as a madrasa student one month ago. Five more people were seen residing with him in the house," said Nurul Islam, owner of a neighbouring shop. Stranger and stranger, and without any conclusion whatsoever. Send the script back for a rewrite.

Link

Bangladesh

Arson attack on Nasirnagar upazila vice-chairman

2016-11-06

[Dhaka Tribune] Anjan Deb, vice-chairman of Nasirnagar upazila parishad, is the latest victim of the rapidly escalating communal violence that has been unfolding in Brahmanbaria. A shed housing dry kindling was set on fire by unknown individuals at 7pm on Saturday. Nasirnagar OC Abu Zafar said: "Someone might have torched the shed in front of his house with malicious intent." Anjan Deb’s nephew Asif Kumar Deb said he came out of the house during a power outage at 7pm, smelled smoke and saw the tin shed on fire. He then called for help and doused the fire. A tin wall was smashed in to make room to set fire to the kindling inside. RAB and police are on the spot to investigate and have not yet determined whether this latest arson attack is tied to the communal attacks that have engulfed Nasirnagar. BGB has been deployed around the perimeter of the vice-chairman’s house.

Link

Bangladesh

Top outlaw killed in 'shootout'

2012-09-05

[Bangla Daily Star] A regional leader of outlawed Lal Pataka, a faction of Purbo Banglar Communist Party ...the Proletarian Party of East Bengal, a Maoist party that has seen better days. It supported independence in 1971 and has periodic shootouts and fisticuffs with the Bangla Jamaat-e-Islami, but has fallen on hard times, with many of its leaders rubbed out by the RAB or indignant citizenry. It is also subject to factionalism, to the extent that it may have more factions than it has actual members... , was killed in a "shootout" between police and his cohorts in Mirpur upazila of Kushtia early yesterday. Manolo! Fetch the map! The dead, Abdul Jalil, 43, of Isalmari village in the upazila, was a leader of the outfit active in Mirpur and sadar upazilas in Kushtia and Alamdanga upazila of Chuadanga. On information that a group of outlaws, including Jalil, was about to gather at Aziz Brick Kiln at Pulpara, A properly proletarian location, redolent of the labouring masses... two teams of Detective Branch of Kushtia and Mirpur police raided the area around 3:30am, Yessss, the bestest raids take place at 0 dark thirty... said Chokdar Abdul Halim, assistant superintendent of police (Mirpur circle). "Police asked the outlaws to surrender Most politely, and with hand-delivered, engraved invitations on heavy card stock... but they shot up the law enforcers. How rude! RSVP does not mean 'shoot the innocent butler'. We fired shots to defend ourselves," the ASP said. And the butler. Though nameless, he ought not be forgotten. At one stage of the hour-long shootout, "You took an hour to put two bullets behind the ear of Abdul Jalil, 43, Corporal Md Abdullullah?" "Sorry sir. But it was time for our tea break. We were multitasking, per the captain's efficiency drive." the outlaws managed to flee the scene. ... as though they had never been... Later, police recovered the body of Jalil from the spot, Halim said. Two light guns, six bullets and two bombs were also found there. To be polished to a gleam by the newest recruit before being returned to their velvet cases in the evidence vault. The shutter gun has been out for repairs. According to police, Jalil was an accused in 11 cases, ...On twelve systems, which takes some doing... including four for murder and extortion, two for bombing and one for abduction, filed with Mirpur and Islamic University cop shoppes of Kushtia and Alamdanga Police Station of Chuadanga. The Kushtia District and Sessions Judge's Court had sentenced Jalil to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment in an arms case in 2001. Soon after his release in 2011, Jalil allegedly bumped offed Abu Zafar, a member of Kursha Union Gay Pareehad in Mirpur upazila and since then he was on the run.

Link

Bangladesh

Plot hatched in Hawa Bhaban meetings

2011-04-08

[Bangla Daily Star] Mufti Hannan in a confessional statement disclosed the involvement of Hawa Bhaban and some former BNP ministers and intelligence officials in the August 21, 2004, grenade attack on an Awami League rally. Harkat-ul Jihad (HuJI Founded in 1984 by Fazlur Rehman Khalil and Qari Saifullah Aktar. The Bangla branch was established in 1992 with assistance from Osama bin Laden. Recruits come mostly from Deobandi madrassahs. HuJI and Fazlur Rehman Khalil are signators of bin Laden's declaration of war on the west. ) leader Mufti Mohammad Abdul Hannan made the fresh confessional statement before a Dhaka court yesterday about the attack that left Ivy Rahman, wife of President Zillur Rahman, dead along with 23 others and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina maimed. At least 300 others were also injured. On October 27, 2009, The Daily Star published an investigative report on the attack. The report disclosed the chilling conspiracy that was hatched in Hawa Bhaban. Hannan, prime accused in the case, on November 1, 2007, made a confessional statement but Criminal Investigation Department moved for a new confessional statement following revaluations of more information through investigation. First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate AHM Habibur Rahman Bhuiyan recorded yesterday's statement for over five hours from 4:00pm. Sources in the CID said in the first confessional statement Hannan admitted carrying out the attack but in the new statement he said the attack was planned in meetings held at the Hawa Bhaban. Hawa Bhaban was widely regarded as the alternative powerhouse of the then BNP-led coalition government. Hannan said the meetings were held in presence of some then BNP ministers and businessmen close to BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami top brass. However, The emphatic However... the CID sources declined to disclose names of the people Hannan mentioned. Hannan said runaway Maulana Tajuddin, brother of jugged former BNP deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu, had coordinated the attackers and the people of different agencies who aided them. In the first confessional statement, Hannan said they had smuggled in the grenades from Afghanistan, where Hannan had joined the Mujahideens to fight against the Soviets in the 1980s. Now he says that the grenades came from Pakistain via Chittagong. In the first statement, Hannan said they planned the attack in a Badda house in the capital a few days ahead. He had said around 12 hard boyz carried out the attack. He had said they wanted to kill Sheikh Hasina because she had slapped a ban on religious edict when she was in power, the sources added. CID Special Superintendent Abdul Kahar Akand, investigation officer of the case, declined to make any comment on the new statement of Hannan. So far, 12 accused have given confessional statements admitting their involvement in the attack. They are Mufti Hannan, his brother Mohibullah alias Mafizur Rahman alias Ovi, Sharif Shahidul Islam alias Bipul, Maulana Abu Sayeed alias Abu Zafar, Abul Kalam Azad alias Bulbul, Arif Hossain, Rafiqul Islam Sabuj and Jahangir Alam, Islamic Democratic Party leader Sheikh Abdus Salam, Pakistain based LeT leader Abdul Majid alias Yusuf Butt, LeT leader Abdul Malek alias Golam Mohammad and Abdur Rouf. The eight absconding accused are Pintu's brothers Maulana Tajuddin and Maulana Liton, Anisul Mursalin and his brother Mahibul Muttakin, Iqbal, Maulana Abu Bakar alias Selim Howlader, Jahangir Alam Badar and Khalilur Rahman. On June 11, 2008, the CID submitted a charge sheet accusing 22 people, including top HuJI leader Mufti Abdul Hannan and BNP leader and former deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu. But the court asked police for further investigation into the attack to find out the sources of the grenades used in the attack, the suppliers of the grenades and also to unfold the mystery behind defusing the unwent kaboom! grenades soon after recovery. During the rule of BNP-led coalition government, the then Sherlocks allegedly staged a drama to mislead the investigation and protect the real culprits.

Link

Bangladesh

Rab officially discloses Huji arrests

2009-08-03

[Bangla Daily Star] Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) yesterday disclosed the arrests of six members of Harkatul Jihad al Islami on Saturday during overnight raids on areas in the capital and elsewhere in the country. The members of the banned militant outfit are accused in different cases filed in connection with grenade and bomb attacks and militant activities in the last one decade, Rab said at a press briefing at the Rab headquarters. Rab sources said as its intelligence wing had started gathering information on the accused it learnt about the banned militant outfit's attempts to smuggle in arms through Naikhangchhari border in Bandarban. They also learnt that Harkatul Jihad (Huji) was recruiting members. The arrestees are Abul Khair of Manikganj, Maulana Mohammad Musa of Chandpur, Abdul Aziz of Feni, Rezaul Karim and Anwar Uddin Javed of Chakaria in Cox's Bazar, and Abdullah Al Hossain of Banshkhali in Chittagong. Abdul Aziz is a land broker while others are either madrasa teachers or imams of mosques. Rab officials said the Huji men were taken back to the areas where they were arrested and that they will be produced before the courts concerned today. The arrestees will also be taken on remand for interrogation about the latest activities of Huji. These six Huji members were among the 41 militants who had been arrested with firearms and grenades at a Huji den in the deep forest of Ukhia in Cox's Bazar on February 19, 1996. Accused in a case filed in this connection, all 41 were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1998. Five of the accused--Abu Zafar, Aminur Rahman, Abu Abbas, Abdul Mannan and Abu Sufian--are already behind bars. Reading out a written statement at the press briefing, Rab Additional Director General Col Mizanur Rahman Khan said the six arrestees were freed on bail from the higher court in December 2002. Rab sources said 15 other accused fled the country following the announcement of the sentence. Other fugitives include Myanmarese citizen and Huji leader Nurul Islam and Abu Jehad who founded the militant organisation Islami Jihad Andolon in 2005 after leaving Huji.

Link

Bangladesh

Laskar leader used 6 mobiles for links

2009-07-19

[Bangla Daily Star] Detained Mufti Obaidullah, one of the most wanted Laskar-e-Taiyeba leaders in India, used six mobile phones and had regular contact with Ameer Reza, chief of Asif Reza Commando Force (ARCF) working with the Pakistan-based Islamist militant outfit, said Detective Branch (DB) of police sources. Obaidullah on Friday told The Daily Star at the DB headquarters that he knew Ameer Reza quite well. He had close relations with Ameer's brother Asif Reza, the founder of ARCF, who was killed in an encounter with law enforcers in Gujarat in 2001, said Obaidullah, who is fluent in Bengali, Hindi, Urdu and Persian languages. DB officials said Obaidullah sent SMS to Ameer Reza and others in Pakistan in Persian language using English alphabets. Meanwhile, Obaidullah, a madrasa teacher at Shibchar in Madaripur, was placed on a seven-day remand after DB police produced him before the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate's Court with a 10-day remand prayer. Deputy Commissioner Monirul Islam of DB (South) told The Daily Star, "The call lists of the mobile phones used by Obaidullah show that he made calls to Pakistan regularly and often to India. He talked to Ameer Reza every day over the phone. But we are yet to find out the subjects of their conversation." DB sources said there is a strong possibility that Laskar-e-Taiyeba, ARCF, Harkatul Jihad al Islami Bangladesh (Huji), and international mafia don Dawood Ibrahim's network are interconnected. Picked right up on that, didn't they? Obaidullah's immediate boss and Laskar-e-Taiyeba leader Mansur Ali alias Habibullah, another senior leader and Pakistani national Khurram Khoiyam, and two other leaders of the militant outfit are still holed up in Bangladesh, said sources. They entered Bangladesh illegally at least three years before Obaidullah intruded into the country, added sources. DB officials said they have been trying to track down the four most wanted Laskar-e-Taiyeba leaders in India. However, they suspect that Mansur Ali and Habibullah are two different persons. All of them receive financial supports from India, DB sources said. In this case that should likely read "entities within India"... Monirul said, "He got Tk 7,000 as monthly salary from the madrasa. It is quite impossible to meet the expenditure of a seven-member family and six mobile phones." Quoting Obaidullah, DB officials said his organisation has a firm footing at Shibchar in Madaripur, Srinagar in Munshiganj and Nababganj in the capital with a good number of 'Jihadis' (militants) at the madrasas there. Laskar-e-Taiyeba has been active in Bangladesh for the last 14 years, said intelligence sources quoting Obaidullah. He was organising Bangladeshi 'mujahids' to wage 'jihad' following the directives from Ameer Reza, said the sources. Obaidullah took part in Afghan conflicts four times. Besides, he carried out militant activities in India with the help of Islamist militants from Pakistan and Afghanistan. Obaidullah took part in Afghan conflicts four times. Besides, he carried out militant activities in India with the help of Islamist militants from Pakistan and Afghanistan. He also collaborated with Islamist militants from Kashmir, Banaras, Punjab, and Hyderabad in India. He entered Bangladesh illegally in June, 1995 to evade arrest after the Indian government declared him most wanted in 1994. DB identified Obaidullah on the basis of confessions of detained Indian national Dawood Merchant, a close aide to Dawood Ibrahim and one of the main accused in music baron Gulshan Kumar murder case. Dawood Merchant and his associate Zahid Sheikh, also an Indian national, were arrested in Bangladesh about one and a half months ago. Obaidullah had been teaching at Jamiatul Sunnah Madrasa of Shibchar upazila in Madaripur since 2003. Earlier, he taught at different madrasas in Jessore, Moulvibazar and also at Nawabganj in Dhaka using fake name Abu Zafar. Our Madaripur correspondent adds: The authorities of Jamiatul Sunnah Madrasa yesterday terminated Obaidullah from his post and expelled his son Matiur who was studying at the institution. Hussain Ahmed, principal of the madrasa, said the decision was taken after authorities became sure about the identity of Obaidullah and his son. Obaidullah's wife Nasima Begum said her husband made frequent trips abroad in the name of attending religious function. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Shibchar Police Station Abdul Jalil said intelligence vigilance has been strengthened to monitor the activities of all madrasas in the area.

Link

Bangladesh

Laskar-e-Taiba active in Bangladesh for 14 years

2009-07-18

[Bangla Daily Star] Pakistan based Islamist terrorist organisation Laskar-e-Taiba has been active in Bangladesh for the last 14 years, intelligence sources said quoting one of the most wanted Indian terrorists recently captured here. Local leaders of the organisation have links to the network of absconding Indian mafia don Dawood Ibrahim, and also to leaders of other Islamist militant organisations like Harkatul Jihad al Islami Bangladesh (HuJi), the sources added. The Detective Branch (DB) of police yesterday disclosed that they recently arrested an Indian national who is very much close to Laskar-e-Taiyeba, and also one of the most wanted by the Indian law enforcing and intelligence agencies. Congratulations! Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner AKM Shahidul Hoque said the arrestee is identified as Mufti Obaidullah, who has been staying in the country since 1995. -"He was arrested from the capital , and was taking preparations for a jihad by organising Bangladeshi mujahids with directives from Ameer Reza, a leader of Kashmir based Laskar-e-Taiyeba, who is an Indian national now staying in Pakistan," the DMP commissioner said. Obaidullah took part in Afghan conflicts four times. Besides, he was active in militancy in India, in collaboration with militants from Pakistan and Afghanistan. He also collaborated with Islamist militants of Kashmir, Benaras, Punjab, and Hyderabad in India, said the DMP commissioner adding that Obaidullah came to Bangladesh to evade Indian intelligence after the government of that country in 1994 had declared him one of the most wanted. Clearly the good mufti is a very, very bad man. DB sources said a team led by Deputy Police Commissioner Monirul Islam of DB-North identified the Indian terrorist on the basis of confessions made by another detained Indian national Daud Merchant, a close aide to Daud Ibrahim and one of the main accused in the killing of music baron Gulshan Kumer. Daud Merchant and his associate Zahid Sheikh, who is also an Indian, were arrested in Bangladesh a month and a half ago. According to the sources, Mufti Obaidullah has a PhD degree on fatwa from Deobandh Madrasa in India, and he was a teacher at Jamiatul Sunnah Madrasa of Shibchar upazila in Madaripur since 2003. But we all know what PhD means, and what PhDs know. ("Piled higher and deeper." and "More and more about less and less until they know absolutely everything about nothing at all"). In June 1995 he came to Bangladesh, took up a fake name, Abu Zafar, and started teaching in different madrasas in Monirampur of Jessore, in Shrimangal of Moulvibazar, and at Tikirpur Jamia Mahmudia Madrasa in Nawabganj of Dhaka. He took part in the previous Afghan war in 1988 while he was a student. In 1990, he took part in the ensuing Afghan conflict for the second time, when he was trained in operating a wide range of light and heavy weapons like machinegun, anti-aircraft gun, BM-50 canon, rocket launcher, and mortar. In 1991, he re-joined the conflict for the third time and visited various war camps as a veteran fighter. Finally in 1992 he took part in that ever morphing conflict for the last time. Talking to reporters yesterday in detention, Obaidullah said he came to Bangladesh only to hide, and brought his family into the country later. He admitted that he is one of the most wanted in India, and said four other most wanted Indians are also hiding in Bangladesh. "In 1994, Indian commandos went to West Bengal from Delhi by helicopters to arrest me, but I managed to evade arrest and later left India," Obaidullah added. He said he knows many leaders of Bangladeshi Islamist terrorist groups, but denied carrying out any militant activity in the country. He however did admit to being active in the Islamist terrorist movement in India. He also said he has a number of friends and well wishers in the country who are former students of Deobandh Madrasa. He also managed to get a Bangladeshi national identity card, and cast votes in several elections, Obaidullah said. The ACORN people will be mad with jealousy when they hear about him.

Link

Bangladesh

18 more sepoys held for mutiny

2009-04-01

Rab yesterday detained 18 BDR personnel in connection with the massacre and looting of gold ornaments during the bloody mutiny at the Pilkhana BDR headquarters. The law enforcers detained them from Pilkhana after being ascertained through video footages and information from intelligence agencies of their involvement in dumping army officer's bodies in mass graves and looting gold ornaments during the mutiny, Rab sources said. The total number of arrestees in the BDR mutiny case has reached 800 as 35 more suspected BDR mutineers were shown arrested in the case yesterday. Meantime, a Dhaka court placed eight more BDR jawans on a three-day fresh remand for interrogation. About 131 people mostly BDR members have been taken on remand in connection with the mutiny case filed with the Lalbagh Police Station on February 28. The 18 detainees divulged important information about killings, looting and destroying the evidences of the carnage, said Rab in a press release. The detainees are nayek subedars Abdul Kader and Abdul Mannan, havildars Abu Zafar and Rafiqul Islam, nayeks Entaj Ali and Firoz Mia, sepoys Mizanur Rahman, Rahidul Islam, Mizanur Rahman (2), Mehedi Hasan, Shahinur Al-Mamun, Rafiqul Islam, Mofakkharul Islam, Abdur Rahman, Mukul Hossain, Rafiqul Islam (2), Mazharul Islam and Jahangir Alam. Rab will hand over them to Lalbagh Police Station that recorded the mutiny case. Of them, two were detained after looted gold ornaments had been recovered from their village homes in Bogra and Naogaon, Rab sources said. Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), tasked with probing the case, recorded statements of around 50 more people living around the Pilkhana BDR headquarters. "We have started taking statements of the people residing around Pilkhana since Sunday to gather information about the massacre. We have received some valuable information," said CID Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police Abdul Kahar Akand, also investigation officer of the case. Senior CID investigators discussed the progress in the probe into the case at a meeting at Pilkhana yesterday. Our court correspondent adds: Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Tofael Hassan granted the petition for showing the 35 suspected BDR mutineers arrested in the case and sent them to the Dhaka Central Jail as the CID did not pray for their remand. It also put 15 other suspects in prison after they were produced before it on completion of their five-day remand. The same court placed eight other suspected BDR jawans on a three-day fresh remand. They are Sepoys Abu Taher, Nafiul Kazi, Joynul Abedin, Masud Ahmed Khan, Shafiul Azim, Asaduzzaman, Kamruzzaman and Raihan Chowdhury. In the forwarding to the court, the CID said the eight have already divulged important information about the carnage and need to be remanded further for more information.

Link

Bangladesh

UP chairman killed in Barisal 'gunfight'

2008-12-28

A union parishad (UP) chairman was killed in a 'gunfight' between his accomplices and the members law enforcement agencies in Uzirpur upazila of Barisal early today, our Barisal correspondent reports. The dead was identified as Abu Zafar Mollah, 45, Shatla UP chairman and a leader of outlawed Sharbahara Party. Whether that's a splinter of the Biplobis I don't know ... Police said they arrested Zafar and three of his cohorts Friday midnight along with a revolver from his union. Later, they conducted a joint raid along with Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) on his union to recover arms and ammunitions. Let's see: chairman of an illegal party, revolver, RAB, and joint raid in the middle of the night. I think I know what's going to happen next ... As soon as the members of law enforcement agencies reached the area at about 4:30am, the accomplices of Zafar opened fire on, prompting a 'gunfight'. Any of those accomplices found later? No? How surprising ... Zafar tried to escape during the 'shootout' and sustained bullet injuries. "Feets don't fail me ... [THUNK] .. arrrrggghh ..." Uzirpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge told The Daily Star that Zafar's bullet-riddled body was found lying on a pool of blood after the 'gunfight'. Bullet-ridden = one behind each ear ... However, the accomplices of Zafar, who according to law enforcement members opened fire on them, managed to flee the scene leaving two revolver, one light gun and 12 bullets on the spot. Told ya they wouldn't be found ...

Link

Bangladesh

Aug 21 case goes to trial

2008-10-30

A Dhaka court yesterday finally framed charges against detained former BNP lawmaker Abdus Salam Pintu, Harkatul Jihad (Huji) chief Mufti Abdul Hannan and 20 others in two cases filed for grenade attacks on an Awami League (AL) rally in August 2004. Judge Mohammad Masdar Hossain of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 also rejected the discharge petitions of Pintu, Hannan and 12 others in jail custody. The court fixed November 5 for trial of the cases--one for murder and another for bomb blast--and summoned the complainant to appear before it on that date. The grenade attacks on the AL rally on Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004 left 24 people including Ivy Rahman, wife of acting AL President Zillur Rahman, killed and 200 others including AL chief Sheikh Hasina injured. Charges were framed in the cases after hearing had to be adjourned on nine consecutive dates following tie petitions from both the prosecution and defence. Both the cases were earlier shifted to the tribunal for quick disposal following a home ministry order. In the murder case, charges were framed against all the 22 accused under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 326 (grievous hurt), 324 (causing hurt), 109 (abetment), 34 (criminal liability), 120(B) (criminal conspiracy) and 302 (murder) of the Penal Code. Bomb blast charges were framed against them under sections 3, 4 and 6 of the Explosive Substances Act. The court charged Pintu also with approving the plan of the grenade attack prepared by Hannan and his accomplices. The former BNP lawmaker was also charged with assisting the Huji men with finances and administrative help and abetting them for killing and injuring the victims. Pintu, Hannan and 12 others, who are now in jail custody, pleaded not guilty and demanded justice after the charges were read out to them. Eight accused have been absconding. The 12 accused in jail are Hannan's brother Mohibullah alias Mafizur Rahman alias Ovi, Sharif Shahidul Islam alias Bipul, Maulana Abu Sayeed alias Dr Abu Zafar, Abul Kalam Azad alias Bulbul, Jahangir Alam, Maulana Abu Taher, Shahadatullah Jewel, Hossain Ahmed Tamim, Mufti Moinuddin Sheikh alias Abu Zandal alias Masum Billah, Arif Hasan Sumon, Rafiqul Islam Sabuj and Mohammad Ujjal alias Ratan. The eight absconding accused are Pintu's brothers Maulana Tajuddin and Maulana Liton, Anisul Mursalin and his brother Mahibul Muttakin, Iqbal, Maulana Abu Bakar alias Selim Howlader, Jahangir Alam Badar and Khalilur Rahman. Charges were framed against them in absentia and their trial will be continued in their absence. During the investigation of the cases, Hannan, Bipul, Ovi, Abu Sayeed, Bulbul, Arif Hossain, Jahangir and Sabuj gave statements under section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) confessing their involvement in the grenade attack. Special Public Prosecutor Firoz Kamrul Hassan and advocates Syed Rezaur Rahman, M Sajwar Hossain and Saharar Khatun appeared for the state during yesterday's hearing. THE CASE The police filed the two cases with Motijheel Police Station a day after the grenade attack. On June 5 last year, Badar Aziz Uddin of Cox's Bazar filed another case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, Dhaka, charging former premier Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique Rahman, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami and 25 others with murder. However, the investigation officer of the case, Criminal Investigation Department Assistant Superintendent Fazlul Kabir, did not find any links of them to the incident. On June 11 this year, the investigation officer of the two cases submitted the charge sheets, accusing the 22 persons in each case. The charge sheets contain 42 pages each while the case dockets have more than 3,000 pages. A total of 408 persons, including Hasina and other top AL leaders, have been made prosecution witnesses in the cases. Besides, 69 types of evidence including Hasina's sports utility vehicle, the truck used as the makeshift podium at the rally, grenade splinters and blood stained clothes were submitted.

Link

Bangladesh

2 HUJI cases shifted to Speedy Trial Tribunal

2008-09-05

The two cases filed in connection with the August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League (AL) rally in 2004 were transferred yesterday to a Speedy Trial Tribunal of Dhaka for quick disposal. The cases were filed for the grenade attacks on an the rally on Bangabandhu Avenue that left 23 people dead and around 200 others injured. The murder case is now pending with the Court of Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge and the grenade attack case with the Court of Metropolitan Sessions Judge of Dhaka. Following an order signed on August 26 by the home ministry, Judge Mohammad Azizul Haque of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court transferred the cases to the Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 where Mohammad Masdar Hossain is the conducting judge. Earlier on August 31, the conducting judge fixed September 8 for hearing on charge framing against 22 accused including detained former BNP lawmaker Abdus Salam Pintu and Harkatul Jihad (Huji) chief Mufti Abdul Hannan in the grenade attack case. On the other hand, another Dhaka court the same day directed eight absconding Huji members including brothers of Pintu to appear before the court by September 21. Of the accused, Pintu, Mufti Hannan, his brother Mohibullah alias Mafizur Rahman alias Ovi, Sharif Shahidul Islam alias Bipul, Maulana Abu Sayeed alias Dr Abu Zafar, Abul Kalam Azad alias Bulbul, Jahangir Alam, Maulana Abu Taher, Shahadatullah Jewel, Hossain Ahmed Tamim, Mufti Moinuddin Sheikh alias Abu Zandal alias Masum Billah, Arif Hasan Sumon, Rafiqul Islam Sabuj and Mohammad Ujjal alias Ratan were earlier arrested and are now in jail custody. Pintu's brother Maulana Tajuddin, Maulana Liton, and Anisul Mursalin, Mahibul Muttakin, Iqbal, Maulana Abu Bakar alias Selim Howlader, Jahangir Alam Badar and Khalilur Rahman have been absconding since the cases were filed. Eight of the arrestees -- Hannan, Bipul, Ovi, Abu Sayeed, Bulbul, Arif Hossain, Jahangir and Sabuj -- gave statements under section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code confessing their involvement in the incident. On June 11 this year, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Assistant Superintendent Fazlul Kabir, also investigation officer (IO) of the cases, submitted the charge sheets to the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Dhaka, showing 412 people as prosecution witnesses. A day after the grenade attack, the police filed two cases -- one for murder and another under the Explosive Substances Act -- with Motijheel Police Station.

Link

Bangladesh

Arrest warrant issued against 8 Huji fugitives

2008-06-24

A Dhaka court yesterday issued arrest warrants against eight absconding Harkatul Jihad (Huji) members including Maulana Tajuddin, brother of detained former BNP lawmaker Abdus Salam Pintu, in the August 21 grenade attack case. Metropolitan Sessions Court Judge Mohammad Azizuz Haque accepted the charge sheet of the case and took the charges into cognisance for trial after examining all relevant documents. The court directed the authorities concerned to send copies of the arrest warrants to the addresses of the absconding accused. It also fixed July 24 for returning the arrest warrants to the court. Assistant superintendent of police of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Fazlul Kabir, also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, was present at the court. The court on June 18 found flaws in the investigation of the case and asked the investigation officer (IO) to appear before the court yesterday and give explanation. The court also asked the IO to explain why he prayed for discharging four accused --Omar Faruk, Ferdous, Shuvo and Babu -- although the charges brought against them were found to be true. IO Fazlul Kabir told the court that he found involvement of the four with the grenade attacks on an Awami League rally, but he could not verify their real names and addresses. He said if he finds out their real names and addresses, he will submit a supplementary charge sheet against them. So, he prayed for dropping the charges against the four, the IO added. Earlier on June 11, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate AKM Enamul Haque accepted the charge sheet of the case against the 22 accused, including detained former deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu, in the second case filed in connection with the August 21 grenade attack on AL rally. The seven other absconding accused are Pintu's another brother Maulana Liton, Anisul Mursalin and his brother Mahibul Muttakin, Iqbal, Maulana Abu Bakar alias Selim Howlader, Jahangir Alam Badar and Khalilur Rahman. The IO on June 11 submitted the charge sheets of the cases against the accused to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court showing 408 people as prosecution witnesses. The accused who are behind bars now are Mufti Hannan, his brother Mohibullah alias Mafizur Rahman alias Ovi, Sharif Shahidul Islam alias Bipul, Maulana Abu Sayeed alias Dr Abu Zafar, Abul Kalam Azad alias Bulbul, Jahangir Alam, Maulana Abu Taher, Shahadatullah Jewel, Hossain Ahmed Tamim, Abdus Salam Pintu, Mufti Moinuddin Sheikh alias Abu Zandal alias Masum Billah, Arif Hasan Sumon, Rafiqul Islam Sabuj and Mohammad Ujjal alias Ratan. Eight of the arrestees -- Hannan, Bipul, Ovi, Abu Sayeed, Bulbul, Arif Hossain, Jahangir and Sabuj -- gave statements under section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code admitting to their involvement with the incident. Police filed two cases with the Motijheel Police Station a day after 23 people were killed in a grenade attack on the Awami League rally on August 21, 2004. One case was filed on charges of murder while the other was filed under the Explosive Substances Act. Badar Aziz Uddin of Cox's Bazar filed another case with the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court on June 5 last year against former premier Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique Rahman, Jamaat Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami and 25 others on charges of murder. However, IO Fazlul Kabir did not find their involvement with the incident. The IO of the cases filed by the police submitted the charge sheets, accusing 22 people in each of the two cases. He prayed for dropping the charges against 30 other accused held in connection with the grenade attack, as their involvement with the incident was not found

Link

Warning: Undefined property: stdClass::$T in /data/rantburg.com/www/pgrecentorg.php on line 132
-12 More