Despite having specific evidence against him of being a militant, police detained him for 'suspicious activities.' He was soon released because of lack of any specific charges against him. Lutfor continued his militant activities. Lutfor is only one case in point. Like him, at least 500 Islamist militants have been released on similar grounds in the past four years. Many of them were arrested several times in the act of terrorist activities, and yet no specific charges were brought against them and they were all left off the hook. In late 1996, some 40 militants were arrested with dummy rifles while taking arms training at a Barguna Qwami madrasa. They were almost immediately released as police said they were engaged in 'preaching Islam'. On June 30, 2004, 33 militants were arrested at a mosque in Barguna, which made international headlines. Police found booklets on jihad in their possession. Charges were brought against six of them while the rest were released immediately. Even those six were later freed on bail. One thing has become clear from the arrest and release stories: despite having specific evidence, police remain reluctant to bring any specific charges against the militants. In many cases, evidence was deliberately or mysteriously destroyed or witnesses barred from appearing before court to testify.
Jagrata Muslim Janata of Bangladesh (JMJB) chief Siddiqul Islam, nicknamed Bangla Bhai, is a glaring example of how militants have repeatedly escaped police dragnets and subsequently waged a reign of terror with backing from ruling party lawmakers. He was first arrested along with five others for attacking an Awami League leader in Mollarhat in Bagerhat on August 17, 2002. As villagers chased him, he took shelter in a house from where he was later caught with arms and militant documents. But police dropped Bangla Bhai's name from a charge sheet and no specific charges were brought against the rest. Rather, police termed him 'an Islamic scholar'. All the criminals were later freed.
Bangla Bhai was later held at Joypurhat while mobilising militants to attack another house. Again he was freed. Others have similarly flourished while evading arrest. On February 23, 2003 banned Al Hiqma leader Azimuddin and Azhar Ali Bhuian were arrested but against no charges were brought against them. Seven JMB militants were arrested at Kalai of Bogra on April 25, 2003, but police let them go without filing any case against them. Police arrested three leaders of Al Hiqma in Rajshahi for involvement in anti-state activities on February 15, 2003. A case was filed under the arms act but the name of their organisation was not mentioned in the case. They were later freed on bail. In August 2003, five militants of Hizbut Towhid were arrested in Gazipur, but they were sent to jail without any case. Police arrested four other Hizbut Tawhid men in Kushtia for killing a woman in September 2003 but no case was filed against them either.
Snipped many more examples