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Abu Taher	Abu Taher	Jagrata Muslim Janata	Bangladesh				20051019	Link
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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Leaked ISIS letters reveal Baghdadi is still alive and leading the terrorist group

2019-04-20

[ALMASDARNEWS] Over the past few years, His Supreme Immensity, Caliph of the Faithful and Galactic Overlord, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi ...the head of ISIS, or what remains of it, and a veteran of the Abu Graib jailhouse. Looks like a new messiah to bajillions of Moslems, like just another dead-eyed mass murder to the rest of us. So far he has been killed at least four times, though not yet by a stake through the heart... ’s death has been reported numerous times, but the ISIS* leader has re-emerged each time, even reportedly surviving an liquidation attempt in January. The latest clues related to the status of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi indicate that the most wanted man in the world is "at least alive", Fox News reports. The news outlet referred to copies of several December-dated letters from ISIS operatives to Baghdadi obtained by The Sunday Times earlier this month. In one letter, ISIS commander Abu Taher al-Tajiki reportedly briefs Baghdadi on potential target sites for the terrorist group’s strikes in Europe. "The letters underscore that not only is ISIS [ISIS] seemingly devoted to overseeing global attacks, but that its shadowy commander still pulls rank", Fox News reports. The Sunday Times, in turn, cited Mohammed Ali, one of the ISIS gunnies captured by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as saying that the jihadists believe Baghdadi is not present in the sliver of land still held by the terrorist group, but is hiding somewhere in the desert outside Syria. According to the newspaper’s source, the disappearance of the ISIS leader has spurred internal fighting within the terrorist organization. Sabah al Namaan, Baghdad’s spokesperson for its counter-terrorism agency, for his part, told Fox News in early April that Baghdadi is still in the Syrian desert, and that he "could not enter into the Iraqi side because of concerns about evading the security measures on the borders". Namaan added that killing him or arresting Baghdadi "will reveal many secrets about how they have recruited tens of thousands of young men, and it will create a gap in the organization." "Hopefully we will reach him very soon, especially now that ISIS has been defeated in its final place in Baghouz, Syria and they have lost all their land in Iraq. Now, we have a real opportunity to catch or kill him", he underscored. He was echoed by Hamid al-Hayes, the head of the al-Anbar Salvation Council, who claimed that Baghdadi was still in Syria near the Iraqi border and that the ISIS leader "has shaved his beard and changed a large part of his features [so as] not to be identified and tossed in the clink Maw! They're comin' to get me, Maw! Hisham al-Hashimi, a member of Iraq’s National Reconciliation Commission, in turn suggested that all the clues pinpoint Baghdadi in "three possible locations", including Syria’s Palmyra, the Homs desert or Iraq. "All these locations are very wide and very large with around 200 square miles [500 square kilometres]. He is a specialist at knowing how to survive, using different disguises and only with two people ‐ his brother and his driver ‐ with him", Hashimi was quoted by Fox News as saying. Earlier, The Guardian reported, citing intelligence forces, that Baghdadi had barely survived an liquidation attempt in a village near Hajin in eastern Syria on 10 January. Following the incident, which was reportedly the work of some of Baghdadi’s closest imported muscle, his bodyguards took him to the nearby desert. In June 2017, Russia’s Defence Ministry said that Baghdadi could have been killed as a result of an Arclight airstrike by the Russian Aerospace Forces, but several months later an alleged audio recording of Baghdadi emerged, casting doubt on his liquidation.The US, meanwhile, reportedly continues to offer up to $25 million for information leading to Baghdadi’s capture or death.

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Terror Networks

Uncovered files reveal ISIS plans to launch revenge attacks in Europe and Syria

2019-03-25

Well, I’m shocked. I’m sure you are, too, dear Reader. [ALMASDARNEWS] As the last remnants of Islamic State ...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems.... ’s ’caliphate’ is dealt a severe blow on the ground, sleeper cells from the group are already planning devastating Dire Revenge attacks in Europe ...also known as Moslem Lebensraum... and Syria, recently discovered files reveal. The documents, obtained by the Sunday Times, show that Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) operatives are supporting jihadists to plan fresh attacks in European cities, while sleeper cells within Syria have formed hit-squads to assassinate its enemies. The cache was contained in a hard drive dropped by an IS sleeper cell during a firefight with local forces in the Syrian desert in February. Attesting to its authenticity, the paper said the files contained the types of meticulous detail that have become a hallmark of the group’s record keeping and bureaucracy. Lists of fighters’ names and allotted weapons were joined by budget spreadsheets and payments to fighters and their wives. Others lament the lack of availability of jacket wallahs and vehicles for use as boom-mobiles. However, the hip bone's connected to the leg bone... more startling are letters from a senior IS leader who goes by the name Abu Taher al-Tajiki, claiming he has fighters willing to conduct operations "far away from the Islamic State" and would be in touch with them to "carry out the operations." To facilitate these attacks, he requests the setting up of a Bureau of Foreign Relations for the Department of Operations in Europe. Other letters addressed to group leaders in Iraq and Syria by al-Tajiki proposes the establishment of what he calls "crocodile cells," called such to represent IS killers who hide beneath the surface before attacking. Their missions would involve "killing the enemies of God and taking their money." Online hackers and technicians were also available for missions without the need for weapons.

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Bangladesh

4 women confined, gang-raped for months in Feni

2019-01-12

[Dhaka Tribune] Four women were allegedly confined and gang-raped in the Rampur area of Feni, over six months. They were tempting the gentlemen by being available — the poor jamokes couldn’t help themselves. A case has been filed in this regard against five people on Wednesday; out of which, two men have been jugged Don't shoot, coppers! I'm comin' out! The case‐accusing Kawsar Bin Kashem, 33, and multiple others‐was filed at Feni model cop shoppe with a young woman as the plaintiff. The investigation officer of the case, Feni police outpost Sub-Inspector Md Shahjahan, confirmed the incident to the Dhaka Tribune. He said: "After the case was filed, the police arrested Md Omayer, 19, and Ariful Islam Prakash Arman, 33, from Rampur." Resident medical officer at Feni Sadar Hospital Abu Taher said: "The police took the four to the hospital for medical tests. The tests have been completed." Quoting the victims and the case statement, police said after the four women were brought to the Rampur house, Kawsar and his accomplices forcefully drugged and raped them. The four women were confined and subjected to rape and torture for around six months. Police also said Kawsar sometimes brought unknown people to the house and they also raped the four. If the women refused, they were tortured with burning cigarettes, byelectric shock, and repeated death threats. Shahidul Islam, inspector (investigation) of sadar model cop shoppe confirmed the matter. He said: "Acting on a tip-off, [RING!] Cop shoppe! Sergeant Shafiq speaking! Lissen! Dis is Mahmoud da Weasel! I got a tip for youse... Feni police rescued four women from the Rampur house. Police also recovered 53 yaba tablets and equipment used for taking drugs. A separate case was filed pertaining to the confiscated drugs. "House owner Kawsar Bin Kashem expeditiously departed at a goodly pace. The police are trying to locate him. Already, two of his accomplices have been detained and sent to prison.

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Bangladesh

New JMB runs arms smuggling syndicate

2016-11-12

[Dhaka Tribune] Using loopholes in border security, the terrorist group New Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) is now smuggling arms into Bangladesh from India, police have said. Members of the old JMB hiding across the border in West Bengal are the suppliers of these weapons. The two groups mainly use the Chapainawabganj and Joypurhat borders to bring in the arms, sometimes putting them inside mango baskets and sometimes inside shopping bags. The weapons originate in Malda and Bihar in India. Information from the interrogation of four New JMB members in jug and also some Indian arms smugglers had unveiled this criminal network, a senior officer from police Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTTC) unit told the Dhaka Tribune. The four turbans are Mizanur Rahman, Toufiqul Islam, Abu Taher and Selim Miah, who have revealed quite a few sensational information in interrogation, the officer said. Ahmedul Islam, Assistant Commissioner (AC) of CTTC, admitted yesterday that the police had uncovered some information on this and were analysing them. The outgoing director general of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed admitted that the force had limited capability to check smuggling of this nature. "We share a long border with India and we do not have sufficient capacity to check these activities," he said. "We have information that arms smugglers use sacks of rice or onion in big trucks to bring arms, but we have no vehicle scanners. It is quite impossible to check all these vehicles manually," Maj Gen Ahmed said. BGB had placed demands to the Home Ministry for better equipment, the DG said. He pointed out that the lack of cooperation from law enforcement further aggravated the problem. "BGB members often check trucks manually based on intelligence reports and are sometimes successful in apprehending smugglers. The problem is, we do not got updates from the Sherlocks once we turn the criminals in," he said. Investigators say most of the arms used by New JMB came from India, even the modern AK-22 rifles. The modified AK -22 came from Bihar and entered Bangladesh through Chapainawbaganj. CTTC chief Monirul Islam says New JMB brought in the weapons through their own channels. "The Death Eaters did not take assistance from professional arms smugglers," he told the Dhaka Tribune. "Although we have information that the AK-22s were modified in India, we are not sure where they were manufactured," he said. "We are looking into their place of manufacture." According to Sherlocks, New JMB leader Sagor of Joypurhat, Mizanur Rahman alias Boro Mizan of Gaibandha and Mizanur alias Chhoto Mizan worked as arms carriers, bringing the weapons through the border, while former JMB leader Sohel Mahfuz, who currently works for New JMB, looks after the syndicate’s activities in West Bengal. New JMB leaders Nurul Islam Marjan and Rajib Gandhi handled the arms after they were delivered into Bangladesh by the carriers. Sanowar Hossain, additional deputy commissioner of CTTC, said: "We have not found any connection between New JMB and any arms smuggler. They basically collect them through their own sources and bring them into Bangladesh through Chapainawabganj border." According to sources, New JMB leader Shariful Islam, Mamunur Rashid and Junayed Khan have fled to India after the Gulshan attack and joined hands with Sohel Mahfuz there, trying to increase their capacity by collecting firearms. "We are now trying to go the source of New JMB’s arms capacity and are conducting drives," ADC Sanowar said.

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Bangladesh

New JMB planned big attack for Dhaka

2016-11-04

[Dhaka Tribune] New JMB had plans to stage a big terror attack in Dhaka, police learnt from four firearms smugglers tossed in the slammer Maw! They're comin' to get me, Maw! by the Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crimes (CTTC) unit of police in the capital’s Darussalam area on Wednesday. In preparations for the attack, the New JMB members brought 787 detonators and a 9mm pistol to Dhaka, which were smuggled into the country from India through the border in Chapainawabganj’s Shibganj upazila, the detainees said during their primary interrogation. They were identified as Md Abu Taher, 37, Mizanur Rahman, 34, Md Selim Miah, 45, and Taufiqul Islam alias Dr Taufiq. All of them are natives of Shibganj upazila and active members of New JMB, said Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday, he further said they brought the gun and the detonators in shopping bags. "These four also supplied the firearms and explosives used in Gulshan attack," he added. A case was filed against the four with Darussalam cop shoppe under the Anti-Terrorism Act. According to the case, the four were part of a group who arrived to Darussalam on a long-distance bus on Wednesday night. CTTC officials were waiting there following a tip-off and approached the group when they got off the bus. As the group tried to flee, the officials were able to catch the detainees while four or five others managed to escape. They were produced before a Dhaka court yesterday where Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Snigdha Rani Chakraborty placed them on remand for three days. The arrestees may be shown arrested in the Gulshan attack case as well, sources said. During interrogation, the New JMB operatives also confessed that they smuggled firearms and explosives via the Bangladesh-India border in Shibganj in preparation for violence on a massive scale in Bangladesh, Masudur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune. Investigators suspect that New JMB’s Chapainawabganj zone leaders Mizanur Rahman alias Boro Mizan and Mizanur Rahman alias Chhoto Mizan alias Tara supervise the smuggling operations. Interrogators further learnt that Chhoto Mizan collected the weapons and explosives to be used in Gulshan attack and delivered them to Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury and Nurul Islam Marjan, he added. The material recovered on Wednesday night were collected from Boro Mizan and other New JMB leaders named Rabiul, Jaltu and Laltu, according to the case.

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Bangladesh

BOGRA SHIA MOSQUE : 3 remanded, RAB detains 3 others

2015-11-29

[Bangla New Age] A Bogra court on Saturday remanded three suspects in police custody for interrogation, while the Rapid Action Battalion detained three more suspects in connection with a gun attack that killed a muezzin and injured three others during prayers inside a Shia mosque at Shibganj in Bogra. Senior judicial magistrate Shyam Sundar Roy passed the order after police produced local Emdadul Ulum Qoumi Madrassah principal Maulana Shamsul Alam, 60, Anwar Hossain, 48, of Majhihatta and madrassah student Jewel Miah, 25, of Haripur of the upazila before the court on Saturday afternoon. Shamsul Alam was remanded in jug for five days while Anwar Hossain and Jewel Miah for seven days. Three unknown assailants stormed into the mosque and fled jumping over the boundary wall after shooting at people who were saying Maghrib prayers on November 26. The attack claimed the life of the muezzin, Moazzem Hossain, 70, and injured the imam, Shahinur Islam, and two others ­-- Abu Taher and Aftab Ali. Shibganj police detained Anwar Hossain and Jewel Miah on early Friday while Bogra Detective Branch of police detained Shamsul Alam on Friday night, said Shibganj police inspector (investigation) Kamruzzaman Miah, also the investigation officer of the case. Rapid Action Battalion-12 in Bogra detained three more suspects ­-- Minhaz, 18, Shahinur, 21, and Rayhan Miah, 28, of the upazila ­-- on Friday night in connection with the attack. RAB-12 squad commander senior assistant superintendent of police Mafizul Islam said that the three were being interrogated. Bogra additional superintendent of police Arifur Rahman Mondal said there was no further development in the investigation. 'We will interrogate the three in jug and try to extract clue to the attack from them,' he said. The injured imam, Shahinur, shot in the waist, would undergo a surgery to remove the bullet after a week, said Bogra Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital vice-principal Rezaul Alam Jewel, also orthopaedic department physician. He said that bullet was removed from Taher's upper leg and he was recovering. Aftab's condition was better and he left the hospital on Friday. Earlier, two people were killed and scores were maimed as three improvised bombs were detonated at Hussaini Dalan, the Shia headquarters in Bangladesh, in Dhaka on October 24. Not a single encounter by either the RAB or police, one notices sadly. The interrogations must be productive.

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Bangladesh

Two members of third gender catch killers of blogger Oyasiqur

2015-03-31

[Dhaka Tribune] Salafists hacked to death secular blogger Md Oyasiqur Rahman Babu yesterday morning in Tejgaon, Dhaka allegedly for his atheist views. A travel agency executive, Oyasiqur's murder was premeditated. Three assailants swooped on Oyasiqur, 27, armed with machetes around 9am on Dipika Mosque Lane of Begunbari, close to Tejgaon Textile Engineering University, when he was going to office in Motijheel. While fleeing, two of the killers -- Zikrullah, a student of Hefajat-e-Islam ...a madrassa-based false nose and mustache of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, formed in 2010 to protest against secular education. In 2011 demonstrated violentyly against women's rights and in 2013 held large rallies demanding capital punishment of Shahbag Square protesters and banning women working outside the home... 's Hathazari Madrasa in Chittagong, and Ariful, student of Mirpur Darul Uloom Madrasa -- were held by two hermaphrodites as locals remained reluctant to chase the killers. The other member of the team, Abu Taher, escaped. The duo was handed over to police, who later recovered the machetes from the scene of the crime, Tejgaon industrial police OC Salauddin said. The incident took place only a month after secular blogger and former Buet teacher Avijit Roy and his wife Rafida Ahmed Bonya came under attack by krazed killers. Avijit departed this vale of tears at a hospital. Police are yet to solve the case but claim that the killers might be linked to the banned Islamist group Hizbut Tahrir ...an al-Qaeda recruiting organization banned in most countries. It calls for the reestablishment of the Caliphate... and Ansarullah Bangla Team. Deputy Commissioner of Tejgaon zone Biplab Kumar Sarker told news hounds that in preliminary interrogation the arrestees said they had killed Oyasiqur for writing on religious issues. "We are investigating whether they are involved with any organization." Known as Oyasiqur Babu on Facebook where he had more than 2,600 friends, the blogger used to write under pseudonyms on popular blogs. On his Facebook account, Oyasiqur wrote several notes opposing irrational religious beliefs, superstitions and radical Islamists. He was also an admirer of Avijit Roy. After the attack on Avijit, he changed his profile picture to the hashtag "#iamavijit" on a black background. His Facebook cover photo also displays the hashtag #WordsCannotBeKilled. Witness Ziauddin, brother of the owner of Khokon General Store near the spot, told the Dhaka Tribune: "I heard some women screaming. Soon I along with some customers came out of the shop and found an injured person lying on the street and three attackers running towards the main road." Two Hijras, whose identities could not be ascertained, chased the killers and held Zikrullah and Arif. Locals took Oyasiqur to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead. He's dead, Jim! He had deep cuts on the eyes and left cheek, according to the inquest. OC Salauddin said the killers hacked him mainly on the face. The murder spot is beside the boundary wall of the Textile Engineering University. There is another building on the other side of the 10-foot lane. There are no shops close to the spot and only a few people were around at the time of murder. Oyasiqur's house is around 50 feet from the spot. His cousins Helal and Shilpi told the Dhaka Tribune that he had no enemies and that they did not understand why he would be killed. They said he had been working as a trainee at Fareast Aviation in Motijheel after graduating from Tejgaon College. He used to write against Jamaat-e-Islami ...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... and radical Islamist groups. He was vocal against human rights ...which are usually open to widely divergent definitions... violations on the religious minorities and indigenous people of the country. Tamanna Setu, one of Oyasiqur's friends, said: "I asked him several times not to write about these issues ... but he replied: 'I have no photos on my Facebook account. So they will not recognise me.'"

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Bangladesh

14 Huji men freshly indicted after revising charges

2014-09-15

[Dhaka Tribune] A Dhaka court has freshly indicted chief of banned Islamist outfit 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. Mufti Abdul Hannan and 13 others in the explosives case filed over blasting bombs during the Pahela Baishakh celebrations at Ramna Batamul in 2001. Judge Shahed Nur Uddin of the Speedy Trial Tribunal 1 reframed the charges yesterday following a prosecution petition. In the petition filed on August 7, special public prosecutor Abu Abdullah Bhuiyan mentioned that the HuJI men had earlier been charged in the case under a wrong section of law. After the framing of charges under sections 3 and 6 of the Explosive Substances Act, the court has fixed September 21 for further trial of the case. So far, seven witnesses have testified in the case. The court said on September 21 it would decide on whether to recall the seven witnesses or continue deposition of the other witnesses. On April 16, 2009, the then metropolitan sessions judge ANM Bashir Ullah framed the charges under section 26 of the Special Powers Act and section 3 of the Explosive Substances Act. As per the two sections of the Explosive Substances Act, if found guilty, the accused would be handed down death penalty. Of the 14 accused, nine including Mufti Hannan are in jail while the rest on the run. In the killing case lodged over the same incident, a Dhaka court on June 23 handed down death penalty to eight HuJI members, including Hannan, and sentenced six others to life imprisonment. Later the prosecution filed a petition to reframe the charges upon a Supreme Court directive in the case which was sought in 2009. Ten people were killed and scores injured in the blast on April 14, 2001 while cultural group Chhayanaut was performing at the Bangla year celebrations. Two cases were filed with the Ramna police -- one for murder and the other for possession and use of explosive substances. The Criminal Investigation Department pressed charges on December 30, 2008 in both the cases. The other accused are Arif Hasan alias Suman alias Abdur Razzak, Maulana Akbar Hossain alias Helal Uddin, Alhaj Maulana Md Tajuddin (absconding), Hafez Jahangir Alam Badar (absconding), Maulana Abu Bakar alias Hafez Selim Hawlader (absconding), Mufti Shafiqur Rahman (absconding), Mufti Abdul Hye (absconding), Hafez Maulana Yahiya, Maulana Shawkat Osman alias Sheikh Farid, Maulana Sabbir alias Abdul Hannan, Maulana Abu Taher, Shahadat Ullah alias Jewel and Maulana Abdur Rouf. Mufti Hannan is facing charges in 24 other cases. In his statement made on November 19, 2006, he said they had carried out the attack since the programme was "anti-Islamic."

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Bangladesh

Mufti Hanan to swing for Ramna Batamul killings

2014-06-24

[Dhaka Tribune] Chief of banned bad boy outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami Mufti Abdul Hannan and seven of his aides have to walk the gallows for killing 10 people in a kaboom incident during the traditional celebrations of the Bangla New Year at the capital's Ramna Batamul in 2001. For the same offence, six other 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. members were sentenced to life term imprisonment for conspiracy, plotting and carrying out the attack on commoners who were visiting the place to observe the day, 13 years back, on April 14. Judge Ruhul Amin of the Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court of Dhaka read out the verdict in a jam-packed courtroom amid tight security measures yesterday morning. The court also fined the 14 convicts Tk50,000 each. Before reading out the sentences, the judge, in his observation, said the incident had no political link, and that the case was not a political one. Those who had died had gone to the place with their family members, kith and kin and children to celebrate the Bangla New Year. They were common people. This celebration is not meant for any particular party, class, ideology, group or religion. That day, several thousand people of different religions, castes, groups, sexes and ages gathered at the venue. The judge said from the confessional statements of the accused and depositions of witnesses, the court learned that two powerful bombs had been planted technically in the spot early in the morning, hours before the programme began. According to bomb experts, two remote control devices were used to detonate the bombs. The first bomb went kaboom! around 8:05am and the other 10-15 minutes later. Seven innocent people was struck down in his prime during the first kaboom and 20-25 people sustained injuries. Later three persons died at hospitals while undergoing treatment. "The attackers did not target any certain person, object or group. The [organiser] Chhayanaut is also a non-political organization," the judge said. "The motive of the attacks was to create political turmoil and panic, to pollute the cultural arena and stop cultural activities in the country. What the attackers and the planners did that day was heinous, barbaric and cruel. There is no scope to show sympathy or favour them," the court observed. According to the accounts of the accused, there was no religious or social clash between the attackers and the victims. It was an attack on Bengali culture so that the people refrained from celebrating the day. "It is one of the most heinous, barbaric and shameful attacks on general people since the country's War of Independence," the court said. During the trial proceedings, six of the injured gave their depositions while eight more people who were present on the spot described the incident before the court. The other witnesses included eight relatives of the victims. The court said the prosecution had succeeded in proving the charges against the accused based on the witness accounts and documents. Confessional statements of three accused, especially HuJI chief Mufti Hannan's statement, had helped the court to draw its conclusion. In his statement made on November 19, 2006, Hannan said they had carried out the attack since the programme was "anti-Islamic." The death row convicts are Mufti Abdul Hannan Munshi alias Abul Kalam alias Abdul Mannan, Arif Hasan alias Suman alias Abdur Razzak, Maulana Akbar Hossain alias Helal Uddin, Alhaj Maulana Md Tajuddin (absconding), Hafez Jahangir Alam Badar (absconding), Maulana Abu Bakar alias Hafez Selim Hawlader (absconding), Mufti Shafiqur Rahman (Absconding) and Mufti Abdul Hye (absconding). Of them, Hannan, Akbar and Arif Hasan admitted their involvement in the incident. Later they submitted petitions to withdraw the statements, but those were rejected. The lifers are Hafez Maulana Yahiya, Maulana Shawkat Osman alias Sheikh Farid, Maulana Sabbir alias Abdul Hannan, Maulana Abu Taher, Shahadat Ullah alias Jewel and Maulana Abdur Rouf. Hannan is facing 24 other cases. The judge started reading out the verdict around 11:45am. Nine HuJI men including Hannan were produced before the court around 10:50am. In the courtroom, they looked tensed and pale. Lifer Maulana Abu Taher cried after hearing the verdict. 'HuJI chief wanted no bloodshed' In his confessional statement, Hannan said Hafej Abu Taher, who was the president of Ranangan Shilpi Gosthi, a cultural wing of HuJI, had met HuJI's former secretary Maulana Sheikh Farid in Dhaka. He proposed to Farid that they should launch a kaboom on the Bangla New Year ceremony to stop the programme. "Sheikh Farid came to our city unit office, which was situated in the capital's Mohammadpur between the Shia Mosque and the Rahmania Madrasa. After a discussion among myself, Maulana Abdur Rouf, Yahiya Sabbir, Jahangir Badar, Abu Bakar and some others, Sheikh Farid asked Taher to launch the kaboom," Hannan said. But at one stage of the discussion, the leaders at the meeting decided to consult the matter with HuJI chief Mufti Shafiqur Rahman, for approval. Farid, Abu Bakar and Jahangir went to Shafiqur's place to finalise the plan. "After they came back, Farid told me that the chief had given his approval but had asked all to carry out the attack in a way so that no one was harmed." The HuJI chief had instructed Sabbir and Jahangir to make the bombs. They were ordered to hand those over to Taher. The duo followed the instructions. On the day of the incident, several HuJI men including Hasan and Omar Faruque (who used to introduce themselves as students of Dhaka College) planted the bombs. Two cases — one for the killing and the other under the Explosive Substances Act — were filed with the Ramna cop shoppe. On December 30, 2008, the Criminal Investigation Department pressed the charges against the 14 accused in both the cases. Earlier, the court recorded statements of 61 prosecution witnesses, including the complainant of the case. The case involving explosive substances has remained stuck till now. In 2009, the Speedy Trial Tribunal 1 of Dhaka sought the Supreme Court registrar's opinion on whether both the cases could be tried together. The registrar has yet to respond on the matter. Hannan claims himself innocent After the judge delivered the verdict, death row convict Hannan, who had appointed no lawyers to defend him, immediately told news hounds that he had not received justice. "I was a prey of political vengeance. The prosecution failed to prove the charges against me. I am innocent," he stated. Abu Taher claimed that he had known nothing about the incident. "God will decide my fate on the day of final judgement," he said. Additional public prosecutor SM Jahid Hossain said they were somewhat happy, mentioning, "The state will file an appeal with the High Court seeking death penalty for the six HuJI men who have been awarded life sentences." On the other hand, one of the defence lawyers Jasim Uddin said they would also appeal against the judgement.

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Bangladesh

Policeman killed in gunfight with pirates

2014-02-06

[Dhaka Tribune] A police constable was killed and three others sustained injuries in a shootout with pirates in the Meghna River at Gazooria upazila in Munshiganj in the early hours of yesterday. Superintendent of Police, Munshiganj Md Habibur Rahman said the shootout had ensued when a team of police had been patrolling the river riding on a trawler. Then, the police noticed presence of robbers on two trawlers and chased the vessels, but sensing danger, the robbers shot up four law enforcers, prompting the law enforcers to retaliate with bullets. Constable Abdul Malek fell into the river after being hit by a bullet, he said. Around eight hours after the shootout, divers from fire service and civil defence recovered the bullet-riddle body of Malek, he said, adding, a number of gang members might have received bullet wounds during the clash, but they managed to flee the scene. ... as though they had never been... with a trawler. Police seized another trawler of the robbers with looted valuables and several sharp weapons. Meanwhile, ...back at the alley, Slats grabbed his rosco... a group of Jamaat-Shibir activists attacked a police team and vandalised two private cars following the arrest of a Jammat leader at Ranibandar in Dinajpur yesterday. Police said they had enjugged Drop the gat, Rocky, or you're a dead 'un! a local Jamaat leader Abdur Rouf around 11am. Hearing the news of his arrest, Jamaat-Shibir men hurled brick chips at police and put up barricade on the Dinajpur-Rangpur highway. Later, additional police went to the spot and rescued them. Meanwhile, ...back at the Council of Boskone, Helmuth ordered the space pirate fleet to attack Zemblonia... Detective Branch of police nabbed Yez got nuttin' on me, coppers! Nuttin'! Cox's Bazar district unit Jamaat Ameer Abu Taher Chowdhury in the afternoon.

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Bangladesh

Five Jamaat-Shibir men held

2013-03-18

[Bangla Daily Star] Police arrested five Jamaat-Shibir men in Satkania upazila of Chittagong for their alleged involvement in vandalism and attacks on police during violence in the upazila since February 28. The arrestees are Md Abu Taher, 54, Kefayet Ullah, 22, Md Jahed, 17, Md Shahadat Hossain, 19, and Yasir Arafat alias Hridoy, 17. Police arrested the five men while conducting drives in different areas of the upazila from Saturday evening till early yesterday, said Md Ismail Hossain, officer-in-charge of Satkania Police Station.

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Bangladesh

Jamaat, Shibir stay violent; toll rises to 47

2013-03-03

[Bangla Daily Star] Clashes between Jamaat-Shibir activists and police yesterday killed five people and injured at least 150 others, including 10 coppers, across the country. Besides, two maimed in previous festivities also gave up the ghost yesterday. In the capital BNP activists in collaboration with Jamaat-Shibir men torched four vehicles and vandalised more than 100 vehicles. Since the International Crimes Tribunal-1 had awarded Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Delwar Hossain Sayeedi ...Islamic orator and politician. He was a former Member of Parliament in the National Assembly of Bangladesh from 1996 to 2008, and is one of the most prominent leaders of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami... the capital punishment on Thursday, a total of 47 persons had been killed in the festivities between Islamic fanatics and law enforcers until yesterday. In Chittagong, three people, including a teenaged boy, were killed and 30 others injured in a shootout between Jamaat-Shibir men and police at Satkania upazila yesterday. The dear departed have been identified as Abu Taher, 30, son of Abdus Sukkur; Shaidul Islam, 15, son of Abu Taher; and Md Osman, 27, son of Abu Sayed. All of them were from Chhodaha union of the upazila and supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami ...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... and Islamic Chhatra Shibir, said Satkania upazila chairman Moshad Hossain. The injured have been admitted to clinics in Satkania and Chittagong city, said police and locals, adding that the four-hour-long clash that took place around 10:00am in Hasmater Dokan area had created widespread panic among people. Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Shajahan of Satkania Police Station said Jamat-Shibir men had blocked the Chittagong-Cox's Bazar highway from Kerani Haat to Chhodaha areas [approximately 1.5 kilometres] with trees and logs around 7:00am. This triggered a long tailback on the highway. On information police and members of Rapid Action Battalion rushed to the spot and charged batons to disperse the activists, who at that time had started to vandalise vehicles. In the face of resistance, the Jamaat-Shibir men at first burled brick chips and then charged homemade bombs at law enforcers. At this the law enforcers retaliated with bullets. The activists also returned bullets, triggering a shootout.

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