Recent Appearances...

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Recent Appearances...

India-Pakistan

NIA arrests JMB terrorist from Bengal

2021-11-04

[OneIndia] National Investigation Agency sleuths have arrested a suspected terrorist of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh
The JMB is said to be the youth front of Al Mujahideen, the parent organization that began working toward establishing Bangladesh as an Islamic state in the mid 1990s, which remains obscure and probably defunct today. Other organizations, such as Jama'atul Jihad, JMB, Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB), Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HUJI), Hizbut Tawhid, Tawhidi Janata, Islami Jubo Shangha, Islami Shangha, Al Falah A'am Unnayan Shanstha and Shahadat-e al Hiqma are believed to be part of the Al Mujahideen network. The JMB at its peak was reported to contain at least 100,000 members, and an alleged 2,000-man suicide brigade, few of whom actually exploded. JMB allegedly received financial assistance from individual donors in Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Libya. Reports have claimed that funding of JMB by international NGOs like Kuwait based Society of the Revival of Islamic Heritage (RIHS) and Doulatul Kuwait, Saudi Arabia based Al Haramaine Islamic Institute and Rabita Al Alam Al Islami, Qatar Charitable Society and UAE-based Al Fuzaira and Khairul Ansar Al Khairia. The top leadership of JMB was captured in 2005 and hung in 2007, which pretty much shot their bolt.
from West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district, an official said on Wednesday.

Nowadays JMB is linked to ISIS. This may change if a kewler jihadi group comes along.

Acting on a tip-off,
[RING!]
Cop shoppe! Sergeant Shafiq speaking!
Lissen! Dis is Mahmoud da Weasel! I got a tip for youse...
a team of NIA personnel conducted a search operation in the Subhasgram area on Tuesday and apprehended the Bangladeshi national, he said.

"Fake voter and Aadhaar cards have been seized from his possession. He is being interrogated. We are trying to find out how and when he entered into India," the official told PTI.

Several documents related to the terror group were seized from his possession, he added.

Link

Afghanistan

Ministry of Defense: 66 Taliban killed in Kandahar, Zabul

2021-03-11

[KhaamaPress] The Ministry of Defense in a released statement said that government forces inflicted heavy casualties Taliban
Taliban

...Arabic for students...
in the Arghandab and Jiri districts of Kandahar province.

MoD stated Wednesday, that Afghan national defense and security forces backed by Afghan Air Force launched a clearance operation in Arghandab and Zherai districts of Kandahar.At least 31 Taliban were reportedly killed and eight others were maimed during the skirmish.

According to the MoD three Taliban vehicle, and some of their weapons and ammunition were also destroyed during the battle.

Meanwhile,
...back at the pound, the little lost dog had finished eating the rat terrier...
the Ministry of Defense in another statement indicated that at least 35 Taliban gunnies were killed in southern Zabul.

Afghan national defense and security forces conducted a joint operation facilitated by air support in Mizan and Shahr-e-Safa districts of the province, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement indicated that 35 faceless myrmidons were killed and further 19 affiliated Taliban members were maimed during the raids and two of the group members were detained.

As many villages were cleared of the Taliban influence in Mizan district, ANDSF has seized one vehicle, seven cycle of violences, and two weapons belonging to the murderous Moslem group, the statement added.

In the meantime, a Taliban hideout and ammunition were wrecked and eight mines planted aimed at targeting civilians and the Afghan national army were discovered and later defused by the government security forces in Mizan district.

Taliban have not yet commented on both of the incidents.

Link

India-Pakistan

NIA charges 9 Al-Qaeda operatives from Bengal, Kerala who were planning attacks on ‘kafirs’

2021-02-27

[OneIndia] The National Investigation Agency has filed a chargesheet against 11 members of the al-Qaeda module from West Bengal and Kerala.

The case was registered by the NIA based on information about an Al Qaeda inspired module operating in the states of West Bengal and Kerala under the leadership of Murshid Hasan.

The members of this module were in the advanced stage of a conspiracy to execute terrorist attacks in different parts of the country. In well synchronised raids conducted on last year in Kerala and Bengal, nine Lions of Islam were arrested. Subsequently two more operatives were arrested from West Bengal.

Investigation revealed that Murshid Hasan was in touch with Al Qaeda handlers based in Pakistain and Bangladesh and had received instructions along with radical propaganda material through encrypted social media platforms from them.

Murshid Hasan along with his other associates conspired to radicalise and recruit more individuals into the Al Qaeda. They disseminated radical material through social media and encrypted chat platforms with an intention to radicalise and recruit others for establishing an Islamic State

...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really 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 western pols talk they're not really Moslems....
by waging ~~violent~~ mostly peaceful jihad in India.

Investigation also revealed that the group members planned to attack individuals whom they consider Kafirs. The group members had conducted a series of conspiratorial meetings for raising funds for the purchase of arms and ammunitions/kabooms, radicalising and recruiting more members and charting out the future course of action including establishing a Markaz ( a training centre for providing religious and weapons training to new recruits).

The accused persons were also in active communication with an arms dealer through their foreign based handlers and were planning to receive a consignment of sophisticated arms and ammunitions in New Delhi.

However,
a hangover is the wrath of grapes...
their nefarious plans were obviated by their timely arrest by NIA. The accused persons were planning to attack among others, an India based Bangladeshi blogger for his views expressed on social media.

Link

India-Pakistan

Boma Mizan sentenced to 29 years for Khagragarh blast case in India

2021-02-17

From a week ago.

[DhakaTribune] Indian court sentences Jahidul Islam Mizan - also known as Boma Mizan - to 29 years of prison for the Khagragarh blast of 2014.

An Indian court sentenced Jahidul Islam Mizan

...also sometimes known as Mohammed Jahidul Islam, he’s the Big Turban, the Number 1 of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen India (JMI). When the organization was stood up in 2018, he reported directly to Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) Number 1 Salahuddin Salehin alias Hafizur Rahman Sheikh alias Mahin...

alias Kausar - also known as Boma Mizan - to 29 years of imprisonment for the Khagragarh blast of 2014.

Special NIA Judge Suvendu Samanta sentenced five years of imprisonment to Sheikh Kausar, on five counts and two years each for other offences, which he will have to serve consecutively. Kausar confessed before a court, and will also have to pay a fine of Rs 29,000 for his offences.

NIA counsel Shyamal Ghosh said that Kausar was convicted under various sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), as he waged war against entities associated with the Indian government, the Foreigners Act and created conspiracies.

Links to Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh
The JMB is said to be the youth front of Al Mujahideen, the parent organization that began working toward establishing Bangladesh as an Islamic state in the mid 1990s, which remains obscure and probably defunct today. Other organizations, such as Jama'atul Jihad, JMB, Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB), Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HUJI), Hizbut Tawhid, Tawhidi Janata, Islami Jubo Shangha, Islami Shangha, Al Falah A'am Unnayan Shanstha and Shahadat-e al Hiqma are believed to be part of the Al Mujahideen network. The JMB at its peak was reported to contain at least 100,000 members, and an alleged 2,000-man suicide brigade, few of whom actually exploded. JMB allegedly received financial assistance from individual donors in Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Libya. Reports have claimed that funding of JMB by international NGOs like Kuwait based Society of the Revival of Islamic Heritage (RIHS) and Doulatul Kuwait, Saudi Arabia based Al Haramaine Islamic Institute and Rabita Al Alam Al Islami, Qatar Charitable Society and UAE-based Al Fuzaira and Khairul Ansar Al Khairia. The top leadership of JMB was captured in 2005 and hung in 2007, which pretty much shot their bolt.
(JMB), a well known terror group, were identified in the blast on October 2 2014.

India appears to be putting considerable energy against clearing old cases lately — or is it just that it takes this long to get cases to trial, and they’ve finally arrived?

Three suspected bad boyz were potted and injured while making kabooms and bombs at a rented residence in the Khagragarh area of the Bardhaman town in West Bengal.

Following Kausar’s sentencing, 31 out of the total 33 accused in the infamous case have been found guilty, and have subsequently been sentenced. The other two accused have escaped.

The preliminary charge sheet was filed in March 2015 by the NIA. It stated that there was a "conspiracy of JMB, a proscribed organization in Bangladesh, to overthrow the existing government in Bangladesh through ~~violent~~ mostly peaceful terrorist acts," reports the New Indian Express.

The investigation was initially taken over by the state CID, and was later transferred to the NIA within a couple of days.

Link

Bangladesh

'Jubo League man' detained linked to JMB hijacking

2014-05-01

[Dhaka Tribune] A suspected member of banned myrmidon group Jama'at-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) yesterday blamed a leader of Mymensingh unit Jubo League
... the youth wing of the Bangla Awami League...
for leading the safe passage of one of the three convicted JMB leaders who were hijacked from a prisons van in Trishal on February 23.

The accused, Ataur Rahman Kamal alias Juboraj, is the joint secretary of Bhaluka thana unit Jubo League, youth wing of the Awami League. His father is also a ruling party leader in Bhaluka.

The disclosure came at a press briefing at the RAB headquarters following the arrest of eight suspects in the last few days for their alleged involvement in the incident.

According to the elite force officials, six of them were incarcerated
I ain't sayin' nuttin' widdout me mout'piece!
for their direct links with the hijacking incident and making safe route for one of the Death Eaters while the two others for helping them in their attempts to leave the country.

There were several other groups active on the spot to bring out the two "Jagoron Tutorial Home" at Bhaluka.

Police at different times arrested at least 11 persons in connection with the incident.

JMB Majlish-e-Shura members Rakib, Salauddin alias Salehin and Zahidul Islam alias Boma Mizan had been hijacked from a prison van while they had been taken to a Mymensingh court from Gazipur jail. Rakib had been arrested a day after the incident and was killed in a shootout by the police.

The hijackers also killed one of the coppers escorting the van.

Of the three, Salauddin and Rakib were death row convicts while Boma Mizan a lifer.

At the press briefing, Sabuj said: "The hijacking of Hafez Mahmud alias Rakib Hassan was carried out under the directives and leadership of Ataur Rahman Kamal alias Juboraj."

Talking to several journalists in Mymensingh and locals in Bhaluka, it was learnt that Kamal's father Mujibor Rahman is a vice-president of the upazila unit Awami League. Mujibor is a former vice-chairman of Bhaluka Upazila Gay Pareehad.

Sabuj said Kamal had informed them about the plan and each of them were given Tk20,000 for the purpose. He claimed that six persons had taken part in the operation while Kamal was present near the scene of the crime on a black microbus.

"We helped Rakib Hassan to reach Fulbaria from Trishal and then he chose his own way," he added.

However,
a clean conscience makes a soft pillow...
Wing Commander ATM Habibur Rahman, director of RAB's Legal and Media Wing, ruled out the claims Sabuj had made at the press bringing.

"All the eight detainees are myrmidons. Whenever any criminal is arrested, he or she opts for political shelter as a technique," he said.

He claimed that separate groups had taken part in the hijacking and each was tasked with different duties. They did not know each other. "The hijacking of the JMB leader was a long-term plan. The group led by Sabuj was tasked with the safe escaping of Rakib Hasan only."

Habibur said they were trying to identify members of the other groups.

Asked about action against Kamal for his alleged involvement in the incident, the official said they had started investigating into the allegation.

Link

Bangladesh

Recaptured JMB Rakib killed in 'gunfight'

2014-02-25

[Dhaka Tribune] Death row convict Jama'atul Mujahedin Bangladesh (JMB) leader Rakib Hasan, alias Hafez Mahmud Rasel, 35, was killed in a 'shootout' at Beltoil Ceramic area under Mirjapur upazila in Tangail early yesterday. He was recaptured by law enforcers after being snatched away by fellow JMB men from a police van earlier on Sunday.

Police claimed the shootout took place at around 4:00am, when they went to arrest two other JMB leaders snatched from their custody, and other JMB activists who took part in the police van attack.

On Sunday, JMB members killed a policeman and snatched three of their top detained operatives from a prison van in Trishal of Mymensingh on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway, while they were being taken to Mymensingh from jails in Gazipur. The snatched JMB men were death row convict Rakib Hasan, Salauddin Salehin and Saidul Islam alias Boma Mizan, who had been awarded lifetime imprisonment.

Hasibul Alam, acting superintendent of Tangail district police, told the Dhaka Tribune that Rakib Hasan Rasel was killed during a shootout between police and a gang of criminals, who attacked the police members in a bid to snatch Rasel again.

"Police went to the place along with Rasel as per his information about the presence of two other JMB leaders, Salehin and Boma Mizan," said Hasibul Alam adding: "To free Rasel, the criminals opened fired on the police members, who retaliated with gunshots leading to the shootout."

He said: "It was a fierce shootout that lasted for more than half an hour. At one point, Rasel tried to escape and sustained bullet injuries to his chest and throat."

He said three police members also sustained injuries in the shootout and a shutter gun was also recovered on the spot.

Although Hasibul could not give details on the injured coppers, he said they were admitted to Tangail Hospital.

The drive was conducted by a joint team of police comprising of members from Mirzapur and Shafipur cop shoppes in Tangail, additional forces from Mymensingh and the detective branch.

Police later handed over the body of Rakib Hasan to his family members yesterday afternoon, said Mirzapur cop shoppe Officer-in-Charge Golam Mostafa.

"The body was handed over to Rakib's father Abdus Sobahan around 5.20pm," he informed.

Bounty amount increased

Police yesterday increased the bounty from Tk 2 lakh to Tk 5 lakh each for the capture of the JMB men, who were snatched away by fellow activists from a police van.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Qamrul Ahsan, senior information officer at the Police Headquarters, confirmed the matter and said: "Tk5 lakh will be rewarded to anyone who will be able to capture or help in the arrest of any of the two convicted JMB leaders."

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Dhaka Range Police Mahfujul Huq Nuruzzaman, earlier on Sunday evening, announced a Tk2 lakh as bounty on the heads of three convicted JMB men.

Meanwhile,
...back at the palazzo, Count Guido had escaped from his bonds and overwhelmed his guard using the bludgeon the faithful Filomena had smuggled to him in the loaf of bread...
the driver of one of the microbus used in the JMB operation, Zakariya Himel, and another JMB suspect Anwar Hossain Rasel were placed on a 20-day remand in two separate cases.

Link

Bangladesh

JMB leaders used cellphones in jail

2014-02-25

[Dhaka Tribune] The three top JMB leaders who had been whisked off a prison van on Sunday on their way to Mymensingh from the jail in Gazipur had mobile phones inside their prison to communicate with other JMB men outside, sources said.

The JMB men criminal masterminded their escape while being in jail by keeping a regular connection with their cohorts that took part in the operation.

A section of coppers are suspected to be involved in the operation and planning while questions have also been raised on the poor security measures as the hardened JMB cadres were being taken to Mymensingh from Gazipur.

Police, Rab and Jail sources said the cadres, who took part in operation, were the JMB operatives and two of the three microbuses used in the operation were purchased recently at Tk21 lakh from the capital.

Three members of Majlish-e-Sura, the highest decision making body of JMB -- Salauddin Salehin, Rakib Hasan Rasel and Saidul Islam, alias Boma Mizan -- were taken away from the prison van on their way to a Mymensingh court, killing a policeman Sunday morning.

Within six hours of whisking away of the JMB men, Rakib had been re-incarcerated
Book 'im, Mahmoud!
in Shafipur. He also died in a reported shootout between police and a gang of criminals early yesterday.

Besides, two of the microbuses used in the operation were recovered by arresting three other JMB men, including a driver of one of the microbuses, Zakariya Himel, his wife Swapna Begum and another JMB man Anwar Hossain, alias Rasel.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Hasibul Alam, acting superintendent of police (SP) of Tangail district, admitted that the JMB turbans had their own mobile phones inside their prison cells and prison van for keeping communication with the other JMB men.

The acting SP, however, said: "So far we have come to know that those three JMB cadres had been supplied with a mini-size cellphone of a company for keeping regular contact with their fellows."

Asked, the acting SP said the mobile phone had been supplied to them when they were taken to a Dhaka court in connection with their court appearance for one of the cases, but he failed to specify when the cellphones were supplied.

"During primary interrogation Zakaria Himel disclosed their plan to carry out the operation and the ways of how they maintained communication," said Hasibul Alam.

He said: "Zakariya hails from Chapainawabganj and he is an active JMB operative, who played key role in the operation."

"Zakariya helped purchase the two of three microbuses used in the operation at Tk21 lakh from 'Car Hut' in front of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, he said, adding that one of the microbuses was purchased only four days before the operation and another around two weeks ago."

Replying to a query, SP Hasibul Alam said those who launched the operation to whisk off the three JMB leaders and carried out attack in Mirjapur where Rakib Hasan Rasel was killed were also JMB cadres.

Col Ziaul Ahsan, additional director general of Rab, agreed with the Tangail SP, saying, "We suspect that the attackers were JMB cadres."

However,
by candlelight every wench is handsome...
officials of the High Security Jail and Kashimpur 1 prison denied the claim of SP Hasibul Alam and they traded blame between each other.

They said police were trying to cover up their failure by shifting blame on the jail authorities.

"There is no scope of keeping any mobile phone inside the jail. We keep a close watch so that nobody can use mobile phone," said Abdur Razzak, senior superintendent of the High Security Jail.

Jamil Ahmed Chowdhury, senior superintendent of Kashimpur 1 Jail, added: "It was a foul mouthed tirade that the JMB leaders had their own phone inside the jail."

Meanwhile,
...back at the Council of Boskone, Helmuth ordered the entire 614th quadrant searched. The Green Lensman must be found!...
the committees formed to probe the role of police in connection with the fleeing of three JMB cadres started their activities yesterday.

Additional Deputy Inspector General of Police (Dhaka Range) Faruq Hossain, chief of one of the probe committees, told the Dhaka Tribune they already started investigation into the incident.

Asked why only three coppers were assigned for escorting such hardened JMB cadres, the police officer said: "We are carrying out investigation, paying highest attention to the question."

"We are verifying whether police in Gazipur had negligence or had their involvement in the fleeing of those prisoners."

Link

Bangladesh

Rohingya groups under scanner

2012-10-07

[Bangla Daily Star] The Rohingya Death Eater groups of Rakhine state in Myanmar are suspected of being among the key planners of last week's mayhem on Buddhist community at Ramu.

Leaders and activists of four Rohingya outfits have long been staying in Bangladesh, especially in Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Khagrachhari and Rangamati.

These organizations are Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO), Arakan Rohingya Nationalist Organisation (ARNO), National United Party of Arakan (NUPA) and Istehadul Tullabul Muslemin (ITM).

The RSO tops the list of suspects as it participated in attacks on Buddhist temples and houses on the night of September 29, according to a person who has long and intimate relations with some RSO leaders and activists.

Meanwhile,
...back at the Hubba Hubba Club, Nunzio had his hands full of angry bleached blonde...
sources said a group of RSO leaders had been staying in a Cox's Bazar hotel for a few days before the Ramu attacks.

Some of these leaders belonged to Abdullah Mohammad Salamatullah's faction in the bad turban organization, sources claimed.

A police official confirmed that they have been gathering information in this regard but would not disclose any progress for the sake of investigation.

As law enforcers have information on the presence of some RSO leaders in Cox's Bazar immediately before the attack, suspicion fall on other Rohingya groups too, the official added.

The person close to the RSO told this correspondent that several hundred rioters who came to Ramu from Garzania and Naikhangchhari in Bandarban were RSO members.

They belonged to Muammed Yunus-led faction and Yunus's follower Hafez Abdullah and Mahmudullah played key roles to mobilise them.

Another group of Rohingyas came from Cox's Bazar.

Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh
The JMB is said to be the youth front of Al Mujahideen, the parent organization that began working toward establishing Bangladesh as an Islamic state in the mid 1990s which remains obscure even today. Other organizations, such as Jama'atul Jihad, JMB, Jagrata Mohammedan Janata Bangladesh (JMJB), Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HUJI), Hizbut Tawhid, Tawhidi Janata, Islami Jubo Shangha, Islami Shangha, Al Falah A'am Unnayan Shanstha and Shahadat-e al Hiqma are believed to be part of the Al Mujahideen network. The JMB at its peak was reported to contain at least 100,000 members, and an alleged 2,000-man suicide brigade, few of whom actually went kaboom!. JMB allegedly received financial assistance from individual donors in Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Libya. Reports have claimed that funding of JMB by international NGOs like Kuwait based Society of the Revival of Islamic Heritage (RIHS) and Doulatul Kuwait, Saudi Arabia based Al Haramaine Islamic Institute and Rabita Al Alam Al Islami, Qatar Charitable Society and UAE-based Al Fuzaira and Khairul Ansar Al Khairia. The top leadership of JMB was captured in 2005 and hung in 2007, which pretty much shot their bolt.
(JMB), a banned Islamist bad turban organization of the country, had close links with the RSO, JMB's explosives expert Boma Mizan said during interrogations.

Some JMB operatives received training from RSO arms experts in camps in remote hilly area of Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami (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.
) Bangladesh, another outlawed Islamist outfit, too had strong connections with RSO.

Internal groupings under the leadership of Yunus, Salamatullah and a few other leaders have been weakening the RSO gradually since the late 90s.

Having the blessings of Nurul Islam, known as a boss of RSO, Salamatullah has been elevated to the top of the organization.

There was also rivalry among RSO, ARNO and NUPA. More than a year ago, Salamatullah strove to unite all the Rohingya bad turban groups to regain strength.

The Istehadul Tullabul Muslemin -- known as student front of RSO -- acts as the main force behind all Rohingya terror operations. Its leaders are well trained in arms and explosives and also provide arms training to others.

An Islamic political party and its student wing leaders also played a significant role in bringing attackers from Cox's Bazar and some other areas, the source close to RSO added.

The Daily Star earlier talked to a number of witnesses who claimed they saw Rohingyas in anti-Buddhist processions and rallies on the night of September 29.

Link

Bangladesh

Raid raid JMB chief's flat

2010-05-25

The flat raided by law-enforcers Sunday night was a den of banned Islamist outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh and the arrestee was its military wing chief Shiblu, claimed police.

Police have picked up Shiblu's parents and two siblings for ~~squeezing~~ quizzing and recovered nine more homemade grenades from the flat.

Additional Superintendent of Police Zannatul Hasan of the police headquarters said they had information that Shiblu took over the charge of JMB explosive unit after the arrest of former chief Boma Mizan last year. He said Shiblu set up his den there to make explosives for JMB, which is trying to regroup again.

Sources say that a 21-member team consisted of police headquarters, Kadamtoli police and Special Branch of police raided the flat to capture Maulana Saidur Rahman, the current JMB chief.

Detained Shiblu, however, identified himself as Abu Bakkar Siddique and an operative of banned Islamist outfit Harkatul-Jihad (Huji).

Either way he's a dead man walking ...

Zannatul, who led the operation Sunday, told The Daily Star that the name of detained JMB explosive unit chief might be Abu Bakkar Siddique but he took the pseudonyms Nazrul alias Shiblu in his organisation.

The JMB version of a cut-out?

Shiblu was undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital with burn injuries. He was wounded when a homemade grenade exploded in his hands as he was trying to flee by hurling grenades and firing shots at the police Sunday night. The police were raiding the JMB den at South Dania.

Burned hands? That's gotta hurt. Always the chance for sepsis ...

It appears the Bangladeshi bomb-makers are as incompetent as the Pakistani ones. Djinn-based chemistry fails again.

Rab Director (intelligence wing) Lt Col Ziaul Ahsan, however, said as per the information they have, there is no one named Abu Bakkar Siddique or Shiblu at the helm of the military wing of JMB. "If he is taken in TFI [taskforce interrogation cell] for interrogation, we would be able to confirm the identity," he said.

Right before they shoot him ...

"Who was that incompetent bomb maker?" asked the awed crowd.

Additional SP Zannatul reiterated that they had information that JMB operatives have been regrouping again to carry out subversive activities and Shiblu was the chief of the explosives unit.

At least 10 people including eight policemen and Shiblu were injured during the raid at the den on the second floor of a four-storey building at Shahjalalbagh of South Dania. Three other militants escaped by hurling bombs at law enforcers.

The police also recovered books on jihad and pamphlets that mentioned the name of executed JMB chief Shaekh Abdur Rahman, sources said.

Rab and police sources said executed Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai was the first military wing commander of JMB. After Bangla Bhai became the second-in-command of the militant organisation, JMB chief executed Shaikh Abdur Rahman's brother Ataur Rahman Sunny was given the charge of the military wing.

Sunny was arrested on December 14, 2005, and Mizan alias Boma Mizan took over the charge. After Mizan's arrest on May 15, 2009, Shiblu took up the job, said sources. Rab officials said Maulana Saidur Rahman took the outfit's helm after Abdur Rahman and five others were executed in 2006.

Those burnt hands suggest the Rab have gotten inside the JMB's training cycle. Well done, lads!

Link

Bangladesh

Money now rules JMB recruitment

2009-10-25

[Bangla Daily Star] Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh is now providing money along with motivation to entice new recruits in the banned outfit.

In the past, only motivation would do the trick but now it has changed its recruitment strategy, said law enforcers dealing with the militants.

The dawati (invitation) unit of the outfit first select young simpletons from ultra poor families in rural areas or by visiting mosques. After that the militants get close to the target people and start discussing about Jihad.

"If the targets respond positively the JMB operatives start giving them some religious books, particularly those on Jihad. They also give them a certain monthly amount to gain their confidence and slowly make them dependent on the outfit," said a senior official of the Rapid Action Battalion intelligence wing.

"At one stage the targets become infatuated with the JMB," he said, adding that some of the recently detained militants told them that the outfit would spend a monthly amount of Tk 500 per target.

He, however, could not say exactly how many targets JMB has across the country.

Sub-Inspector of Boalia Police Station Hafizur Rahman, who is investigating the case filed following the arrest of seven JMB members in Rajshahi and nearby districts, told The Daily Star that each of the arrestees have so far recruited new members numbering between 30 and 50 before their arrest.

The Rab intelligence official said the militant organisation's outgoings for new recruitments are adding to the outfit's other traditional expenditures like organisational and operational costs, living costs of many of its full timers and their family members.

The change in the JMB's recruitment strategy has increased the organisation's overall expenditure, the official said adding that alongside JMB's traditional source of income, a few NGOs and charity organisations are suspected to be providing funds to JMB.

"We've already got primary information about three to four such NGOs and charity organisations and are trying to get evidences against them," a senior Rab intelligence official told The Daily Star wishing anonymity.

He, however, would not give the names of those NGOs and charity organisations before the investigation is over.

The traditional sources of JMB funding are its members' contribution, Usl (zakat on harvested crops), Zakat, Fitra, leather of sacrificial cattle and contribution of local and foreign supporter and well-wishers. Besides, counterfeiting of currencies, particularly Indian rupees and US dollars, is also a source of money. JMB also owns some taxicabs and rickshaws from where some more fund is generated, said sources in the law enforcing agencies.

"We have so far detected at least one gang involving JMB members in counterfeiting currencies. The gang used to pay the outfit Tk 50,000 per month," said an official at the Special Branch (SB). He, however, said funding from the sources has shrunk significantly following the arrest of the gang members.

As an impression of JMB's monthly expenditure the official said during interrogation Zahidul Islam alias Boma Mizan, JMB's military commander, told them that JMB used to provide him Tk 1,200 for food, Tk 1,200 for each of the operatives under him, Tk 11,000 as houses rent, Tk 15,000 annually as pocket money, medical allowance as required time to time and Tk 2,000 as outfit allowance per month.

He also told the interrogators that JMB also gave him around Tk 7 lakh in one year to buy bomb-making materials and chemicals before his arrest in May.

The sources said the organisation is now bearing all expenses of around 100 key members.

Bashar, son of JMB Maulana Saidur Rahman, is now looking after the financial affairs of the organisation and he sends the money to the outfit members. They never transact money through banks.

The banned outfit has already started to make their old tested but inactive adherents active. They became inactive due to the drives on the militants after the August17, 2005 synchronised blasts across the country, said sources in the law enforcement agencies.

"The JMB is now trying to strengthen its activities. Whatever they do they are under our careful watch and will be brought to book," Director Intelligence of Rab Lt Col Ziaul Ahsan told The Daily Star.

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Bangladesh

4 JMB men jailed

2009-10-12

[Bangla Daily Star] A court here yesterday sentenced five years' rigorous imprisonment each to four members of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in an explosives case filed with the Cox's Bazar Police Station.

The convicted were JMB Chittagong divisional chief Javed Iqbal alias Mohammad, its explosives expert Zahidul Islam alias Boma Mizan, Ayub Ali alias Abu Jar and Naimuzzaman alias Shohag.

Judge Shafiqul Karim of Chittagong Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal also penalised each with a fine of Tk 5,000 in default of which they will have to suffer another year's imprisonment.

According to the deposition of the case, police arrested Ayub Ali with 53 types of explosives in his possession

Fifty three seems like rather a lot...

at a rental house in Nur Para under Cox's Bazar headquarters on December 11, 2005.

The mills of justice grind slowly...

In this connection, Sub Inspector Abul Hashem of Cox's Bazar Police Station filed a case under Special Powers Act 1974 on December 13 accusing seven persons, including JMB chief Shaekh Abdur Rahman, its military chief Ataur Rahman Sunny and Mashiur Rahman alias Milon.

Police submitted the charge sheet of the case on February 28, 2007 and the charge was framed on March 31 this year.

Abdur Rahman and Sunny have already been executed, and Mashiur Rahman was exempted from the case.

Public Prosecutor Ayub Khan said the accused confessed that they stockpiled the explosives to attack on Brac, other NGO offices and churches.

"It was them damned kufrs, y'r honer -- they wuz askin' fer it! Whut's a good Muslim t'do?"

The court delivered its verdict yesterday after hearing 18 witnesses, he added.

With this verdict, the JMB Chittagong divisional chief Mohammad is awarded 229 years' imprisonment.

So much for getting to know the grandchildren.

Link

Bangladesh

JMB offshoot leader Selim arrested

2009-07-08

[Bangla Daily Star] A joint team of Rab and BDR yesterday arrested Selim alias Saifullah, second-in-command and military affairs commander of JMB's new offshoot Islam O Muslim, at Belpara in Chapainawabganj. Selim was arrested after an exchange of gunshots with the forces and he sustained a bullet wound in his leg, said Rab sources.
"Feets, don't fail me..BANG!...Ouch!"
They also recovered a pistol, nine bullets, three bullet shells and two empty magazines from the scene and his possession.
No shutter gun, that'll show up around 4 AM when they take him for a "ride".
Immediately after the arrest of Islam O Muslim chief Abdur Rahman alias Shahadat, Selim fled to India. An intelligence agency finding out that he was back in Bangladesh informed Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) that he was hiding at his father-in-law's in Belpara, Shibganj.

Rab and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) team surrounded the house of Selim's in-laws around 1:00pm. Selim fired three shots at the team in a bid to avoid arrest and the team retaliated with five shots.
Guess they're better shots.
In a press conference last night, Director of Rab-5 Lt Col Israt Hossain said, "Selim, expert in light weaponry, used to collect arms for JMB."

He said Rab tracked Selim down based on Boma Mizan's confessional statement. Arrested Islam O Muslim chief Abdur Rahim alias Shahadat and two of his associates also confirmed Selim's position in the new offshoot, said Lt Col Israt.
Pliers and truncheons will do that.
While describing the arrest, Rab officials said Selim used to go to India frequently. He used to provide Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj JMB and its new offshoot with arms.
Ah, I sense a late night trip looking for arms caches in his short future.
After the execution of JMB top leaders Shaekh Abdur Rahman and Siddiqul Islam Bangla Bhai, JMB leaders were divided over ideological, economical and different other issues. The Rajshahi Rab chief said, "The divided leaders later formed new outfits and were engaged in recruiting fresh members across the country." Shahadat and Selim were trying to reorganise the inactive JMB members across the country under the new banner of Islam O Muslim, sources said.
"Join our team, plenty of spots available for advancement due to unexpected vacancies"
Meanwhile, police yesterday arrested Nazmul Haque Tuhin, a convicted JMB member as he came out of Rajshahi Central Jail on a High Court bail.
"Naz, nice to see you again. Youse coming with us."
Tuhin, 34, of Harail in Joypurhat Sadar, was sent to jail after he surrendered before a court on October 12, 2005. He was later convicted in a case filed in connection with the August 17, 2005 serial blasts and sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment by a Rajshahi court. Talking to the press, Tuhin protested his innocence and said he was framed by a businessman who had strong ties with some rogue policemen.

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