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Bangladesh

Violence, low turnout mark Bangla polls

2014-01-06

[Bangla New Age] Polling in 147 constituencies for the 10th Jatiya Sangsad on Sunday was marked by death of 18 people in violence, low turnout of voters and stuffing of ballot boxes by ruling party men across the country. A member of Ansars and 17 opposition activists were killed in Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Nilphamari, Feni, Munshiganj, Laksmipur, Jessore, NATO ...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A collection of multinational and multilingual and multicultural armed forces, all of differing capabilities, working toward a common goal by pulling in different directions... re, Chittagong and Gaibandha districts as violent festivities erupted across the country after opposition men tried to foil voting in the 'one-sided' polls. The BNP-led opposition alliance demanded cancellation of Sunday's 'farcical elections' and announced a fresh round of 48-hour general strike beginning at 6:00am today along with the blockade for fresh elections. The ruling Awami League, however, termed Sunday's election as 'victory of the people and democracy'. Candidates in 153 constituencies had already been elected unopposed after the opposition alliance boycotted the polls. Burning down of more than 150 polling stations by opposition activists before polling began at 8:00am Sunday, killing of an assistant presiding officer and snatching of election materials forced the Election Commission to suspend voting in around 400 centres. Turnout of voters was relatively higher in three constituencies in Chittagong Hill Tracts where Awami League candidates had close contests with independent candidates. Mobile phone networks in the three districts were switched off on the polling day. Both the Election Commission and the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission said they were not aware of it and not certain who ordered the mobile network off. 'There was no such instruction from the commission,' said election commissioner Mohammad Shahnawaz. Three regional political parties -- Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti, United People's Democratic Front and Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (MN Larma)] -- saw the move as a part of 'election engineering'. In the capital New Age found turnout of voters in different polling stations very low till noon. Dense fog in the morning discouraged voters from turning up at the polling stations in some constituencies. The turnout increased slowly as the day rolled on. By the afternoon people of Awami League candidates began stuffing the ballot boxes in some constituencies. The correspondent in Pabna said Ashique Al Shams Ranjan, son of state minister for home affairs Shamsul Haque Tuku, also Awami League candidate for Pabna 1 constituency, had alone snatched and stuffed 899 ballot papers at Paikhati Shahidnagar high school in Bera. As the polling agent of independent candidate Abu Sayeed protested, Ranjan and his cohorts beat him up mercilessly. Senior Awami League leaders were seen stuffing boxes at the Jamia Islamia Madrassah and Orphanage centre at Dakkhin Khan under Dhaka 18 constituency. They were visibly annoyed at the presence of a newsman but polling officials requested the correspondent to stay there until the close of the polling. At the T&T Girls College centre at Mohakhali, Awami League activists stuffed ballot boxes forcing all out of the polling booths in the afternoon. Reports from Dinajpur said an Ansar member and two opposition men were killed and five others injured in three separate incidents of violence in Parbatipur upazila. Ansar constable Abdul Wahed died after Jamaat-Shibir men attacked Bachhirbaniya government primary school centre around 11:00am. Ansar sources said Wahed had died of cardiac arrest after several hundred Jamaat men chased him for a kilometre. Masud Raihan, an activist of Jatiya Ganatantrik Party, died in local hospital after being hit by a bullet in a clash with the police when opposition activists attacked Manmathpur Cooperative High School centre around 12:30pm. Babul Hossain, a leader of Chehelgazi union BNP, was rubbed out by rivals when the opposition men attacked Nashipur primary school centre at about 1:30am. The correspondent in Rangpur said Sirajul Islam Siraj, 24, and Hadiuzzaman Hadi, 25, activists 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... 's student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir ... the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh... , were killed in police firing after Jamaat-Shibir men attacked Dewti School and College polling centre in Pirgachha and looted ballots and ballot boxes and set fire to the centre under Rangpur 4 constituency around 3:00am. Pirgachha police officer-in-charge Mokbul Hossain said the police were forced to open fire on the attackers that left two dead. Leaders of the upazila unit Jamaat and Shibir declined comments on the incident. The correspondent in Nilphamari reported that two Jamaat-Shibir activists were killed in police firing after they attacked two polling centres in Dimla and Jaldhaka upazilas and attempted to torch the centres after looting election materials. Jamaat activist Jahangir Alam,32, a lecturer at Khalisa Chhotokhata Fazil Madrassah at Khalisa Chapani of Dimla, was killed when police opened fire on Jamaat-Shibir men who attacked Beparitala Alim Madrassah centre around 2:30am. Dimla police acting officer-in-charge Azim Uddin said one person was killed in police firing when Jamaat-Shibir attacked the polling centre. Jamaat man Momtaz Uddin,50, a teacher of Barabhita Dakhil Madrassah in Kishoreganj, was killed when police opened fire on Jamaat supporters after they attacked Balapara Kachari Girls High School polling centre in Koimari union under of Jaldhaka at about 10:00am. Jaldhaka police officer-in-charge Moniruzzaman said one person had died in police firing in Koimari after Jamaat-Shibir men attacked a polling centre. In Laksmipur, Shibir activist Mohammad Rubel was killed and two more suffered injuries as police opened fire on opposition activists after they attempted to snatch ballot boxes at Machhimpur High School centre in Ramganj upazila. Ramganj police officer-in-charge Rezaul Karim confirmed the death of Rubel. Juba Dal leader Jamshed Alam was killed in police firing when opposition activists attacked Uttar Char Chandia primary school centre in Sonagazi of Feni around 10:30am. Chhatra Dal leader Shahidullah, who suffered injuries in the same incisent, died at hospital, said Sonagazi police chief Subhash Chandra Pal. Kangkan Mia, 24, joint secretary of Shimulia union unit Chhatra Dal, drowned as he jumped into a ditch after being chased by police in Tongibari of Munshiganj after hurling a petrol bomb at Dakshin Kathadia-Shimulia government primary school centre around 5:50am. The correspondent in Thakurgaon reported that three opposition activists were killed in police firing when opposition men attacked polling stations. Joynal, 30, and Harun, 40, of village Khagrabari were killed in police firing after they attacked Basudevpur Government Primary School polling centre around noon. In another incident BNP activist Abu Hanif died in a clash with Awami League supporters at Gopalpur. The opposition men attacked over 30 polling centres in Thakurgaon1 constituency and clashed with the ruling party activists and law enforcers. At least 50 people, including police, ansar and BNP-Jamaat activists, were maimed during the violence. In Chittagong, Shibir activist Enamul Haque, 26, of Adur Para in Lohagara, was killed when police opened fire on Jamaat men after they tried to snatch ballot boxes from Bhabanipur polling centre at about 3:30pm. BNP activist Babul Hossain died in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital after being hit by a bullet at Ramnagar under Manda in NATOre around 11:00am. Manda police officer-in-charge Abdullahel Baqui said joint forces were forced to open fire after the opposition men attacked them with bows and arrows. Reports from Gaibandha said Jamaat activist Shahabul, 35, was killed and 15 others were maimed after Jamaat supporters clashed with Awami League at Manmath Government Primary School centre in Bamandanga in the afternoon. Gaibandha additional police superintendent Mosharraf Hossain confirmed the death. Jamaat activist Matiar Rahman was rubbed out as joint forces opened fire to disperse attackers at Bajitpur centre in Monirampur of Jessore and 30 more, including three presiding officers, sustained injuries in widespread violence in Monirampur that forced the Election Commission to suspend polling at 47 centres. The correspondent in Lalmanirhat said at least 68 people, include eight police men, two presiding officers and a journalist, were maimed in attacks at different centres by opposition activists. The injured were admitted to Patgram and Hatibandha upazila health complexes, Lalmonirhat General Hospital and Rangpur Medical College Hospital. The attackers also snatched a rifle from police at Hosnabad Community Primary School centre. The correspondent in Jhenaidah said opposition activists had snatched election materials from Dariapur government primary school polling centre in Maheshpur upazila. Police opened fire to control the situation. The attackers also cut the tendons of Mahehspur municipal unit Awami League leader Ali Nur Rahman. In retaliation, the house of Mahehspur municipal unit Jamaat amir Moqbul Hossain was torched. Maheshpur police officer-in-charge Akram Hossain confirmed the incidents.

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Bangladesh

Fresh 72-hr blockade from today

2013-12-17

[Bangla Daily Star] The BNP-led 18-party alliance enforces yet another spell of countrywide blockade of rail, roads and waterways beginning this morning, triggering fresh fear of violence and loss of lives. The 72-hour blockade will also deal a heavy blow to education, business and public life in general that are already hit hard due to the crippling opposition programmes over the past two months. The blockade will end at 6:00am on Friday, but BNP insiders said they might call a weeklong blockade from Saturday, which would be the "endgame" of their movement. Earlier, the opposition alliance has enforced 371 hours (15 days) of countrywide blockade since November 26, demanding cancellation of the polls schedule announced the day before. Scores have died in violence since, many in arson attack on public and private vehicles. "We want to say unequivocally to the government that it must stop playing hide and seek over the election, stop playing all kinds of election drama, cancel the election schedule and save the country from extremely anarchic situation," BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan said, announcing the blockade from the party chairperson's Gulshan office. Political analysts say this announcement means that the talks between the Awami League and the BNP have failed to end the impasse centring on the January 5 election. Nazrul Islam, however, said BNP chief Khaleda Zia Three-term PM of Bangla, widow of deceased dictator Ziaur Rahman, head of the Bangla Nationalist Party, an apparent magnet for corruption ... would ease the blockade if the government agreed to hold the polls under a nonparty government. Talking about the fresh programme, one BNP leader told The Daily Star: "BNP's very existence will depend on the success of the endgame of this movement. Either BNP or the ruling party will survive depending on the outcome of the game." But State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku and AL leader Mahbubul Alam Hanif warned against any violence, saying they would resist the opposition "anarchy" by all means. In the briefing, Nazrul Islam said the government was staging a drama in the name of holding the election, sensing a sure defeat if the election is held with the participation of all political parties. "People have been deprived of their voting rights," he said, adding that the government was keeping the opposition out of the polls race. Referring to Sunday's inter ministerial meeting that decided that AL men will accompany law enforcers in tackling the opposition activists on the streets, he said such a decision would push the country towards a civil war like situation. Nazrul urged the government to backtrack on the decision.

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Bangladesh

Govt goes tough on opposition

2013-11-09

[Bangla Daily Star] BNP standing committee members Moudud Ahmed, MK Anwar and Rafiqul Islam Miah were incarcerated Please don't kill me! yesterday, hours after the party-led opposition alliance announced a 72-hour countrywide hartal ... a peculiarly Bangla combination of a general strike and a riot, used by both major political groups in lieu of actual governance ... from tomorrow. Detectives made the arrests as the trio came out of Hotel Sonargaon around 8:00pm attending the anniversary celebration of Bangla daily Prothom Alo. Law enforcers also nabbed Please don't kill me! BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia Three-term PM of Bangla, widow of deceased dictator Ziaur Rahman, head of the Bangla Nationalist Party, an apparent magnet for corruption ... 's Adviser Abdul Awal Mintoo and Special Assistant Shimul Biswas outside her Gulshan-2 home around 1:10am and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal ...student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)... Vice-President Anwar Hossain Tipu in front of Jatiya Press Club around 12:15am today. The detained were taken to the DB headquarters. "They were arrested on specific allegations," State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku told The Daily Star. He, however, did not say what the allegations were. Information Minister Hasanul Huq Inu said the opposition leaders were arrested for instigating attacks on people and their properties. Ruhul Kabir Rizvi holding a presser said the 72-hour hartal starting form tomorrow would be extended if the detained leaders were not released immediately. He claimed that the arrests were made as part of the government plot to hold a one-party election. Police last night also raided the homes of BNP leaders Jamiruddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas, Abdul Mannan and Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Moazzem Hossain Alal, and Nasiruddin Ashim. After the arrests, BNP-Jamaat activists vandalised and torched vehicles in the capital, Chittagong and in Noakhali.

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Bangladesh

Over 6,000 passports go to wrong hands

2012-07-25

[Bangla Daily Star] More than 6,000 Machine Readable Passports (MRP), not 2,280 pieces as figured out on July 11, have been stolen from the Agargaon passport office, a probe body suspects. The six-member probe committee headed by a Lieutenant Colonel was formed on June 21, after the immigration at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport had detected several forged MRPs early that month. On July 11, the passport department discarded the serial numbers of 2,280 stolen MRPs. The authorities on July 22 discarded a total of 89,425 MRPs, which had been reissued due to errors in printing or some other faults but still bore mistakes. High officials of home ministry and the passport department in a meeting on Monday expressed concern ...meaning the brow was mildly wrinkled, the eyebrows drawn slightly together, and a thoughtful expression assumed, not that anything was actually done or indeed that any thought was actually expended... that the stolen passports might be used by those who were not legally eligible for a passport, such as Rohingya refugees, convicts and people with criminal track record. With Home Minister Shahara Khatun in chair, the meeting was attended by State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku, Director General of Passport Department Abdul Mabud, Inspector General of Police and high immigration officials. Tuku yesterday told The Daily Star that the Agargaon passport office had earlier discarded some MRPs but the enquiry committee apprehended that the number of stolen passports could be higher. A source in the meeting said they had stressed the need for tracing the serial numbers of the stolen MRPs to discard those immediately, as in case of delay criminals might use those.

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Bangladesh

Arrests, raids; BNP leaders hiding

2012-05-01

Amid raids and arrests, senior BNP leaders have gone into hiding, as the government's sudden tough stance against the opposition's continuous agitation yesterday sent panic sweeping through the ranks of the 18-party alliance. Police placed in durance vile Yez got nuttin' on me, coppers! Nuttin'! the BNP's Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi in the capital's Kakrail area around two hours after yesterday's dawn-to-dusk hartal ... a peculiarly Bangla combination of a general strike and a riot, used by both major political groups in lieu of actual governance ... , the last of the two back-to-back shutdowns called by the BNP-led opposition alliance to protest the disappearance of its leader M Ilias Ali. Earlier, during the hartal hours and on Sunday night, law enforcers rounded up 10 opposition men, including former student leader Kamruzzaman Ratan -- a close associate of Ilias Ali -- and former deputy minister Sirajul Haque. In the early hours yesterday, police raided BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir's Uttara residence. In the afternoon, they swooped on standing committee member Mirza Abbas' house at South Shahjahanpur. Unlike on other hartal days, Fakhrul and other top leaders were not seen in the party's central office at Nayapaltan yesterday. They had gone into hiding fearing arrests in two cases filed for kabooms in the secretariat compound and the torching of buses on Sunday, insiders said. Fakhrul and several big shots of the BNP and its allies are accused in the two cases, filed on Sunday night. Yesterday's lockdown ended without any major incidents of violence with a thin presence of opposition pickets on the streets. The main opposition party termed the cases against its leaders "ill-motivated" and called a countrywide demonstration for tomorrow in protest at the raids and filing of the cases. Hours before his arrest, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan office said fresh agitation programmes would be announced from a protest rally tomorrow. Asking the government to withdraw the cases, party's big shot Moudud Ahmed at the briefing said cases and raids would not be able to weaken the agitation and that the government would be removed through a movement. Meanwhile, ...back at the fist fight, Jake ducked another roundhouse, then parried with his left, then with his right, finally with his chin... State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku at a briefing at his office said the BNP leaders were named in the cases on the basis of intelligence and more opposition leaders would be accused if their names came up. He claimed the violence during Sunday's hartal took place on instructions of the BNP high-ups. Political tensions have been running high since the disappearance of Ilias Ali, an organising secretary of BNP and also a former politician, and his driver around midnight of April 17 from the capital's Banani area. On April 19, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia Three-term PM of Bangla, widow of deceased dictator Ziaur Rahman, head of the Bangla Nationalist Party, an apparent magnet for corruption ... alleged some government agencies had picked up Ilias Ali. On the same day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Ilias might be hiding himself on Khaleda Zia's instructions. Two weeks on, law enforcers are yet find the two. In protest at the incident, BNP enforced back-to-back countrywide hartals across the country from April 22 to 24. RAIDS, CASES AND ARRESTS The law enforcers raided Mirza Fakhrul's Uttara residence early yesterday. However, alcohol has never solved anybody's problems. But then, neither has milk... Fakhrul was not home. Considering the distance between his house and the party office, he usually spends the night before a BNP-enforced hartal day at places adjacent to the Nayapaltan office, party sources said. Police scaled the boundary wall of Fakhrul's house around 4:30am and knocked on the door. Rahat Ara Begum, his wife, opened the door and allowed the law enforcers in. They combed through all the rooms before they left, Rahat told The Daily Star. Police also raided BNP leader Mirza Abbas' South Shahjahanpur residence yesterday afternoon to arrest him in connection with the case filed for torching of buses. He was not home at the time either. Afroza Abbas, wife of the BNP leader, said some 25 cops entered her house around 2:30pm and wanted to know the whereabouts of her husband. The team then searched the house for nearly 30 minutes before leaving. Police also searched the house of Khairul Kabir Khokon and his wife Shirin Sultana's at the capital's Khilgaon. Both of them are former politicians. A raid was also conducted at BNP leader Habib-un-Nabi Sohel's house in the capital. In a late night development, police raided the house of Jubo Dal president Moazzem Hossain Alal's Lalmatia residence in the capital around 11:00pm yesterday, when he was not home. Earlier on Sunday night Tejgaon police filed a case against 44 leaders and activists of the BNP-led 18-party alliance for torching a vehicle near the Prime Minister's Office that day. The accused include Mirza Fakhrul, party standing committee members Mirza Abbas, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy and Hannan Shah, party Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, party politician Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, and Liberal Democratic Party President Oli Ahmed. On the same day, Shahbagh police accused 28 opposition leaders in a case in connection with the "bomb" blasts on the secretariat compound, with Mirza Fakhrul the main accused.

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Bangladesh

State minister alleges BNP's 'terror links'

2010-12-24

[Bangla Daily Star] The opposition BNP has connection with domestic and international terrorist networks, alleged State Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Haque Tuku. "Hawa Bhaban had links with beturbanned goons and international terrorist outfits. Even now, they have the connections too," Tuku told UNB in his ministry yesterday when his attention was drawn to BNP Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain's recent remarks. Delwar on Wednesday expressed concern over the prime minister's reported remarks about possible subversive acts in the country as the trial of war criminals begins, alerting her ministers to remain vigil against it. Such remarks by the premier at this time have created anxiety among the people, Delwar said. People know well who patronised militancy and terrorism in the country, said Tuku. About alleged torture on nabbed BNP politician Salauddin Qauder Chowdhury, he said SQ Chowdhury was not tortured physically under police custody. News of torture on him is 'false and baseless.' BNP's politics is based on falsehood and fabrication, he added. BNP has been observing various programmes to protect Khaleda's cantonment house as well as to hamper trial of war criminals, Tuku alleged.

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Bangladesh

Court orders Koko's arrest

2010-11-01

[Bangla Daily Star] A Dhaka court yesterday issued a warrant for arrest of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's younger son Arafat Rahman Koko in a money-laundering case. It also directed the police to report by November 30 on execution of the warrant. "The court order means there's no legal bar to arresting Koko on his return to the country," Mosharraf Hossain Kajol, special public prosecutor dealing with graft cases, told The Daily Star yesterday. Can they turn him over to the RAB? Koko, who was jugged in September 2007 on graft charges and paroled for treatment abroad in July the following year, is now in Bangkok. Incensed, pro-BNP lawyers brought out a procession on the court premises, demanding cancellation of the arrest warrant. Asked about the court decision, State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku said, "How long will a person be on parole? Should parole last forever?" Talking to The Daily Star last night, he also said, "Since the court, not the government, has issued the warrant, Koko must face it. If he is found innocent in the trial, he will come out free." Only after appearing before the court can he seek an extension of his parole on health grounds, added the state minister. Meanwhile, ...back at the ranch... a ruling Awami League leader speaking in return for anonymity said the government has had the warrant issued to keep Khaleda Zia in pressure. Judge Mozammel Hossain of Special Judge's Court-3 ordered Koko's arrest on a petition filed by the prosecution. He said the accused must appear before the court, or they will be tried in absentia. Fixing November 30 for hearing on charge-framing against Koko and Ismail Hossain Saimon, the court directed the officer-in-charge of Kafrul Police Station to report back within a month. Saimon, son of former shipping minister Akbar Hossain, has been on the run since the Anti-corruption Commission filed the money-laundering case against him and Koko on March 17 last year. In the case statement, the anti-graft body said the accused had laundered money they received from China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd and Siemens for helping them win government contracts. China Harbour got a Tk 351 crore contract to set up New Mooring Container Terminal and Siemens a Tk 239 crore contract to supply and install equipment for Teletalk, the state-owned mobile phone operator.

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Bangladesh

When Purbo Banglar commies attack

2010-07-22

[Bangla Daily Star] Police are certain that banned Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) gunned down three policemen in Pabna but could not detect why the outlaws attacked the unarmed lawmen. Send in the Detective-Supervisors! This case takes superior detecting abilities. Locals hinted that the Red-Flag faction of PBCP might have killed the policemen to take revenge for continuous crackdown on them by law enforcers. Many of their fellows got killed in "crossfire" in the outlaw-infested regions over the last couple of years. Ladies and gentlemen of Rantburg, it appears there will be more Crossfire Gazettes in our future. Prepare yourselves to do it by the numbers... but not today. Today we mourn the death of three policemen, killed by Purbla Banglar Communist badmen in the line of duty. A band of around eight criminals armed with sophisticated weapons Definitely we need the Detective-Supervisors. Ordinary detectives are no match for sophisticated weapons. first caught the policemen around 7:00pm Henchmen are allowed to be awake that early? Never have I heard of a meeting of such before the dark hours of the night, when good people are long since a-bed. Tuesday in Dhalarchar of Bera upazila on a remote shoal in the Jamuna River. Dear me, all that? It's in a river, which gives us a chance of finding it. These Crossfire Gazettes have forced me to improve my mapreading skills. The criminals dragged the three to local Maldar Bazar and shot them dead. Dragged them? And in broad daylight, too, the vicious brutes! Moments before the assault, the gunmen chanted a slogan "Police er khoy, amader joy" [damage to the police, victory to us]. Lawless, vicious brutes, with a nasty tendency toward bad doggerel. This drive toward originality must be suppressed, and quickly, before the sonnets appear. "After observing all these things we are sure that an outlawed group made the attack," Deputy Inspector General of Rajshahi Range Police Mokhlesur Rahman told The Daily Star yesterday. It takes a full deputy inspector general to develop such profound insights. The attackers used sophisticated SMG rifles, fired around 30-35 shots and launched the attack with a slogan. All these suggest they were outlaws, he added. Police Sergeant Belal wisely remained silently in the background. Asked which outlawed group, he said it was the Red-Flag faction of PBCP. The bodies of the slain policemen -- Sub-inspector Kafil Uddin, Nayek Abdul Wahed and constable Shafique -- were taken to their village home yesterday. We can be sure their mothers loved them, and were not alone in their grief. State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku visited the spot yesterday and directed the law-enforcement agencies to apply their maximum combat power to contain the extremists. Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammed, Director General of Rapid Action Battalion Hassan Mahmood Khandker and other high officials accompanied the state minister. Police and Rab have planned a massive crackdown combining forces from different adjoining districts to arrest the attackers. Let all miscreants beware! The Rab have taken an interest in the situation. 'Twas they, after all, who invented the by-the-numbers operation. The operation plan was taken at a meeting of top police and Rab officials at the office of Pabna superintendent of police yesterday afternoon with the IGP in the chair. The DG of Rab was also present. During a visit to Dhalarchar it was found that most of the houses in the village where the policemen were killed were empty. No male or female was found for a talk despite visiting around 25 houses. How odd. What could that mean? They know what happens when the RAB takes an "interest". They wisely don't want to be the focus of that "interest". The 32-square-kilometre shoal (char) near the conjunction of the Jamuna and Padma is home to around 25,000 people, mostly fishermen. The remote char has for long been used as a safe haven and hideout for different outlawed groups. Oh. That's not good. Police informant Abdul Gani Aka "Abdul the Weasel"... witnessed the killing as he was accompanying the victims during the attack. He said he along with four policemen from Dhalarchar camp went to Daspara to collect firewood in a buffalo-cart on Tuesday afternoon. "When we were returning to the camp after collecting the firewood, eight to 10 masked people equipped with firearms appeared and asked us to halt," he said. One of the three slain policemen walking behind the wood-laden cart identified themselves as police, but the gunmen continued to ask them to halt and raise their hands, he added. "Kafil Uddin sir argued with them and asked why they would raise their hands and who they were. The gang then grabbed them, dragged them away to Maldar Bazar and gunned them down with a slogan," Gani continued. "Another policeman luckily escaped as he was a little away to answer a call of nature. The gunmen did not bother about the cart driver as he passed the place a little earlier," Gani added. The cop with the weak bladder was either very lucky or.....something else. During his visit to the area, the state minister also vowed that everyone involved in the killings will be arrested and brought to justice. He sought help from people of the locality to help the law enforcers by providing information about the killers. Which explains why the people are no where to be found Later, the state minister along with the high officials of police and Rab took part in the namaj-e-janaza of the three policemen at Pabna police lines mosque around 2:00pm. Earlier, autopsy of the bodies were carried out at Pabna General Hospital morgue. "They're dead, Jim." "Dr. Quincy, how do you do it!"

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Bangladesh

Rab chief rules out killings in crossfire

2010-03-29

[Bangla Daily Star] The director general of Rapid Action Battalion yesterday refuted the allegations of extra-judicial killing by Rab and said investigations are carried out after each death in gunfight with Rab. See? There ya have it! Case closed! Some investigation: do they ever find the perp's accomplices in the mango grove who fled into the night after the shootout? Hmmmph. "Rab members never get involved in any activity which is extra-judicial," Hassan Mahmood Khandkar, the Rab chief, said at a press briefing at its headquarters in Uttara. But we do most of our work at night and really don't want to wake up a judge if we don't have to... Rab follows a legal framework and is aware of human rights, Hassan added. Yes. We're aware of that...stuff. "Hey Sarge, does this dead guy over here have any human rights?" "Shaddup Chaudhray and load him into the meat wagon with the others. Cheez, you think you learned it all at the academy?" He said the battalion didn't even spare its 850 members for breaching the code of conduct. Of them, 400 members have been punished. Probably for using too much ammo. Almost half breached the code of conduct at least once? They need to rewrite it to reflect reality, like the American airlines change their take-off times when they have too many late flights. Since Rab was formed, a total of 620 people have been killed in crossfire. How many lived through them? Ummmmmmm...we'll get back to you on that. "Hey Sarge, do we have to count the accomplices who flee into the night?" "Shaddup Chaudhray and gimme dat abacus before you hurt yourself." Underlining its successful role, the Rab chief said about 64,664 people and around 7,000 firearms have so far been seized. That's over nine perps per firearm. Quite impressive, actually. Religious militancy and extremism have also been brought under control. As has Purbo Banglar Communist Party membership... For which the owners of brickyards and strawberry fields across Bangladesh are profoundly grateful. "There are still some problems and efforts are underway to solve them," said Hasan. For instance, we'd like to find another shutter gun. The one we use is falling apart. He also stressed the need for forming a national committee to check the use of drug for its harmful effect upon the society. Ya hate to see it, Muldoon. Another kid dead because he was high. Yeah, sarge. High on Purbo Banglar Communism... Meanwhile, Home Minister Sahara Khatun last night said Rab members are left with no option but to open fire when criminals shoot at them. BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG...Stop or we'll shoot. They never learn, do they, sarge? Nope. Bag him and tag him, Muldoon. And here's the shutter gun and rounds of bullet... Law and order has improved because of the relentless efforts of police and Rab, she said while addressing a dinner and cultural programme organised on Rab's sixth founding anniversary at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku urged Rab members to work with sincerity and honesty as their wrongdoings or negligence to duty stigmatise not only the force itself, but also other forces from where personnel come to Rab on deputation. Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad and the Rab DG also spoke at the event. The principal secretary, home secretary, chiefs of three forces, social dignitaries and top serving and retired police and Rab officials attended the programme.

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Bangladesh

Combing operations against outlaws soon

2010-03-13

[Bangla Daily Star] The government is about to begin another round of combing operations in the nation's south-western districts to curb the recent increase in criminal activities by outlawed parties. Highly placed sources told The Daily Star that operations will commence shortly after the State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku visits Khulna on March 16. The operations are a response to the non-fatal bomb attack on Khulna's Phultala upazila Chairman Sarder Alauddin Mithu on March 6. The state minister said, "In the wake of rising of criminal activities in the region, I will hold a series of meetings with law enforcement agencies in Khulna. "I will provide the necessary guidelines to root out criminal activity, especially by outlawed party men." He said the government will show zero tolerance to extremists. Fugitive outlaw party men and those released on bail from various jails have regrouped over the last year and have contributed to a slide in law and order in the region. Over 100 chairmen of upazila and union parishads in 10 districts of Khulna division have left their localities since the bomb attack. Many are reported to have filed general diaries with police seeking protection, said sources at intelligence agencies. Ashraful Alam Khan, chairman of Batiaghata upazila parishad and organising secretary of Khulna district Awami League said, "Chairmen in seven unions of my upazila have shifted their families to rented premises in Khulna city, out of fear of being killed by listed outlaws." Rupsha Upazila Parishad Chairman Sheikh Ali Akbar said notorious outlaws are moving freely and making death threats to various professionals. Monirul Hasan Bappi, chairman of Srifaltala union under Rupsha upazila, said he has received three death threats over his cellphone in the past month. DIG of Khulna Range police Sheikh Himayetuddin said, "We are on the alert and we have taken adequate measures to capture the criminals and outlaws."

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Bangladesh

Rajshahi Jamaat chief arrested

2010-02-12

[Bangla Daily Star] Police yesterday arrested Rajshahi city Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Ataur Rahman in connection with the two cases filed for Tuesday's violence at Rajshahi University and the murder of Faruk Hossain. Meanwhile, police claimed to have recovered the body of an Islami Chhatra Shibir leader, accused of being involved in Tuesday's violence, at a house in Chapainawabganj. The law enforcement agencies have started combing operations at all the Jamaat-Shibir strongholds across the country. They arrested 32 Shibir men. Six were placed on remand. Rajshahi Metropolitan Police yesterday suspended another policemen in connection with negligence of duty at a Rajshahi University dormitory Tuesday. Police arrested Jamaat leader Ataur, also an assistant headmaster of Loknath High School in Rajshahi, around 10:15am yesterday as he was going to school, Boalia Police Station chief Jasimuddin told The Daily Star. Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Nawsher Ali said Ataur was being interrogated and he was arrested after investigation revealed his involvement in the violence. "Only two days before the violence, Ataur presided over a meeting in Rajshahi city where many Jamaat leaders delivered provocative statements and we received information that he ordered the murder," said the RMP commissioner. Talking to reporters at Boalia Police Station Ataur denied involvement in the violence. Rajshahi city Jamaat General Secretary Abul Kalam Azad termed the arrest unfair and gave a statement protesting it. As police recovered the body of a Shibir leader from a house at Choitonnaypur under Shibganj upazila in Chapainawabganj early yesterday, they arrested two people there. The deceased was identified as accounting student Hafijur Rahman Shahin, 25. He was a student of Rajshahi Collage but the student welfare secretary of Rajshahi University Shibir unit, Jamaat sources said. He is the son of Abdul Mannan of Rajshahi town. Superintendent of Police Nazrul Hossain said police on information raided Toufijul Islam Tanu's house around 2:00am. He said some Shibir cadres took shelter there after the Rajshahi University incident. Sensing the presence of police, they fired a shot, said police adding that policemen heard the shot and entered the house and found a body lying on the floor. Police also arrested house owner and local Jamaat leader Toufijul Islam Tanu and his son Shibir leader Mahfuzur Rahman, 27. Fazlur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge of Shibganj Police Station said police filed a murder case against Mahfuz and three to four unidentified people. In Dhaka, Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojahid blamed police for killing Shibir activist Hafizur Rahman Shahin. "Police shot Shahin to death in his sleep at his friend Mahfuz's house. This is an inhuman act. Now we are scared," he said. Police and Chhatra League Rajshahi University general secretary on Wednesday filed two cases accusing around 600 Shibir activists in connection with the violence. Three days after the nightlong mayhem at Rajshahi University, an injured Bangladesh Chhatra League worker Kawsar Alam Sarker filed a case with Motihar Police Station accusing 24 Shibir men of stabbing him during the violence. RMP yesterday suspended another police officer, in connection with negligence of duty on Tuesday at Shah Makhdum Hall where Faruk was killed, raising the total number of suspended policemen to nine. Sub-Inspector Anwar Hossain Babu, second officer of Motihar Police Station, was also closed to the Rajshahi Police Lines. A joint team comprised of Rapid Action Battalion and police personnel rounded up 45 Shibir men between 1:30am and 6:00am yesterday raiding Rajshahi University and its adjoining areas. Police arrested 32 Shibir cadres, 16 of them accused in the two cases filed Wednesday, from Natore, Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts in an overnight combing operation. The number of total arrestees is now 78. Six of them were sent to a court yesterday and placed on five-day remand each. State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku said, "The law enforcement agencies have been ordered to launch a combing operation at Rajshahi University areas and educational institutions known as strongholds of Jamaat-Shibir." He told this to reporters after a special meeting with heads of the law enforcement agencies at the home ministry. The meeting was convened in the backdrop of Tuesday's violence at Rajshahi University and the killing of Faruk Hossain, a final year student of the university's mathematics department. Faruk was an activist of Chhatra League, the student front of ruling Awami League. The university and villages around its campus are known as strongholds of Jamaat-Shibir. "Jamaat-Shibir men are involved in the acts of cruelty. Police will conduct operations in different universities, colleges and educational institutions where the anti-liberation forces have strong bases," Tuku said. Police raided over 50 messes dominated by Shibir in the port city early yesterday. However, none was actually arrested in the drive. Police sources said half the Shibir activists had already left the messes while some of them were found completely empty during the drive. They picked up five people but later released them, said Chittagong Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (north) Banaj Kumar Majumder. He said police served forms at the messes for filling up by all the residents of the messes. As per a government order, the residents require to provide their father's and mother's names, addresses, names of the educational institutions they go to, their roll numbers, voter ID numbers, employers names and addresses, and a few more important information in the form. "The residents were asked to submit the forms within two days and after getting the information we would monitor their activities," he said. At a protest rally on Rajshahi University campus yesterday Chhatra League demanded immediate removal of university Vice-Chancellor Prof Abdus Sobhan and held the university authorities responsible for failing to provide security to students. Our staff correspondents in Rajshahi and Chittagong, our correspondent in Chapainawabganj, our Rajshahi University correspondent and United News of Bangladesh contributed to this report.

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Bangladesh

1 killed, 20 hurt as AL, Jubo men clash

2009-09-27

[Bangla Daily Star] An Awami League (AL) activist was killed and 20 others were injured in a clash between AL and Jubo League factions at Chhoto Paina village under Bera municipality area of the district yesterday. The deceased was identified as Azizul Haque, 36, son of Nayeemuddin hailed from Chhoto Paina. The clash took place at a time when State Minister Shamsul Haque Tuku was on a daylong visit to mandaps (worship pavilion) in Bera, Santhia and Sujanagar upazilas of the district. Zillur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Bera Police Station, told The Daily Star that additional police were deployed to avert further clash. Locals said the clash took place over acquiring supremacy in the area between Manu Mannan and Main Uddin groups. Manu Mannan is president of Bera municipality unit AL and Main Uddin secretary of Bera municipality unit Jubo League. The long-drawn internal feud between the two groups resurrected in recent weeks, said sources. The supporters of two groups were locked in a clash with iron rod, hockey stick, bamboo and other sharp weapons in front of Bera Dak Bungalow around 1:00pm. Caught in the melee, Azizul Haque fell into a pond and died. Among the injured, Jafrul, Zia, Raju, Hasna, Milon, Monirul, Shafiqul, Milan, Arif, Farhad, and Alauddin were admitted to Bera upazila health complex.

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