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Bangladesh

Jamaat: Release Khaleda Zia for medical treatment

2018-04-01

[Dhaka Tribune] 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... has called on the government to release BNP Chief the loathesome Khaleda Zia Three-term PM of Bangla, widow of deceased dictator Ziaur Rahman, head of the Bangla Nationalist Party, an apparent magnet for corruption ... so that she can receive medical treatment wherever she wants. The party, an ally of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, made the demand in a statement on Saturday. "We are concerned over the news that Khaleda Zia has fallen ill in jail," the party’s acting chief Maulana ANM Shamsul Islam said in the statement. "Ministers are creating confusion by making numerous statements on Khaleda Zia’s illness. This is unfair and unexpected. She returned home a few months ago after receiving treatment abroad," he said. The Jamaat leader alleged the government was trying to create mental pressure on the 73-year old BNP leader. "That is why she has fallen sick again." He said the government has violated human rights ...which are often intentionally defined so widely as to be meaningless... by not allowing better treatment for Khaleda Zia. "Since she is a former prime minister, she has constitutional right to get better treatment abroad. The government is violating the constitution by not releasing her," said the Jamaat leader. On February 8, a special court sentenced the BNP chairperson to five years in jail in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. Since then she has been at a special cell at the Old Central Jail.

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Bangladesh

Chittagong Jamaat chief arrested again

2014-07-17

[Dhaka Tribune] Police yesterday locked away Maw! They're comin' to get me, Maw! Chittagong Metropolitan unit's 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... Ameer ANM Shamsul Islam from the central jail gate immediately after his release on bail in a case lodged under the Terrorism Prevention Act. Later, the former Jamaat politician was shown arrested in another case launched with Lohagara cop shoppe and then he was taken to the cop shoppe, said Chittagong Superintendent of Police AKM Hafiz Akter. Senior Jail Super Md Sagir Miah of Chittagong Central Jail told the Dhaka Tribune that the local Jamaat leader was released from jail around 10:30am on a bail granted by the High Court earlier. The SP said the Lohagara cop shoppe case was launched against him for attacking a police camp and setting fire to a refuelling station during the nationwide anti-government movement by 18-party alliance centring the January 5 national election. On May 12, Kotwali police nabbed 20 Jamaat leaders along with ANM Shamsul Islam from their city office at Dewanbazar while they were holding a secret meeting in the dead of night. During the drive, two litres of petrol, 1.5kg of potassium, 60 glass bottles, a laptop, a modem and Tk1.13 lakh were also seized.

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Bangladesh

Chittagong Jamaat Ameer, 20 others sent to jail

2014-05-14

[Dhaka Tribune] A Chittagong court has sent detained 21 Jammat-e-Islami leaders, activists including its Chittagong city unit Ameer to jail on Tuesday. Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate Rahmat Ali has passed the order after they produced before the court seeking seven days remand. REzaul Masud, Additional DEputy Commissioner (Prosecution) of CMP has told the Dhaka Tribune. The court sent them to jail without holding remand hearing. However, man does not live by words alone, despite the fact that sometimes he has to eat them... the court did not fix the date of remand hearing. On Monday, police tossed in the calaboose I ain't sayin' nuttin' widdout me mout'piece! Chittagong city unit Ameer and 20 others Jamaat-Shibir activists from the party's Chittagong office while attending a secret meeting. The arrestees were Jamaat Chitagong city unit Ameer ANM Shamsul Islam also former MP, its General Secretary Nazrul Islam and 19 others leader-activists.

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Bangladesh

Troubled BNP faces leadership crunch

2013-12-02

[Bangla Daily Star] The BNP is in a leadership crisis as many of its big shots are behind bars, while those out are either on the run to avoid arrests or too old for active politics. In addition, party sources say, the top brass of its Dhaka city unit remains inactive fearing police action. All these have left 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 ... struggling to pick a leader to guide the party through, particularly after acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has gone into hiding to escape arrest, the sources add. Party's Joint Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed had been acting as the party spokesperson since Fakhrul went into hiding following the arrest of three standing committee members -- Moudud Ahmed, MK Anwar and Rafiqul Islam Mia -- on November 8. Khaleda's adviser Abdul Awal Mintoo and her special assistant Shimul Biswas were also jugged Please don't kill me! on the same day. Last week, another standing committee member ASM Hannan Shah was picked up. They all face charges of instigating recent hartal ... a peculiarly Bangla combination of a general strike and a riot, used by both major political groups in lieu of actual governance ... violence. Things took a turn for the worse for the party after police arrested Rizvi from its Nayapaltan office early on Friday on similar charges. To carry out the party's official activities and handle the press in Fakhrul's absence, Rizvi had been staying at the party office round the clock. To evade arrest, he never came out of the office since November 8. Following Rizvi's arrest, the party asked Salahuddin Ahmed, another joint secretary general, to serve as acting spokesperson. But instead of appearing in public, he is making video speeches from an unknown location and sending those to various television channels. He has been doing this to avoid arrest, according to the sources. Salahuddin is also keeping contacts with a section of media through his mobile phone, but he keeps his phone switched off most of the time so that police cannot track him, they added. From their hideouts, Fakhrul and Salahuddin are issuing press statements and sending it to the media via email. At the moment, five of the 18 BNP standing committee members are in jail. Khaleda's elder son Tarique Rahman ...the elder son of former President of Bangladesh Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttam, and Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh. He is the Senior Vice Chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). His nickname is Pino. There are allegations that Pino took a rakeoff from every foreign investment into the country while Mom was in office... , who is senior vice-chairman of the party, is also a standing committee member as ex officio. He went to London for treatment in 2008, and is living there since. RA Ghani, 82, and ailing M Shamsul Islam, 81, cannot even take part in the standing committee meetings because of their advanced age. Most of the other standing committee members that are out are accused in various cases filed over recent violence during opposition hartal and blockade. Of them, Mirza Abbas and Goyeshwar Chandra Roy face charges of instigating arson and vandalism.

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Bangladesh

Jamaat calls hartal in Ctg for Sunday

2013-11-24

[Bangla Daily Star] The 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... has called a daylong hartal ... a peculiarly Bangla combination of a general strike and a riot, used by both major political groups in lieu of actual governance ... (shutdown) in Chittagong district for tomorrow protesting killing of a union-level leader in Sitakunda on Wednesday and an activists in Mirsarai early today. The ongoing primary terminal examinations however will remain out of the hartal purview, reports our Chittagong correspondent quoting Mohammad Ullah, publicity secretary of the Jamaat's port city unit. The dawn-to-dusk hartal will begin at 6:00am Sunday, the Jamaat leader said adding that the decision was taken at a meeting in the party city office chaired by ANM Shamsul Islam, politician of Chittagong-14 (Satkania-Lohagara) constituency. Hours into the hartal announcement, Jamaat-Shibir activists brought out a brisk procession in the city's Momin Road area in support of the shutdown around 5:00pm, blasting two crude bombs and burning tyres on the road. On information, police chased the activists away and picked up nine people from the spot in connection with the blasts, reports our correspondent quoting Mirza Sayem Chowdhury, assistant commissioner of Kotwali zone of police. Earlier on Wednesday, body of Aminul Islam, general secretary of the Jamaat's Barabkunda union unit, was found after he went missing three days ago. His body was found lying beside a roadside in Ponthichila area of the upazila. His head bore marks of bullet injuries. 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... Jashim Uddin, 27, a Jamaat activist of Shayerkhali union in Mirsarai upazila, died early today, five hours after unknown myrmidons attacked him. The activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League ... the student wing of the Bangla Awami League ... (BCL), the student wing of ruling Awami League, are responsible for the attack, alleged Nurul Kabir, Jamaat secretary of Mirsarai upazila unit. Nurul Mostafa, chairman of Shayerkhali union and also the AL president of the union unit, however denied the allegation. Three days ago, activists of Jamaat and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir ... the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh... , went on a rampage on Dhaka-Chittagong highway in Sitakunda upazila after the body of Aminul was found. They torched three vehicles and vandalised around five vehicles on the highway.

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Bangladesh

Jamaat calls hartal in Ctg for tomorrow

2013-02-08

[Bangla Daily Star] The 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... called a 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 ... in Chittagong division for tomorrow after party leaders were denied permission for holding a rally in the port city yesterday. The protest programme was declared at a press briefing at the office of city unit Islami Chhatra Shibir ... the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh... , student wing of Jamaat, at West Bakalia. Jamaat city unit Ameer Shamsul Islam, MP, made the announcement, according to a blurb. Earlier, the party announced that it would hold a rally in front of Anderkilla Shahi Jaam-e-Mosque yesterday afternoon, protesting killings of four Jamaat activists in Chittagong during its February 5 hartal. But the Chittagong Metropolitan Police had not given them permission, Jamaat city unit Publicity Secretary Mohammad Ullah told The Daily Star. Four people, including two pedestrians, were killed in festivities during the hartal enforced by Jamaat, said police sources, but Jamaat claims all of them belonged to the party. Earlier in the day around 5:45am, a group of 15 to 20 Jamaat-Shibir men stopped a Chittagong-bound pick-up van and a covered van on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway near Banshbaria of Sitakunda upazila and set them ablaze. On information, a unit of fire fighters from Sitakunda rushed to the spot around 7:00am and doused the fire, said Prahlad Singh, a telephone operator at Agrabad Fire Service and Civil Defence Station in the city. No casualty was reported, he said. Meanwhile, ...back at the pool hall, Peoria Slim swung his cue at Hurley's head... police incarcerated Drop the heater, Studs, or you're hist'try! a Jamaat leader and 13 activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir in the port city and two upazilas of Chittagong on different charges. Mostafa Noor, Jamaat assistant secretary general of Sitakunda upazila unit and also vice-chairman of the upazila, and a Shibir activist, Shahidul Islam, were arrested at their residences yesterday on charges of arson and creating obstacle in transport movement in the area during February 5 hartal, said Syed Iqbal Ali, assistant superintendent of police (Sitakunda circle). Police arrested five Shibir activists -- Hamed Hasan, Monirul Islam, Galib Hasan, Alamgir Hossain and Mishkat Uddin -- in Bahaddarhat area under Chandgaon Police Station on Wednesday in connection with assaults on police during the hartal, said Rajesh Barua, sub-inspector of Panchlaish Police Station. In another development at Lohagara upazila, police arrested seven activists of Shibir early yesterday and on Wednesday for attacking coppers, said Shahjahan, OC of Lohagara Police Station. The arrestees were identified as Shafiqul Islam, Mostak Ahmed, Delwar Hossain, Ali Ahmed Sawdagar, Khaled Saifullah, Abdul Gafur and Parvez.

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Bangladesh

Jamaat continues attacks on police

2012-11-20

[Bangla Daily Star] At least 10 people including three coppers were maimed in an attack by Islami Chhatra Shibir ... the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh... activists in Narayanganj city yesterday as 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 its student wing Shibir continued resorting to violence in different areas of the country. And police incarcerated Youse'll never take me alive coppers!... [BANG!]... Ow!... I quit! at least 117 Jamaat-Shibir activists in five districts including Dhaka on charge of attacking law enforcers and for vandalism. Jamaat-Shibir men were found carrying haversacks during several attacks on the law enforcers in the last few days. In Narayanganj, police yesterday saw that Shibir men were bringing out brick chips, sticks and kerosene from their haversacks during the attack, reports our correspondent. The Shibir activists vandalised at least five vehicles and set fire to a police van in Rail Gate-2 area of the river port city. None was, however, placed in durance vile Yez got nuttin' on me, coppers! Nuttin'! in this connection. Police and witnesses said Shibir brought out two processions from Noor Masjid area and Old Court area in the city around 11:30am, demanding release of the incarcerated Youse'll never take me alive coppers!... [BANG!]... Ow!... I quit! top Jamaat leaders, who are now being tried on war crimes charges. When the processions reached Rail Gate-2 area, Shibir men attacked on-duty police personnel with sticks and threw brick chips on them. They vandalised five vehicles including the police van carrying the officer-in-charge of Sadar Model Thana and set fire to it. The OC was also injured. Police lobbed 10 teargas canisters and 20 rubber bullets to bring the situation under control. Witnesses claimed that many Shibir activists were hiding in a BNP rally held in DIT commercial area in observance of the 48th birth anniversary of Senior Vice Chairman of the party Tarique Rahman ...the elder son of former President of Bangladesh Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttam, and Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh. He is the Senior Vice Chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). His nickname is Pino. There are allegations that Pino took a rakeoff from every foreign investment into the country while Mom was in office... . They also joined the attack on police. In another incident in Martuzabad area of Rupgan upazila in Narayanganj, police incarcerated Youse'll never take me alive coppers!... [BANG!]... Ow!... I quit! four Jamaat-Shibir activists from their procession. In Dhaka, police incarcerated Youse'll never take me alive coppers!... [BANG!]... Ow!... I quit! 16 Jamaat-Shibir men at Kafrul early yesterday on charge of attacking police on November 10. And huge leaflets, posters and other publications against the war crimes tribunal and the government were recovered from their possession, said Shah Iftekhar Ahmed, DMP assistant commissioner of Pallabi zone. The detainees were produced in a court that placed them on a one-day remand. Our Chittagong correspondent reports: Police incarcerated Youse'll never take me alive coppers!... [BANG!]... Ow!... I quit! 78 Jamaat-Shibir activists from Sunday midnight to yesterday evening at different dormitories and messes in Chittagong in connection with their rampage in different places of the port city on Sunday, leaving five law enforcers injured. On Sunday night, police filed three cases against 65 Jamaat-Shibir men, including party politician from Satkania constituency ANM Shamsul Islam and former politician from the same constituency Shahjahan Chowdhury. A Chittagog court yesterday sent 40 of them to jail. Police also held six Jamaat-Shibir activists yesterday morning in Chandanaish upazila and incarcerated Youse'll never take me alive coppers!... [BANG!]... Ow!... I quit! four from Sitakunda of Chittagong from their procession in Dohajari area of the upazila. Our Rajshahi correspondent reports: Police held three Jamaat-Shibir activists at Sonadighi intersection of the city yesterday morning for resorting to after a procession. A report from our Narshingdi correspondent says: Police incarcerated Youse'll never take me alive coppers!... [BANG!]... Ow!... I quit! six Jamaat-Shibir activists from their procession in the town. Our Dinajpur correspondent reports: Shibir activists yesterday morning burnt tires on a road in presence of police. Later, they brought out a procession in the town brandishing wooden sticks without any action from law enforcers. But police later claimed they drove away the Shibir activists as soon as they got together in Kalitola area. On November 4, Jamaat announced a nine-day agitation programme from November 5 to press home its demand for immediate release of the party's top leaders, including those facing war crimes trial. In the last few days, several hundred people including more than 200 coppers and three journalists were maimed during dozens of festivities between the law enforcers and Jamaat-Shibir men across the country. In a statement yesterday, Shibir said they would continue street agitations until their top leaders are released.

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Bangladesh

Jamaat gears up veiled campaign

2012-10-25

[Bangla Daily Star] 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... men are waiting for a ''proper time'' to fight back the government with their strong presence in the streets when the opposition intensifies its anti-government movement after the Eid-ul-Azha. Under the cover of social, cultural and educational programmes like study circle meetings, discussions, and Koran recitation competitions, grassroots units of Jamaat in different parts of the country are working to gear up political activities and boost the morale of local leaders and activists of the party. Contacting several central and local leaders of Jamaat, it is learnt that the party men are now making preparations with the hope that the main opposition BNP will soon decide to go for street agitations against the government. Jamaat is a key component of the of BNP-led 18-party alliance. "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 ... 's latest call to wage a tough movement against the government after the Eid-ul-Azha has certainly inspired our grassroots leaders and activists," Jamaat leader and politician ANM Shamsul Islam told The Daily Star recently. Addressing a public meeting in Dinajpur recently, Khaleda said the 18-party alliance will launch a vigorous movement after the Eid-ul-Azha for "restoring democracy and saving people from repression." Shamsul, MP from Chittagong, said they are now organising their activists as well as general people for a tougher movement. "We, 18-party leaders of Chittagong, held a meeting in the port city recently to discuss the nature and strategy of the post-Eid movement," he added. Nurul Amin Chowdhury, secretary, Chittagong (North) unit of Jamaat, said recently they are using some tactics to communicate with their leaders and activists to carry out the organizational activities in the area. Asked, Abu Taleb Mandal, secretary of Pabna district unit of Jamaat, said they still face police action when they bring out processions. "But we continue to hold different indoor programmes to strengthen the party network," he said. "The party's grassroots leaders have already overcome the immediate aftershock of the government crackdown on the party high- ups." Taleb went on, "Our grassroots leaders' morale has already been boosted. We are now able to hold a large gathering in the capital on a short notice. Now, we are waiting for an opportune moment to show our strength." The party's grassroots leaders, however, are getting some opportunities to organise themselves as the local administration does not force them to keep their party offices closed, unlike the case with the central office. Jamaat's central office in the capital has been kept closed since the police raid on September 19 last year following the party men's violent protest in the capital against the crackdown on party high-ups. The city office of the party has also met the same fate.

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Bangladesh

Jamaat calls hartal in Ctg for today

2012-05-30

[Bangla Daily Star] 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... is to enforce a six-hour hartal ... a peculiarly Bangla combination of a general strike and a riot, used by both major political groups in lieu of actual governance ... in the port city today protesting sending of a party politician to jail in an arson case. A Chittagong court yesterday cancelled bail of Jamaat politician ANM Shamsul Islam and sent him to prison in a case filed under the speedy trial act in connection with torching vehicles at Wasa intersection of the port city on May 13. On Monday, Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate's Court granted Shamsul Islam bail until yesterday, when the next hearing was also scheduled. After the court's yesterday's move, the Chittagong unit Jamaat-e-Islami organised sporadic protest processions at different areas of the city in the afternoon. Khairul Bashar, party's assistant secretary general of the city unit, declared the hartal from a short rally in Jamal Khan area. Contacted, Mahmud Ullah, publication secretary of Chittagong unit Jamaat, confirmed today's hartal from 6:00am to 12:oo midday.

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Bangladesh

Banned Tahrir brings out procession

2012-01-21

[Bangla Daily Star] Rapid Action Battalion personnel yesterday tossed in the slammer five suspects of banned Islamist outfit Hizb ut-Tahrir Bangladesh when they brought out a procession in Uttara in the capital. *snicker* Gotcha! The jugged suspects and two Rab personnel suffered injuries during the scuffle that ended in their arrest soon after juma prayers. The jugged five are: Minhaj Yiamim alias Zibran, 35, Mohammad Mosaddeq, Mohammad Mosabbir, 22, Ibrahim Khalil, 18, and Fahim Afsar Bhuiyan, 20. Mosaddeq and Mosabbir are siblings and students of a private university. Lt Col Rashidul Alam, commanding officer of Rab-1, said plainclothes Rab personnel captured the five when they brought out the procession on Road-8 in Uttara-6 after Juma prayers chanting various anti-government and anti-state slogans. "Around 20 to 25 Tahrir men brought out the procession and we could capture five of them. The rest decamped," said Rashidul, adding, "Rab took position in the mosque area acting on a tip off from the always reliable Mahmoud the Weasel." Lt Col Rashidul Alam said, "Baitun Nur Jame Mosque was being used as a meeting point of Hizb ut-Tahrir for a long time and we are investigating whether the mosque authorities were involved in Hizb ut-Tahrir." Talking to The Daily Star, Mohammad Shamsul Islam, general secretary of the mosque committee, denied allegations of their involvement and said they did not know the youths who were tossed in the slammer. Talking to The Daily Star all the five jugged youths said that they believe in the ideology of Hizb ut-Tahrir. Arrestee Mosabbir said, "Being a Moslem, I believe that the present government and the policies of the government do not follow the Islamic ethics and therefore we all support Hizb ut-Tahrir activities." Commander M Sohail, director of Legal and Media wing of Rab, said injured Maj Moshtaque, who led the drive, was admitted to Combined Military Hospital while Corporal Idris Ali was given first aid. Our staff correspondent in Chittagong reports: Around 15 Hizb ut-Tahrir men held a quick meeting in front of Anderkilla Shahi Jame Mosque soon after the Jum'a prayers. They had distributed leaflets urging people to resist the "anti-Islamic" government. SM Tanvir Arafat, assistant commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (Detective Branch), said police could not identify the Hizb ut-Tahrir men as they were posing as devotees at Jum'a prayers. Spider senses tingling at the proximity of police, they left their banner behind and disappeared among the devotees. Hizb ut-Tahrir is an international Islamist political party founded in Jerusalem in 1953. It started its activities in Bangladesh in 2000. Bangladesh banned the organization in 2009.

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India-Pakistan

Intruders killed in Mohmand

2011-11-16

[Dawn] Surveillance of the border was increased on Monday after Pak security forces killed three beturbanned goons and injured four who intruded into Mohmand ... Named for the Mohmand clan of the Sarban Pahstuns, a truculent, quarrelsome lot. In Pakistain, the Mohmands infest their eponymous Agency, metastasizing as far as the plains of Beautiful Downtown Peshawar, Charsadda, and Mardan. Mohmands are also scattered throughout Pakistan in urban areas including Karachi, Lahore, and Quetta. In Afghanistan they are mainly found in Nangarhar and Kunar... Agency from Afghanistan overnight, officials said. They said that personnel of Khasadar Force and Frontier Corps, manning a checkpost in the Olay area, challenged the beturbanned goons when they were entering Baizai tehsil at about 8:15pm. According to the officials the beturbanned goons had entered Olay from Nazarkhel area across the border and were proceeding towards Atam Kallay. The security forces targeted them with heavy weapons and started shelling from the nearby posts to force them to surrender, but they beat feet in the dark. "At least three beturbanned goons were killed and four to five were maimed in the shelling by security forces," officials said. They said that security forces accompanied by members of Atmarkhel Peace Committee visited the area in the morning and found stains of blood there. Security forces also recovered one hand grenade, two magazines and other things from the spot. Meanwhile, ...back at the secret hideout, Scarface Al sneeringly put his proposition to little Nell... political tehsildars Khalid Khan and Shamsul Islam inspected deployment of Levies and Khasadar personnel at checkposts, established in different areas of Haleemzai and Ekkaghund tehsils of the tribal region. Also, one person was killed and eight others, including six women, were maimed when beturbanned goons fired mortar shells at Jawaki area of Frontier Region of Kohat on Monday. Official sources said that beturbanned goons fired several mortar shells from the Tor Chappar mountain of Darra Adamkhel at the residential area of Jawaki. The mortar shells hit three houses in the area, they added. They said that a man identified as Muneer was killed in the incident. The injured were identified as Asma Bibi, Fatima Bibi, Nausheen Bibi, Kiran Bibi, Sumera Bibi, Sakina, Aftab and Shafaat. They were shifted to combined military hospital in Kohat for treatment. It is important to mention here that eight alleged beturbanned goons were placed in durance vile on Sunday during a raid on an Afghan refugees camp, situated near the border between Kohat district and Shindhad tribal area. Sources said that the placed in durance vile snuffies were involved in attacks on the vehicles of rustics, who were fleeing the area. The mortar attack on the residential area coincided with the daylong visit of Inspector General of Police Akbar Khan Hoti to Kohat. The IGP urged people to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in curbing militancy in the region. The residents of Jawaki area have been migrating to safer places for the last few months owing to rocket and mortar attacks on their houses by jihad boys. In Swat, the local peace jirga has demanded arrest of reuniting terrorists, who had decamped the district after a military operation, to bring them to justice. The demand was made by chief of Nekpekhel Peace Committee Saifullah Khan during a presser in Mingora on Monday. Flanked by Feroz Shah, Ibrahim Dewlai, Inamur Rehman and Zaheen Khan, he said that suspected snuffies released from prisons might be involved in attacks on volunteers of peace committee. Terrorists would not be allowed to disturb peace of Swat, he added. Mr Khan termed attack on Karimul Hadi, general secretary of the committee, a cowardice act. "Such acts of snuffies will never plunge the high morale of the elders of the committee," he said. He said that peace in Swat ...a valley and an administrative district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistain, located 99 mi from Islamabad. It is inhabited mostly by Pashto speakers. The place has gone steadily downhill since the days when Babe Ruth was the Sultan of Swat... was restored after great sacrifices of lives and properties. "We will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with army for maintenance of peace and elimination of last terrorist," he added. Mr Khan said that snuffies were trying to regroup in Swat but people would foil their evil designs. He demanded of the government and security forces to arrest all terrorists, either hiding in Pakistain or in other countries, to bring them to justice.

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Bangladesh

BNP's latest stance throws a political challenge to trial of war criminals

2011-09-29

[Bangla Daily Star] 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 rejection of the International Crimes Tribunal as partisan and her demand for release of the top leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami held as war crimes suspects underline fresh political challenges to their trial. Five jugged Jamaat leaders, including its chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, ...During the liberation war of 1971 he was busy killing Bengalis. Today he presumes to tell them what to do... have been accused of committing crimes against humanity during the country's Liberation War in 1971. Jamaat-e-Islami collaborated with the Pak occupation forces which killed three million people and raped two lakh women during the nine-month war. Khaleda's demand at Tuesday's rally in the capital has made Jamaat leaders happy as they see it as a success in their efforts to come closer to the main opposition party and jointly wage anti-government street agitations, political analysts said. They said BNP's latest stance will boost Jamaat's morale and reinforce the allegation that the trial process is not neutral. At the rally organised by the BNP-led four-party alliance, Khaleda said "A mockery of trial" is going on in the name of trying war criminals. The international crimes tribunal formed by the government is nothing but a partisan body, and it has no acceptance both at home and abroad, she said. BNP distanced itself from its main ally Jamaat since the debacle in the December 2008 parliamentary election. It had a lukewarm response when the government cracked down on the Jamaat leaders. Since the crackdown in the middle of last year, five big shots of Jamaat including its chief Motiur Rahman Nizami and Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, and BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury were jugged. The embattled Jamaat then turned to BNP for launching a joint movement. But BNP did not respond, and Khaleda reportedly refused to meet Jamaat leaders. In a change of mind, BNP agreed to hold Tuesday's rally under the banner of four-party alliance. Jamaat being a major component of the alliance, its leaders shared the same podium with BNP leaders for the first time since the last parliamentary polls. "What Khaleda Zia said on Tuesday about the trial of war crimes is our victory as well of the people," Jamaat politician ANM Shamsul Islam told The Daily Star yesterday. Shamsul, also chief of Chittagong city unit of the party, said Khaleda's speech supporting Jamaat's views on the war crimes tribunal will boost the morale of his party men. From now on, the alliance will jointly fight the AL-led government, he said. Shafiqur Rahman, acting secretary general of Jamaat, recently told The Daily Star, "Jamaat wants to wage agitation jointly with BNP to use the later as a shield to protect our leaders and activists from the government's actions." Contacted yesterday, two members of the BNP national standing committee explained the party's latest stance on Jamaat and war crimes trial. "We have been observing the government move regarding the trial of war criminals. Now we are convinced that the trial is nothing but the government's strategy to destroy Jamaat and the unity of Islamic forces," said MK Anwar. The BNP chief's speech was in line with the party's changed stance, he said. BNP's new position, however, disappointed Maj Gen (retd) KM Safiullah and Major (retd) Rafiqul Islam, two war heroes campaigning for the trial of war criminals. "Khaleda Zia made a historic mistake by supporting Jamaat leaders who committed war crimes during the Liberation War," Safiullah, also a former army chief, told The Daily Star. He said the government will face more challenges to the trial as BNP has publicly opposed it. Rafiqul Islam, also an AL politician, criticised the government for the delay in the trial process. "People may become sceptical about the trial process due to the delay," he said. Asked about Khaleda's comment on the International Crimes Tribunal, Akbar Ali Khan, a former caretaker government adviser, said, "This sort of statement is unwanted before completion of the trial process." "It's a premature statement that will politicise the trial process," said Akbar, who is also a freedom fighter. Khaleda's support for Jamaat leaders has also been criticised by MA Hasan, chairperson of War Crimes Facts Finding Committee. "This will certainly create obstacles to the war crimes trial process," he said. "She has thrown a challenge to the tribunal."

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