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Bangladesh

JMB men held in Naogaon active members of Jamaat

2009-04-16

[Bangla Daily Star] The three JMB suspects held with jihadi publications in Naogaon on Tuesday are members of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, police said. Abdul Karim, 28, a bakery employee, is the president of Shikarpur union Jamaat in Sadar upazila, Naogaon. On the other hand, Shahadat Ali, 32, a tailor, and Hafez Faruk Hossain, 28, a teacher of Shikarpur Hafezia Madrasa, are Jamaat activists, according to police and local Jamaat leaders. The police say the arrestees have confessed to having links with outlawed militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) under Jamaat cover. The three were plotting to carry out subversive activities on Pahela Baishakh, the police add. Acting on a tip off, the police arrested Abdul Karim of Chalk Kalidas in Alupatti, Naogaon on Tuesday. Following his statements, the police raided Shahadat's house and arrested the three. The police also seized over 50 jihadi publications including books written by militant kingpin-suspect and Ahle Hadith Andolan Bangladesh (Ahab) chief Dr Asadullah Al Galib. There were also books published by Jamaat and Islami Chhatra Shibir. "The three were arrested following specific information of their active involvement with JMB," said M Mofazzel Hossain, superintendent of police in Naogaon, over phone. Madrasa teacher Faruk had sheltered JMB leader Minhajul Islam, who has been handed down death sentence in the August 17 blast case in Naogaon, say the police, adding Minhajul got a job at Shikarpur Hafezia Madrasa on Faruk's recommendation. Shahadat and Karim were engaged in luring youths to JMB and jihad against the country by distributing books among them. They both were also engaged in collecting funds for JMB, the police inform. Soon after the arrests, a number of Jamaat leaders including Sadar Jamaat Ameer Abdur Rahman and Naogaon municipal Jamaat nayeb-e ameer Aynul Haque rushed to Naogaon Sadar police station. As the Jamaat leaders requested the police for the arrestees' release in presence of the Naogaon SP, they were kept confined for three hours and later released with the undertaking that they won't do so in future. The local Jamaat leaders denied the arrestees' link with JMB and said their arrest is "conspiracy" against the party and Islam. Jamaat leader Abdur Rahman said local Awami League leaders threatened them with such fate if they didn't stop politics just a day before the arrest. "Faruk and Shahadat are active Jamaat workers. They used to hold regular meetings and maintain report cards. They were falsely blamed as JMB activists," said Aynul Haque. Replying to a question, Haque said they have yet to find any JMB activists inside their party. "We are sure of the three arrestees that they have no relations with JMB."

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Bangladesh

Militant kingpin Galib freed on bail

2008-08-29

Asadullah Al Galib, chief of Islamist militant outfit Ahle Hadith Andolan Bangladesh>Ahle Hadith Andolan Bangladesh (Ahab), was freed on bail yesterday from Bogra Jail. The High Court (HC) granted him bail in two cases as the trials could not be held within the time set by the HC six months ago. Since his arrest on February 23, 2005, a total of ten cases were filed against the militant kingpin and a close ally of executed Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) chief Shayekh Abdur Rahman. However, during the then BNP-Jamaat alliance government, Galib was relieved of charges in six of the cases and was granted bail in another case. On July 26, during the term of the present government, a Gaibandha court declared him not guilty in an explosives case. Six months back, the HC ordered that Galib would be awarded bail in two other cases (one for explosions in Shahjahanpur and the other for murdering a person in the explosions) unless the trial of the murder case is completed within three months and the trial of the explosion case in six months. Galib was released on bail at around 5:30pm yesterday following the HC order as both the trials could not be held in time. GALIB'S MILITANT TIES In 1978, Galib formed Ahab's youth wing Ahle Hadith Jubo Shangha (AHJS), said AHJS workers. While forming the AHJS, Galib argued that they needed to engage in Jihad against Islamic fallacies including the mazar culture to bring an Islamic rule in the country. Galib received funds from the Middle East through an Indian Islamist leader named Moulana Abdul Matin Salafi. Salafi sent huge funds to Galib from Saudi Aabia. Galib received funds from the Middle East through an Indian Islamist leader named Moulana Abdul Matin Salafi. In 1988 the Ershad government expelled Salafi, who had been working as a Muballig (religious preacher), for anti-state activities. Abdul Matin Salafi sent huge funds to Galib from Saudi Arabia, sources said. The mainstream organisation Ahab was formed in late 1994. With Galib's help and funds from Revival of Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS), the JMB militants used 700 mosques across the country. The bank accounts of RIHS in Pakistan were seized after the 9/11 incident. Galib toured Afghanistan, India and Pakistan with fake travel documents. He had close relations with Islamist militants in Kashmir. He visited India in 1998 with a business passport. Police and intelligence sources said Ahab is just a cover-up of the JMB and most of the Ahab members are involved in JMB activities. Militants arrested in Thakurgaon, Joypurhat, Bogra and Natore told police that Galib was their leader and he used to meet with them at Ahle Hadith mosques. JMB chief Rahman and Ahab Amir Galib were well-known to each other. Rahman studied at Medina University in Saudi Arabia on Galib's recommendation and after completing his course, he joined with Galib.

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Bangladesh

13 militants handed life term

2006-05-15

A Rajshahi court yesterday sentenced 13 militants of Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Ahle Hadith Andolan Bangladesh (Ahab) to life imprisonment in an August 17 serial blast case in Joypurhat. The Speedy Trial Tribunal Judge AFM Aminul Islam convicted them under the Explosives Act for carrying and exploding bombs at seven spots in four areas in the district. He also fined the convicted persons Tk 5000 each and ordered one more year in jail if they chose not to pay the fine. The convicted are: a former Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh president of Khetlal union Montezar Rahman, Azizul Bari Mintu, madrasa teacher Mehdi Hasan, Majnu Mia, rickshaw-puller Atoar Rahman, Dulal alias Hares, Shariful Islam, Nazmul Hossain, Abdur Rouf, Mansur Rahman, Rabiul Islam, Zahangir Alam and Golam Mostafa. Among the convicted Montezar, Mehdi Hasan, Mansur and Shariful are absconding. Soon as they catch 'em they for it, though... The judge however acquitted 14 accused people including a few who gave confessional statements before magistrates as the prosecution failed to prove their guilt. The acquitted are: Al Hera Shilpi Gosthi Chief Shafikul Islam, Bazla Ahab mosque imam Hafez Shafikul Islam, Dulal Hossain, Mozammel Haque, Idris Ali, Abdul Jabbar, Aminul Islam Zahed, Ziaur Rahman, Redwan Bari Akhand, Mustafizur Rahman, Afaz Uddin Poheli, Habibur Rahman, Abdul Ma'bud and Selim. Let the holy man off, did they? Why am I not surprised? Among the acquitted, Habibur Rahman and Afaz Uddin Poheli confessed their involvement in testing the bombs before blasts. Rickshaw-puller Atoar Rahman, Dulal, Ahab adherents Azizul Bari Mintu, Jahangir Alam, Rabiul Islam gave confessional statements. Azizul Bari Mintu in his confessional statement said the bombs were distributed from Bazla Ahab mosque. Among the 29 charge-sheeted accused in the case, Hafizar Rahman, finance secretary of militant kingpin Asadullah Al Galib's Ahab and Sultan were exempted from the case as they were dead. Dead is good. I like dead.

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Bangladesh

Ahab demands release of Galib

2006-04-19

Ahle Hadith Andolan Bangladesh (Ahab) leaders at a public meeting on Monday night threatened to launch tougher programmes if its four top leaders, including its chief Asadullah Al Galib, were not released from jail before May 25. "Launch tougher programs" means they're going to riot. So what else is new? They will announce their programmes at a public meeting in Paltan in the capital on May 26, if their demand was not met. Ahab Satkhira unit and Ahle Hadith Jubo Sangstha jointly organised the meeting which was held at Banshdah Bazar with the district Ahab chief Abdul Mannan in the chair. Speakers at the meeting said a partner of the ruling four-party alliance misguided the government into arresting Galib. They said the party had Ahab chief and others arrested to cover up its links with militant outfits. They said the party would destroy BNP and that the party is gaining strength at the cost of BNP.

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Afghanistan/South Asia

More on Maoist/Jihadi links in Bangla

2005-09-08

The government fears further countrywide explosions as it has intelligence reports that Islamist militants and outlawed extremists have recently joined hands to carry out bomb attacks on important establishments in a bid to force the government keep hands off them. According to an intelligence agency report, militants of banned Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Janajuddha, a faction of the Purba Banglar Communist Party, have buried the hatchet. The Islamist group has joined hands with the outlawed outfit in the question of existence as many Janajuddha operatives died in 'crossfire' and the government launched countrywide crackdown in February after banning the JMB. They've got that down to an art form. I'm wondering if RAB's going to be unleashed against the Islamists, too? The extremist groups, who cling too hard to opposite ideologies, had decided at a meeting a couple of months ago to cooperate with each other to intimidate the government into leaving them alone and letting them continue their activities, the agency reported. Ow. My head just spun around 360 degrees. And that bad part is, in Bangla that's a tactic that makes sense... The crackdown on three Islamist outfits -- the JMB, Bangla Bhai-led Jagrata Muslim Janata, Bangladesh (JMJB) and Dr Asadullah Al Galib-led Ahle Hadith Andolan Bangladesh (Ahab) -- and Abdur Rashid alias Tapan Malitha-led Janajuddha led to the union, the agency reported. Tapan was enraged and bent on revenge after some of his followers including his younger brother were killed in 'crossfire'. "Doctor Quincy! There are some guys here who want one of your patients!" Bangla Bhai was also furious as a number of JMJB men were arrested after he went into hiding last year. After the arrest of Galib and banning of the JMJB and JMB on February 23 and subsequent arrests of the JMB, JMJB and Ahab men, they planned an attack to frighten the government and show off their strength, according to the agency. "God made rabbits and he made Bengalis. What harm?" The report however confirmed Janajuddha was not involved in the August 17 explosions and blamed it on the JMB following seizures of leaflets and confession of its activists.

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Afghanistan/South Asia

Massive hunt for Abdur Rahman

2005-03-02

JOYPURHAT, Mar 1: Police of the northern districts have engaged its all strengths in arresting Sirajul Islam alias Bangla Bhai, chief of the militant organisation JMJB and his supreme leader Abdur Rahman, and other members of AHAB, JMB and JMJB, reports BSS. Members of outlawed extremist organisations Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB), Jamaatul Mujaheed in Bangladesh (JMB) and Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) have gone into hiding as the law-enforcing agencies launched a massive hunt in the northern districts. Five more suspected JMB leaders were arrested from Joypurhat on Monday and four of them granted four-day police remand Tuesday afternoon by a magistrate court in Joypurhat. The number of arrested, including Dr Muhammad Asadullah Al Ghalib, rose to 63 in the northern region so far, police sources said. According to the sources, Kalai thana police of Joypurhat arrested vice-president of the Joypurhat unit of Ahle Hadith Andolan Bangladesh (AHAB) Anisur Rahman, 40, secretary Khalilur Rahman, 33, two imams of two mosques Mostafa Ali, 32, and Salimullah 32, and Ahle Hadith Madrasha Super of Kalai Golam Mostafa, 35, on Monday. The court granted four-day police remand for each of the first four persons and Golam Mostafa was sent to jail hazat under section 54 of CrPC, the sources said. Meanwhile, five arrested Golam Mostafa, 22, Deloar Hossain, 26, Salahuddin, 32, Enamul Haq, 22, and Sirajul Islam, 32, of Joypurhat were sent to jail hazat Monday afternoon. Of them, Enamul Haque, 22, and Serajul Islam, 32, gave confessional statements under section-164 about their direct involvement in the JMB activities, police sources said. A total of 63 suspected militant outfits have so far been arrested in connections with the recent bomb and grenade incidents in the region from different places of Joypurhat, Naogaon, Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Natore, Sirajganj, Bogra, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Dinajpur and Thakurgaon districts. Other law-enforcing agencies are also working round the clock to nab these suspects, the sources said. Some frontier villagers apprehended that Bangla Bhai might have fled to the neighbouring country. But, police could not confirm such apprehension. The law and order improved in the region, the sources said. UNB from Thakurgaon adds: A suspected Islamist militant was arrested from Jibanpur village in Haripur upazila on Tuesday. Monirul Islam, a teacher of Kuchgaon Primary School, was arrested at 10am as he is a "listed militant" of Haripur, Officer-in-Charge of the thana Moniruzzaman said. "I was a member of local Jamaat-e-Islami, but I left the party as Jamaat-e-Islami supported women's leadership after the general election in 2001"; Monirul told local journalists after his arrest. Doesn't like giving women power, huh? Nine suspected militants have so far been arrested in this district.

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