Bangladesh-Nepal

B’desh faces renewed threat from Islamist militants

Militants of different hues are working to come together under a common platform to usher in Islamist rule in Bangladesh. The execution of some top ranking leaders and the arrest of some others did not make much material difference as militant groups entrenched in the Northern areas have shifted some cadres to areas around the capital in preparation for the D-day. Their primary mission is assassination of the Prime Minister but the alertness of Police has thwarted their plans till date.

Militants of different hues in Bangladesh have plans to float a single unified Islamist platform to usher in Islamist rule in the country. Hizb-ut-Tahrir, JMB and Harkat-ul-Jihad are to play a significant role in the operation, says Amadaer Shomoy, a Bengali daily, quoting police sources, who had interrogated arrested militant leaders.   But the plan suffered a setback as of now because of the arrests during the anti-militancy drive launched by Dhaka Metropolitan Police, RAB, Special Branch and Detective Branch, the daily added in its Nov 9 edition.

Interrogation reports show that the militant leaders held talks on a united platform some time towards the end of last year (2009). The meeting attracted wide participation. Surprisingly, the meeting did not take place at some secluded place but inside the Dhaka jail where many of the leaders were lodged. The meeting was a culmination of several informal discussions and messages to and from JMB Amir Maulana Syed Ur Rahman and Hizb-ut-Tahrir leader Mahiuddin Ahmed. This inside tack was given away by Syed Ur Rahman himself to RAB and police officials during questioning after his own arrest, says Amader Shomoy.

By unanimous choice, JMB supremo Maulana Syed –ur- Rahman was to head (Amir) the new Islamic Platform. Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) chief coordinator Mahiuddin Ahmed and HuJI Commander Mufti Hannan were short listed to his second-in-commands (Deputy Amirs).

Jamaat-e-Islami (JEI) has agreed to extend all possible help and assistance to create this Islamic platform and realize its goal of ushering in Islamic rule in the country. Its senior leader Delwar Hossain Syeedi hosted several nuts and bolts discussions at his residence.  The daily reports that the leaders felt recourse to force would be necessary while introducing Islamic rule and bringing all fringe Islamic groups under one umbrella. Towards this end the leadership decided to deploy all ‘trained’ JMB and Harkat cadres on specific assignments for this purpose.

BASE NEAR DHAKA

Sangbad reports that militants have set up base in the areas adjoining capital, Dhaka, and their mission is subversive activities.  

Breaking the news, Shahim Karim’s despatch (Nov 8 edition) said, though police and RAB (Rapid Action Battalion) have mounted an anti-militancy drive and arrested as 630 militants, the armed cadres of Jamaat, JMB, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and other militant groups have succeeded in setting up base in areas adjoining Dhaka effectively camouflaging their activities.

The modus-operandi adopted by the militants to cover their tracks is to take up odd jobs in the establishments round Dhaka. Some have taken to driving commercial vehicles during the day for a ‘living’; they meet in closed door conclaves in the night to either chalk out or fine tune  an action plan.

JMB has built up an intricate network in some pockets in conjunction with Jamaat and Pak based LeT to carry out attacks in Dhaka.  Their prime target is prime minister Sheik Hasina Wajid but the mission did not succeed as the RAB and police were able to act in time, says the daily.

According to intelligence agencies, the militant groups who are entrenched in Rajshahi, Naogaon, Nilphamari, Mymensingh, Rangpur and other areas in the North, have moved closer to Dhaka. And have either set up their ‘shop’ or in the process of doing so at Tongi, Abdullahpur, Savar, Postgola and other areas adjoining Dhaka.

Since its inception, the elite force RAB has arrested 630 militants. Of them 530 belong to JMB; 52 are from HUJI, 2 from Hizb-ut-Tahrir, 8 from LeT, 2 ULFA cadres and 4 of the Jamaat. In the current year, RAB arrested 81 militants.

These arrests are only a temporary setback to the militants. Many often manage to come out of jail taking advantage of legal loopholes. Even those in the jail keep contact with their associates outside jail.  After the release, these elements simply disappear into the underground, and carry out their subversive activities aimed at spreading terror.

A senior RAB official has told Sangbad that there has not been any let up in activities of the militant groups despite large scale crack down by the security forces. Rather the action against some of them has emboldened them to carry out militant activities with more vengeance and vigour.

BNP JUMPS INTO FRAY

The political scene in the meanwhile is hotting up with the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) stepping up its campaign to oust Prime Minister Hasina from power. The eviction of BNP chief Khaleda Zia from a cantonment residence that her husband was allotted as deputy army chief long years ago has given a fillip to the movement and even made the judiciary their target.  BNP is upset with the high court as the government order was upheld by the bench.

On Nov 18 night, unidentified criminals hurled two Molotov cocktails at the residence of chief justice A B M Khairul Haque. The bombs had exploded about 20 yards away from the western side of the residence, according to police officer, Krishnapada Roy, who said the bombs could have been hurled from a moving car.  

On Nov 4, the CJ administered the oath to M Ruhul Quddus and M Khasruzzaman as High Court Judges amidst protests.  His predecessor Fazlul Karim had opposed their appointment and refused to administer them the oath.

The BNP-dominated Supreme Court Bar Association has been demanding since then resignation of the chief justice

 

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