JEI’s links with JMB being probed
Police focused on Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JEI) alleged link with banned militant outfit Jamiatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) as they interrogated detained JEI Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and Nayeb-e-Amir Delwar Hossain Syeedi. Law-enforcement agencies learned about JEI’s alleged link with JMB from the detained chief of the militant outfit Saidur Rahman alias Zafar.
Saidur Rahman told interrogators that there are at least 25 JEI Rokan (highest position in the party’s primary level members) who are concurrently holding posts in JMB. Jamaat Ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami, Secretary General Mujahid and Nayeb-e-Ameer Syeedi were detained on June 29.
They were remanded for 16 days the next day in connection with five cases. http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=145283
Arrest of JEI leaders – a step towards holding trial of war crimes
The government has achieved three things through the arrests of the top Jamaat leaders — it got some extra time to question the trio on their alleged war crimes, proved its seriousness about the trial of war criminals and weakened main opposition BNP. Jamaat leaders Matiur Rahman Nizami, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and Delwar Hossain Syeedi however have not been charged with war crimes.
Rather they have been booked for hurting religious sentiment of Muslims, instigating violence, obstructing law enforcers and for several murders during the Liberation War. But Awami League top leaders say that the main reason behind the arrests is to start off the war crimes trial soon.
"A political decision has already been made within the government on the matter," a ruling party lawmaker said wishing anonymity. The government has proof that Jamaat tried to destabilise the country to scuttle the trial of war criminals, he said. A number of middle and top-ranking leaders said the government made the move on assurance from influential countries in the West that they would tackle any backlash from Middle East countries against the arrests of Jamaat leaders.
Besides, Jamaat’s recent initiative to end a period of cold relationship with main opposition BNP following the debacle in the last parliamentary election also made the government think about a move to weaken the alliance.
The ruling party thinks that Jamaat has been trying to persuade BNP to take a firm stance against the war crimes trial. Some senior leaders questioned the timing of the arrests.
They said the government should take its time and make necessary preparations before arresting Jamaat leaders to bring them to book for their crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.
A few also feared that Bangladesh might have to deal with a blow regarding expatriate workers from Middle East countries over the arrests of Jamaat leaders. http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=145005
Senior BNP leader’s involvement in money laundering
The Supreme Court (SC) stayed for six weeks a High Court (HC) order that directed the law enforcers not to harass or arrest BNP Standing Committee member and MP Salauddin Qader Choudhury (SQC) in a money laundering case.
The HC on May 16 directed SQC to surrender before the Metropolitan Special Tribunal in Dhaka within eight weeks in a money laundering case and asked the law enforcers not to harass or arrest him in this case during this eight-week period.
The government recently filed a leave-to-appeal petition with the SC, seeking a stay on the HC order. Anti-Corruption Commission, filed the case against SQC with Dhanmondi Police Station.
The case statement says SQC laundered US $250,000 and HK$100,000 ($12,864) to buy Beximco Pharmaceuticals’ global depository receipts (GDRs). http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=143832
