JMB man held in crackdown:Daily Sun

Sagir Hossain Members of Rapid Action Battalion arrested a leader of banned Islamist outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh from the capital’s Bhatara area on Monday as part of the stringent steps to crack down on militants. The arrestee, Sagir Hossain, was charged with the 2005 serial bombings. RAB-1 operations officer Kamrul Hassan told journalists that, “Sagir is one of the accused in the Augus
t 17 bomb blasts across the country. The striking team caught him on Sunday midnight.” The operative, who had been hiding for last nine years, is the number-four accused in the serial bombing case. There are two explosives cases against him filed with Airport and Gulshan police stations. Sagir was awarded 10-year imprisonment in the cases. A total of 250 people were given conviction on various terms in the bombings, RAB said. JMB militants involved in the serial bombings on August 17, 2005, and subsequent suicide bomb attacks that had left at least 63 people killed and scores of others injured are reportedly coming out of their dens. Meanwhile, the so-called video message by international terrorist outfit al-Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri has yet to be authenticated, but lawmen are not brushing off the possibility of the message. RAB director (media) Mufti Mahmud Khan said intelligence surveillance has already been intensified across the country. Last week, Zawahri declared formation of an Indian branch of his militant group comprising India, Bangladesh and Myanmar to spread Islamic rule and “raise the flag of jihad” across the subcontinent. Getting inspired, many said, JMB activists are coming out of their hideouts and reorganising themselves afresh. They are collecting workers secretly to revitalise the organisation. Simultaneously, many JMB leaders and activists staying either in jail or dens still continue organisational activities over cellphones and hand-written letters. Against this backdrop, detective sources said, jail authorities are closely monitoring JMB prisoners’ activities and imposed strict restrictions on them from meeting with their near and dear ones. Last year, a group of absconding JMB activists attacked a prison van and snatched three leaders—Boma Mizan, Rakib and Salehin in Trishal, Mymensingh. Shortly, Rakib was caught by lawmen and shot dead in an encounter. The attack was made while they were being taken to Mymensingh jail from Kashimpur jail under Gazipur. More than 50 activists, including convicts Boma Mizan and Salehin, who are expert in making bombs and firing sophisticated arms, still remain fugitives. Detectives said JMB absconders are secretly collecting party comrades from different parts of the country in disguise. Many also joined other militant outfits, including Ansarullah Bangla Team and Hizbut Tahrir. Many activists of banned groups like JMB and Huji recently came out of jails on bail and reorganised activities secretly, RAB official Mahmud mentioned. RAB says 313 JMB men, 56 branded as most wanted for their training in firing arms, making and blasting bombs like high-powered grenades, still remain out of the lawmen’s dragnet, posing a major threat to the country’s law and order. On July 30, detectives foiled a fresh attempt to carry out a bomb attack on an Eid congregation through arresting absconder Mahfuzul with two aides from Jatrabari area. They were planning to carry out a subversive act on the Eid congregation, said DB joint commissioner Monirul Islam. We are now aware of their activities.” RAB ADG Col Ziaul Ahsan said they have enough evidence of the guerrilla group’s secret activities. Although it has not enough strength to carry out subversive acts like the past, it is reportedly trying to make some sabotage across the country, he added. In the name of establishing Islamic Shariah law, JMB leaders and activists launched various deadliest attacks, killing some 63 people, including two judges. The lawmen are closely monitoring banned militant outfits like Hizbut Tahrir, Allahar Dal, Hizbut Mujahideen, Kalema-e-Jamaat, Ansarullah Bangla Team and Hizbut Madari, Harkatul Zihat and Jagrata Muslim Janata.