Top level investigators yesterday said their observation of statements by the arrestees has so far revealed this fact.

In all the courts where Galib's bail petition was moved, state lawyers have denied Galib bail on the commonly used argument that 'bomb blasts stopped after Galib's arrest'.

Bombs went off at most of the areas close to courts that had repeatedly rejected the bail prayers of Galib and his men.

In addition, a letter of Bangla Bhai's Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) to a local press club in early March this year threatened to wage 'militant actions' across the country if Galib was not immediately released.

The letter, signed by JMJB's military section spokesman, Mutallib Hossain, said, "Dr Galib, an envoy of Islam, and our other members arrested across the country should be released by March 24."

"If our demand is not met, we will launch a militant drive in Rajshahi and elsewhere in the country," it read.

"Our words are not derived from any extremism; we have made our decision in very cool blood."

Addressing journalists, the letter said, "We have been compelled to take these actions to protect Islam and to establish the rule of Islam in Bangladesh".

Sources have said that Galib's spiritual leader, Uttar Pradesh resident Abdul Matin Salafi, who was expelled from Bangladesh for his militant activities in the late 80s, had a hand in the bombings.

"No big militant activities occur without his knowledge," commented a source.

The sources also said the blasts were the joint operations of Harkat-ul Jihad (HUJI), Abdur Rahman's Jama'atul Mujahidin Bangladesh (JMB), Bangla Bhai's Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) and Galib's Ahle Hadith Andolon Bangladesh (Ahab).