JMB activists regrouping
Some of them sighted in remote Jamuna shoals
Our Correspondent, Gaibandha
Activists of banned Islamist outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen, Bangladesh (JMB) are regrouping in remote shoal areas in Shaghat upazila, taking the advantage of 'lax police surveillance'.Many of the suspected militants who fled the area after the August 17 serial bomb blasts have reappeared with their beards shaved. Dressed in trouser and shirt instead of pajama, panjabi and cap earlier, they are moving freely now. But their movement is suspicious, local people told newsmen. Akanderpara in Shaghata upazila and remote Nalsia and Guabari shoals in Jamuna basin were dens of JMB activities before the August 17 blasts. The house of the father-in-law of Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai, operations commander of Jangrta Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB), is in Akanderpara. Local people said Bangla Bhai and Asadullah al Galib, chief of Ahle Hadith, Bangladesh (Ahab), occasionally visited the areas and held meetings with their followers before the August 17 blasts. Taking the advantage of poverty, the Islamist outfits recruited youths and trained them in the remote shoal areas. After training, they were sent to different areas including Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Joypurhat and Naogaon with special assignments to stop what they called anti-Islamic cultural activities. Barokona Kowmi Madrasha in Shaghata was one of the centres for JMB activities last year. Militants were assigned to blast bombs targeting open stage drama, cultural functions, BRAC and Grameen Bank offices in northern districts. This came to light after recovery of 24 pieces of powerful gelatin explosive bars and 124 electric detonators from a compartment of Santaher bound train at Bornarpara railway station on December 12 last year. Three explosive carriers Anisur Rahman, Habibur Rahman alias Zubeyer and Amjad Hossain were arrested. During investigation it was revealed Amjad and Habibur were JMB commanders. Joypurhat police also confirmed their involvement with JMB. Anisur and Habibur are in jail while Amjad, freed on bail, is untraced by police now. After the August 17 incident, Gaibandha police in series of drives arrested 14 JMB suspects from the areas. During a recent visit to the area, local people told a group of newsmen that taking the advantage of police inaction, militants including Shahidul Islam and Sujauddowla of Dghuridaha village in Shaghata are now moving freely, locals said. It was gathered that Bangla Bhai recruited about 150 militants from Shaghata upazila during last year.
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