Islamist Terrorism: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2016

A campaign to collect signatures of one lakh Muslim clerics in favour of a fatwa against terrorism in the name of Islam started in Dhaka city on January 2, reports The Daily Star. The campaign was launched by Bangladesh Jamiatul Ulama at Jamia Iqra in Khilgaon-Chowdhurypara area. Addressing the meeting Maulana Farid Uddin Masud, chairman of Jamiatul Ulama said “Allah willing, the collection of signatures of one lakh clerics during the anti-terrorism campaign would prove that the ulama of the country were against terrorism.” The fatwa, issued by different religious institutions, declared that Islam has no link to terrorism being committed at home and abroad. More than 500 clerics signed on the inaugural day. Read less...

Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu speaking at the conference of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal in Jessore District as the chief guest on January 2 said that conspiracy to turn Bangladesh into a country like Pakisan and Afganistan is going on led by Begum Khaleda Zia, reports New Nation. He said “The country is passing through a war being led by Khaleda Zia to resist trial of war criminals.” The Minister further said that the Government of the country led by Sheikh Hasina Wajed has manifold achievements such as upholding democracy, resisting militancy and trying of war criminals. But we have to travel long. Read less...

Police arrested a militant of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) at Nizampur Station Para in Nachole subDistrict of Chapainawabganj District on January 2, reports The Daily Star. The arrestee is Mohammad Masum (25) wanted in three cases, including one under the Antiterrorism Act. Police said that Masum was trying to regroup JMB in the area. Read less...

Police recovered the severed body and head of a cadre of outlawed Gono Mukti Fouz (GMF) from Sadar subDistrict in Kushtia District on January 2, reports The Daily Star. The deceased is Firoj Hossain (40) accused in 14 cases. Police said that intraparty rivals might have killed him. Read less...

LLA Habiganj Special Court on January 5 accepted the charge sheet against 32 accused in a case filed over grenade attack (on January 27, 2005) that killed Awami League leader and former Finance Minister SAMS Kibria, reports Daily Times. The accused include former State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar, HarkatulJihadal Islami Bangladesh (HuJIB) militant Mufti Hannan, expelled Sylhet Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury and newly elected Habiganj Mayor GK Gaus.Earlier, on August 5, 2015 the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) submitted the charge sheet in the case lodged under the Explosive Substances Act. Of the 32 accused, 14 are behind bars, 10 are on the run and eight are on bail. Nineteen accused, including the eight who are on bail, were produced before the court on January 5. Read less...

Police arrested four leaders and activists of JamaateIslami (JeI) on charge of planning subversive activities in Atwary subDistrict of Panchagarh District on January 5, reports The Daily Star. The arrestees are Khademul Islam (45), general secretary of the subDistrict unit of JeI, Mojibar Rahman (40), president of the unit of the party, activists Muhamad Ashikullah (60) and Jahangir Alam (42). Read less...

An operative of Jama'atul Mujahideen of Bangladesh (JMB) on January 6 confessed to his involvement in the December 10 attack on International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple in Dinajpur District. Abdur Rahman alias Pintu (20) gave his confession before the court of Senior Judicial Magistrate Nazmul Haque in Dinajpur District. Read less...

Meanwhile, JeI on January 6 called nationwide hartal (general strike) for January 7 after the Supreme Court (SC) upheld death sentence for its amir (chief) Motiur Rahman Nizami for his crimes against humanity in 1971, reports New Age. The party’s acting amir Moqbul Ahmed and acting secretary general Shafiqur Rahman in a statement said “The Government in planned way wants to push the country towards severe confrontation by killing Motiur Rahman Nizami as per Government’s blue print. We are announcing nationwide dawn to dusk hartal for December 7 protesting against the Government’s oppression and conspiracy to kill Motiur Rahman Nizami.” Read less...

Police on January 6 arrested a war crimes suspect at his Dhaka city home in Kafrul area, about an hour after the International Crimes Tribunal1 (ICT1) issued warrant of arrest against him, reports New Age. The suspect, Muhamad Emdadul Huq (78) of Sarail subDistrict in Brahmanbaria District, now resides in Dhaka city. According to prosecutor Rezia Sultana Chamon, Huq was the chief of local Peace Committee and committed crimes against humanity at different places in Sarail during the Liberation War. Read less...

The Supreme Court (SC) on January 6 upheld the death penalty awarded to Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) Chief Motiur Rahman Nizami for crimes against humanity committed during the country’s 1971 War of Liberation, reports Daily Star. Acquitting Nizami of three charges, the court found him guilty of five charges. The International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) earlier declared him guilty of eight charges, awarding him death for four charges. However, the SC upheld death penalty in three charges and acquitted for the other charge. The Appellate Division upheld his death in three charges, life imprisonment in two and acquitted him in three other charges.1. Death upheld in 3 charges: killing 450 people, raping of 32 women at Bausgari and Demra in Pabna, his involvement in murder of three people in Pabna’s Dhulaura and for killing intellectuals. 2. Life imprisonment upheld in 2 charges: for killing Sohrab Ali and murdering freedom fighters Rumi, Bodi, Jewel and Azad. 3. Acquitted in 3 charges: Killing 11 and rape of 3 in Karmja, which he was originally given death for, and two others: torture and killing at Mohammadpur Physical Training Centre and killing of Kasim Uddin, in which he got life imprisonment for each.While delivering the verdict, the SC did not mention its grounds of reaching this conclusion. It will be known after the full text of the judgment. Read less...

Food Minister Quamrul Islam while addressing a human chain organized by Ramna unit of Awami League (AL) in front of National Press Club in Dhaka city on January 7 said that JamaateIslami (JeI) will be banned by 2016 following legal procedure, reports New Age. He said “Jamaat will be banned by 2016 through legal process…there is no confusion over it. Jamaat’s politics can’t continue on the soil of Bangladesh. We believe the financial sources of the party will also be stopped.” Read less...

The nationwide dawn-to-dusk hartal (general strike) called by Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) on January 7 protesting the Government's conspiracy to kill its amir (chief) Motiur Rahman Nizami passed off peacefully, reports The Daily Star. With people defying the hartal, JeI even failed to get any response from people of Pabna District, Nizami's hometown. Read less...

Three cadres of Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) were executed at Jessore Central Jail on January 7 for killing Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) leader Kazi Aref Ahmed and four other JSD activists in Daulatpur sub-District of Kushtia District on February 16, 1999, reports The Daily Star. Safayat Hossain Habib and Anwar Hossain Anu were hanged at 11:03 pm while Rashedul Islam Jhantu at 11:45 pm inside the jail. Read less...

Islamic State (IS)on January 8 claimed the responsibility for killing elderly homoeopathy doctor Chhamir Uddin Mandal (85) inside his dispensary in Jhenaidah District on January 7, reports Dhaka Tribune. The USbased SITE Intelligence Group quoted the group as saying "Soldiers of the caliphate were able to eliminate the apostate, named 'Samir alDin', by stabbing him with a knife." Chhamir was converted to Christianity in 1993, but again switched back to Islam around four years back. Chhamir used to say prayers at a local mosque. Read less...

As investigators probe deeper into the fake passport racket of Baguiati (Kolkata), there is emerging evidence of a possible JamaatulMujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) link, The Times of India reports on January 9. Sources say Bangladeshi national Hafeez Sheikh alias Nur Mohammad, will play a pivotal role in understanding the modus operandi of the gang. "It is only his questioning that can lead us to the rest of the gang based in Noida," said an investigating officer. "We plan to send teams to Noida, Pathankot and Ludhiana to verify certain addresses. It is clear that several Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals have used fake passports prepared by him. In turn, someone must have collected used and expired passports from north Indian passport offices. We need to ascertain if there is a HuJI link to it because we have found certain numbers from Europe and the middleeast," informed a source.Sheikh hails from Chittagong District in Bangladesh and seems to have used a real passport but fake visa to cross over to India through Nadia District in West Bengal. Hafeez came to Kolkata about two years ago and started a tour and travel business at Netaji Nagar in south Suburban Kolkata. Read less...

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina Wajed on January 8 said that like the war criminals, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia also would not be spared by the people of Bangladesh for having committed similar crimes, reports The Daily Star. Referring to the BNP's destructive movement to topple the Government she said "Khaleda Zia committed the same offence against the people of Bangladesh in 2015. But the people of the country did not cast their votes in favour of the party as they were enraged by arson, and destructive politics of it." Read less...

Two Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) leaders were arrested in Meherpur and Narail Districts on January 9, reports Dhaka Tribune. In Meherpur District, Mohammad Farooq Hossain, secretary of District unit of JeI was arrested by Police on various charges from his village home. In Narail District, the Nayeb-e-Ameer (Deputy Chief) of Lohagara JeI Badsha Miah (45) was arrested from Baka village. A number of cases, including charges of sabotage, are pending against him, Police said. Read less...

mPrime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed while meeting the visiting Power, Rural and Urban Development and Transport Minister of Indian State of Tripura Manik Dey in her official residence in Dhaka city on January 10 said that none would be allowed to use Bangladesh for conducting insurgent activities against any country, reports The Daily Star. She said "We won't tolerate any sort of insurgency in Bangladesh... We want a peaceful atmosphere in this region." Read less...

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith while visiting the under-construction building of Sylhet Central Jail in Sylhet District on January 11 urged all to keep vigils to take preemptive measures for thwarting any attack on Sylhet District by the extremists, reports New Age. He said “The extremists had launched attacks in Sylhet in the past. These people have been active again. That is why everybody should stay alert and inform the police immediately after sensing any terror activities.” Read less...

Police in a drive have arrested Muhamad Nurunabi Raju (30), a militant of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) from Noakhali District in mugging case on January 11, reports Dhaka Tribune. On September 23, 2015, a team of JMB militants blasted several grenades while mugging a local businessman named Satya Gopal in Chittagong city’s Majirghat area of Chittagong District. Raju is an active member of JMB who had taken part at the mugging operation directly driving the motorbike. He was absconding soon after the incident at his fatherinlaw house in Noakhali District. Read less...

Government files a review petition with the Supreme Court (SC) on January 12 seeking death penalty for Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) Nayeb-e-Amir (Deputy Chief) Delawar Hossain Sayedee for his war crimes in 1971 Liberation War, reports The Daily Star.  The Office of the Attorney General submitted the petition to the section concerned of the SC seeking review of its judgment that commuted Sayedee's death penalty to imprisonment till death. This is for the first time the Government filed a review petition against the SC verdict in a war crimes case. Read less...

District-based Islamic scholars have started identifying the members of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and militants in the Mosque Management Committees across the country, reports Dhaka Tribune on January 14. Primarily, they have identified several dozens of such mosques in Chittagong, Sylhet, Habiganj, Dinajpur, Bogra, Satkhira and Chandpur Districts. After information on all the mosques are collected, the Police will scrutinize those and take further action. They also decided to issue a fatwa signed by 1,00,000 scholars against militancy by explaining relevant verses of the Qur’an and the Hadiths since JeI and the militant groups misinterpret Islam in their favour. The signature campaign is now under way. Read less...

Earlier, Police raided a house at Kamrangirchar area in Dhaka city and arrested three militants of JMB on January 13, reports The Daily Star. Acting on the information of the arrestees, Police conducted a drive in Hazaribagh area. As they were carrying out a search, militants on two motorbikes attacked the Police team, prompting Policemen to open fire. Two of the militants were killed and two others fled. Read less...

HefazateIslam (HeI)on January 13 announced to hold a twoday conference in Chittagong city’s Laldighi Maidan of Chittagong District from January 1415, reports Dhaka Tribune. Organizing Secretary of HeI said “We have completed all necessary preparations to hold the grand conference. Islamic scholars from home and abroad will grace the occasion. The twoday long conference will be chaired by HefazateIslami chief Shah Ahmed Shafi while renowned Islamic scholar of Darul Uloom Deoband, India Syed Arshad Madani will remain present as the chief guest.” Read less...

SemAwami League (AL) Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif at a press conference at party chief’s Dhanmondi office in Dhaka city on January 13 said that the Government might ban the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) considering it as an illegal political party if such demand was raised from people, reports New Age. Hanif said “Time will say whether BNP would be declared illegal, but if the people want, the government may ban BNP.” Read less...

Two leaders of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) have been killed in an encounter with Police at Hazaribagh area in Dhaka city on January 13, reports The Daily Star. The deceased are Abdullah alias Noman (35), ‘National operations commander’ of JMB and Kamal alias Hiran (30), and ‘Dhaka regional commander’ of the outfit. Police recovered two firearms and shards of grenades. Read less...

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed while addressing the Army after witnessing the winter exercise of Army at the Paglapir Khalia under Rangpur District on January 14 asked Army to resist evil forces to protect country’s independence and sovereignty, reports New Age. She said “I’m sure Bangladesh Army is fully ready to strongly resist any kind of evil force to safeguard the country’s unity…watching your efficiency in training, I can say you’re truly a force built with the spirit of the War of Liberation.” Read less...

Shah Ahmed Shafi, the Chief of Hefazat-e-Islam (HeI) at an Islamic conference in Chittagong city of Chittagong District on January 14 said that HeI has no conflict with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed as both of them are believers, reports Dhaka Tribune. He said “We learned that Sheikh Hasina says her prayers five times a day; she even says her Tahajjut prayers [extra prayer at dawn]. So we have no conflict with her.” Shafi also said “We are not militants. Rather we can eliminate militancy, theft, robbery and terrorism from the country if we are given a month.” Read less...

HefazateIslam (HeI)Chief Shah Ahmed Shafi while addressing an Islamic conference at Laldighi Maidan area in Chittagong District on January 15 said that HeI members are not Wahabis, reports Dhaka Tribune. He said “Every Muslim should be aware of this. Sometimes, we are described as Wahabis but I would like to reiterate that there is no Wahabi in the country. Those who say we are the followers of Wahabism have no knowledge of Islam.” Read less...

At least 14 leaders of Jamaat-e-Ismali (JeI) have been arrested on January 15 from Panchim Vadoi area of Habiganj District on charge of plotting subversive activities, reports Dhaka Tribune. The arrested are Habiganj unit JeI Ameer (Chief) Mohamad Abdur Rahman, Secretary Mohamad Mosahid Ali, Bahobal Secretary Abdul Ahad, Habiganj municipality unit Secretary Mohamad Nazrul Islam, Nabiganj municipality Secretary Abdul Mukit Pathan, Baisa union Ameer Ahmad Ali, Ajmiriganj assistant secretary Mohamad Nasir Uddin Chy, Sadar President Mohamad Iman Ali, Chunarughat Ameer Mohamad Abdul Khalek, Baniachang acting Ameer Mohamad Abdur Razzak Khan, Baniachang President Mohamad Mojibur Rahman, Habiganj municipality Ameer Kazi Mohsin Ahmed and Lakhai President Mohamad Noor Uddin. The JeI leaders were arrested red handed while holding secret meeting and disbursing money to commit subversive activities. During the drive, BDT1 lakh, 4,100 pieces of leaflets, 70 jihadi books, 500 invitation letters and 16 mobile phones were recovered from their possession. Read less...

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan at an assembly of the United Nations (UN) Trusteeship Council in New York on January 15 said that Government has taken a zero tolerance policy to combat extremism and terrorism, reports Dhaka Tribune. He also reaffirmed Dhaka’s commitment to providing all-out cooperation in curbing extremism and terrorism both at the regional and international levels Read less...

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Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI)Nayeb-e-Amir (Deputy Chief) Delawar Hossain Sayedee on January 17 filed a review petition against the Supreme Court (SC) verdict that gave him imprisonment until death, The Daily Star. In the 90-page petition, Sayedee mentioned 16 grounds and appealed to the SC to consider his prayer for acquittal. Read less...

Law Minister Anisul Huq on January 17 said that if Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) is banned Government will take over the operations of firms and organizations linked to the Islamist party including Islami Bank and Ibn Sina Hospital, reports Dhaka Tribune. He said “We are trying to revise the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act of 1973 so that any political party including Jamaat can be punished for committing crimes in 1971. A bill on the amendment will be placed before parliament in the next session.”On August 1, 2013, JeI’s registration as a political party was declared illegal by the High Court as its party charter had several provisions contrary to the country’s Constitution. The hearing on an appeal filed against the order is pending with the Appellate Division Read less...

A Rangamati District Court on January 18 sentenced five militants of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) to 10 years' imprisonment each for their involvement in serial bomb blasts in 2005, reports The Daily Star. The convicts are Obaidur Rahman alias Khayer, Mohammad Ariful Islam, Mohammad Aiyub Ali, Abdul Hafiz and Jabed Iqbal.On August 17, 2005, several bombs went off in front of Rangamati Press Club, Reserve Bazar Choumuhani and Banarupa area in the District as part of JMB's violent campaign in 63 Districts across the country demanding introduction of sharia laws. Read less...

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan while talking to reporters at the secretariat on January 18 said that Abdur Rauf Daud Merchant, an associate of mafia don Daud Ibrahim, who has been in Bangladeshi jail since his arrest in 2009, will be sent back to India following the expiry of his jail term, reports New Age. He said “A process is on to send back Daud Merchant following the expiry of his jail term.”In 2009, Bangladesh Police arrested Daud Merchant, a resident of Sharifa Road in Mumbai, India for intruding into Bangladesh without valid documents. He is in jail since then. Later, in 2012, he secured bail from the court. Meanwhile, a DB team rearrested Daud Merchant from the city’s Khilgaon intersection on December 2, 2014. Abdur Rauf Daud Merchant was a convicted accused for the murder of Indian music baron Gulshan Kumar. Read less...

International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on January 18 formed a five-member informal committee to gather information about the 195 Pakistani prisoners of war (POWs), reports Dhaka Tribune. The five-member committee will collect information, books and documents on the atrocities committed by the Pakistani soldiers during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971. The committee is headed by Deputy Director of investigation agency Matiur Rahman. Other members are Mohamad Helal Uddin, Monwara Begum, Mohamad Nurul Islam and Mohamad Abdur Razzak Khan. Read less...

A Chittagong District Court on January 19 placed three Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) militants in a five-day remand each in two cases filed with Hathazari Police Station, reports The Daily Star. The militants are Naimur Rahman Nayan, Faisal Mahmud and Shawkat Russell - all students of the Physics Department at Chittagong University.On December 26, 2015, Police arrested them with arms and explosives at Aminbazar in Hathazari area. Read less...

14 militants of Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) deported from Singapore are arrested in Uttara east of Dhaka city on January 20, reports Dhaka Tribune. 12 others were released since the Police had not found their involvement in militant activities. Between November 16 and December 1, 2015, Singapore authorities arrested 27 Bangladeshi construction workers allegedly for supporting jihadist groups including al-Qaeda and Islamic State (IS). 26 of them were deported and the last one was jailed for attempting to leave Singapore illegally after hearing about the arrest of the others. When contacted, Mahbub Uz Zaman, the Bangladesh High Commissioner to Singapore said “As far as I know, the detainees are members of Ansarullah Bangla Team. However, the law enforcement agencies here [in Singapore] did not divulge any further information since the investigation is still going on. But my sources say they may have been involved in planning terror attacks in Bangladesh.” Read less...

Meanwhile, War Crimes Investigation Agency Chief Coordinator Abdul Hannan Khan on January 20 said that gathering of evidence of the complicity of 195 soldiers of the occupation army of Pakistan in war crimes on the soil of Bangladesh during the Liberation War has commenced, reports New Age. He said “It is not a formal war crimes investigation against the Pakistani POWs. The team just began   information collection.” Read less...

A Dhaka Court on January 21 indicted 11 Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) militants in connection with the Ashulia bank robbery from Daulatpur upazila (subDistrict) in Manikganj District, reports The Daily Star. On April 21, 2015, Bangladesh Commerce Bank Limited (BCBL) in Ashulia was robbed by armed militants. Eight people were dead in the incident. Read less...

Meanwhile, ABT on January 21 threatened to kill State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak, two lawmakers from Natore District and 18 prominent personalities of the District, reports Dhaka Tribune. In addition to Palak, MPs Shafiqul Islam Shimul, Abul Kalam Azad, Natore Press Club General Secretary Dulal Sarker, Awami League sadar upazila Chairman Shariful Islam Ramzan, District unit Awami League Joint Secretary Golam Mortaza, public prosecutor Sirajul Islam, Chhatra League President Rakibul Hasan James, Awami League Organising Secretary Malek Shiekh, MP Simul’s APS Akramul Islam Akram, Mahila Awami League Jubo League Joint Secretary Kuheli Kuddus Mukti, former district unit BCL president Abdullah Al-Sakib Baki, its General Secretary Shafiul Azam Swapan, Noldanga upazila unit Awami League President Prof SM Firoz, Awami League leader Shahidul Islam Bakul, Bonpara municipality Mayor HM Jakir, Natore Municipality Councillor Arju Sheikh, former sadar upazila vice-chairman Asad, Singra municipality Mayor Jannatul Ferdous, Singra upazila unit Awami League leader Bhola and local Chhatra League leader Bulbul were also threatened. Read less...

Shoriful Islam, Baliadangi sub-District unit general secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) in Thakurgaon District, was arrested on January 21 for planning subversive activities, reports The Daily Star. Police arrested Shoriful from Kalmegh Fazil Madrasa, where he is a teacher. Read less...

The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court in Nilphamari District ordered sending 23 cadres of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) to jail rejecting bail prayer after they surrendered to the Court on January 21 in the case for attack on the motorcade of Asaduzzaman Noor, the then lawmaker of Nilphamari-2 constituency, on December 14 in 2013, reports The Daily Star. The attackers killed four activists of ruling Awami League's front organizations at Ramganj Haat of Tupamari union in the District. Read less...

Meanwhile, eight JeI-ICS cadres surrendered to the District and Sessions Judge's Court accused in the cases for killing an Ansar and torching polling centers in Parbatipur sub-District of Dinajpur District during the parliamentary elections on January 5, 2014, were sent to jail on January 24 by rejecting their bail prayers, reports The Daily Star.  The accused are Nabib Uddin, Najem Uddin, Kuddus Ali, Meher Ali, Johor Ali, Abdur Razzak, Nasim Hossain and Moazzem Hossain. Read less...

Police arrested a leader of Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) in Khaja Road area of Chittagong city in Chittagong District on January 24, reports The Daily Star. Police said that Redwanul Huq Jisan, the president of Hazi Muhammad Mohsin College unit, is accused in several cases. Read less...

Separately, a cadre of ICS was arrested in Dhaka city on January 26 for uploading indecent posts and distorted photographs of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed on Facebook, reports Dhaka Tribune. Police arrested Mohamad Enamul Haque Manju (28) in Anderkillah area. Read less...

Two Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) militants Jahid Hasan Rana alias Mushab and Mohammad Arman on January 26 confessed that JMB carried out the bomb attack on a gathering of Shia communityat Hossaini Dalan in Old Dhaka on October 24, 2015, reports The Daily Star. They also confessed that they support the Islamic State (IS).On October 24, 2015, two persons were killed and more than 100 were injured in homemade bomb explosions in front of Hossaini Dalan in Old Dhaka. Read less...

on Earlier, Police on January 27 arrested Saghata subDistrict unit ameer (chief) of JeI from Kanaipara Dakhil Madrasa in Gaibandha District, reports The Daily Star. The arrestee, Ibrahim Ali, is a fugitive accused in a case for uprooting railway track near Bonarpara railway station in 2014. Read less...

Abdus Samad (45), a cadre of Purbo Banglar Sarbahara Party (PBSP), was hacked to death at Nengri in Pabna District on January 28, reports New Age. Police recovered the body from a mustard field of the village. Police said that members of the PBSP might have killed him over previous enmity as he left the party. Read less...

District-based Islamic scholars have so far identified some 103 mosque committees across the country having leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and other radical groups as members instigating militant activities, reports Dhaka Tribune on January 29. The 103 mosques were identified in the northern part of the country in Rajshahi, Chittagong, Chandpur, Rangpur, Bogra, Gaibandha, Satkhira, Sylhet, Gazipur and Dinajpur Districts. The scholars are now gathering more information about the suspected militant sympathizers and the activities of the mosque committees. They would inform the law enforcement agencies about the committees and the persons after the 1, 00,000 signature campaigns against militancy ends. The fatwa involving 11 questions explains the relevant verses of the Qur’an and the Hadiths to discourage extremism and militant activities in the country. The campaign began on January 2. Read less...

Police on January 28 arrested four cadres  of Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), the student wing of  Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) from Satkania sub-District of Chittagong District for instigating religious unrest by tearing off the pages of the Qur’an themselves, reports Dhaka Tribune. The arrestees are Raihan Uddin Muhammad Asadullah, Mohamad Riadul Islam, Aminul Islam Tipu and Mohamad Arman. Read less...

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu on January 31 said that the Government would soon take legal action against the persons and organizations responsible for funding militants in the country, reports Dhaka Tribune. He said “We held a series of meetings on militant financing and identified a number of financiers. Soon we will take punitive action against some of them based on the proven allegations. We will also ensure that the identified criminals do not enjoy unauthorized facilities inside the jails. We have learnt that the local civil surgeons favor the criminals and bring them outside the jail in the name of better treatment. Sometime they suggest that the criminals be sent abroad in parole.” Read less...

Trial of former Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) Member of Parliament (MP) Shakhawat Hossain and eight others from Jessore District began on January 31 in connection with their alleged crimes committed during the Liberation War in 1971, reports The Daily Star. Apart from Shakhawat, others are Billal Hossain Biswas, Ibrahim Hossain, Sheikh Mohammad Mujibur Rahman, Kazi Ohidul Islam, Aziz Sardar of Mominpur, Aziz Sardar of Boga, Lutfar Morol and Abdul Khaleq Morol. Of them, Shakhawat, Billal and Lutfar Morol are in jail, while the others are on the run.On December 23, 2015, International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) indicted them over alleged wartime offenses. Five charges of murder, rape, abduction, torture, confinement and arson were framed against them. Read less...