Bangladesh: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2003

Joint teams of security forces arrested 62 people, including 14 listed terrorists/criminals, across the country on January 1, 2003, in the ongoing drive against criminals and terrorists launched on October 17, 2002. They also seized six weapons––two revolvers, two shotguns, a Chinese rifle and a shutter gun––and an estimated 168 rounds of ammunition of various types. Read less...

An activist of the United Peoples Democratic Front (UPDF) was killed and another injured in an encounter with the army in Borokulpara village under Naniarchar Upazila in Rangamati on January 3. In the subsequent search operations, the army arrested seven UPDF activists and also recovered five firearms and 130 rounds of ammunition. Read less...

In the continuing countrywide search operation to recover illegal arms, security forces recovered three illegal firearms and 14 bullets on January 3. Three persons have been arrested in this connection and three separate cases have been filed under the Arms Act. Read less...

Joint teams of security forces arrested 110 people, including 19 'listed criminals/terrorists' from different parts of the country on January 3, in the ongoing drive against criminals and terrorists launched on October 17, 2002. They also recovered 16 firearms––including eight revolvers, three pipe-guns, two pistols, two shotguns––and 242 ammunition rounds during the raids. Read less...

Joint teams of security forces arrested 64 people, including 16 'listed criminals/terrorists' from different parts of the country on January 3 in the ongoing drive against criminals and terrorists launched on October 17, 2002. They also recovered nine firearms including two pistols, a revolver, five country-made guns, a rifle and 168 ammunition rounds. Since the drive began, a total of 10,681 persons, including 2,345 'listed criminals/terrorists', have been arrested and 1,939 weapons firearms. Read less...

56 persons, including 24 ‘listed criminals’/terrorists were arrested from across the country during the ongoing drive against criminal and terrorists. Six illegal firearms ad 47 bullets were also recovered during the search operations. Read less...

Security forces recovered three bombs from Samrat cinema in Kashipur area, Fatullah, Narayanganj district. The Army later defused the battery-operated bombs. Read less...

Joint teams of security forces arrested 97 persons, including 16 listed criminals/terrorists from across the country on January 6, in the ongoing drive against criminals/terrorists launched on October 17, 2002. They also seized four pistols, six revolvers, four shotguns, a pipe gun, a country made gun, an air gun and eight rounds of ammunition. Read less...

Official sources said Rapid Action Team (RAT) personnel, now receiving an intensive 10-week training from the Para Commando Battalion in Rajendrapur Cantonment, will start their anti-terrorism drive soon. Initially, RAT teams will work primarily in Dhaka and if they produce satisfactory results they would be deployed across the country, reports added. Read less...

Earlier reports said, India on January 7, decided to launch a special drive from April 2003 to detect and deport illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Pakistan on "security grounds". The decision, which was taken at a meeting top Indian official, came shortly after Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani said 15 million Bangladeshis and 11,500 Pakistani nationals were illegally staying in India. Read less...

Joint teams of security forces arrested 79 people, including 16 listed criminals/terrorists, from different parts of the country on January 7 in the ongoing drive launched on October 17, 2002. They also seized 17 firearms, including a pistol, six guns, three pipe guns, six shotguns and a G-3 rifle and 10 ammunition rounds bullets. With these, the total number of persons held since the crackdown began has reached 11,119, including 2,443 listed criminals/terrorists. Thus far, 2,011 weapons and 29,745 ammunition rounds were seized. Read less...

One person was killed and eight more injured in a gunfight between United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) and Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) cadres, in Boro Dolupara, Kaukhali subdivision of Rangmati district, on January 7. The clash erupted over establishing supremacy in the area. Since the time the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) peace agreement was signed, at least 70 people were killed and several others injured in clashes between the two groups. The PCJSS had signed the peace agreement while the UPDF is opposed to it. Read less...

The government has decided to issue arms license to people of certain categories. It has also relaxed the process of transferring a license or changing its type depending upon the need. According to official sources. Read less...

Hearing has begun on January 8 at the Speedy Trial Tribunal in Chattagong in the sensational murder case of Gopal Krishna Muhuri. 12 persons, including eight local-level leaders and activists of the Islami Chhatra Shibir have been indicted for gunning down Muhuri, principal of Nazirhat College, on November 16, 2001. Of the accused, five are in jail, while three on bail and four others remain fugitives. One more accused, Mohammad Shahjahan surrendered to the court on January 7. Read less...

Joint teams of security forces arrested 74 people, including 25 listed criminals/terrorists, from across the country on January 8, in the ongoing drive against criminals/terrorists launched on October 17, 2002. They also seized eight weapons, including a revolver, three pipe guns and a shotgun. Read less...

Reports said it was likely that troops conducting the anti-crime drive would partially be pulled out from 'peaceful and rural areas' from third week of January, as most would get busy with the winter exercise. Read less...

According to media reports of January 9, Bangladesh has placed the over 4,000km-long border with India on high alert to resist any likely push-in of alleged Bangladeshis illegally staying in India. 20 million Bangladeshis were living illegally there and announced they would be detected and sent back. Bangladesh has refuted Indian claims. Read less...

Joint teams of security forces arrested 52 people, including 14 listed criminals/terrorists, from different parts of the country on January 9, in the ongoing drive against criminals and terrorists launched on October 17, 2002. They also seized three revolvers, one pipe gun, one shotgun and a rifle along with nine bullets. Thus far, the total number of arrests made has reached 11,245––including 2,482 listed criminals/terrorists––while 2,028 weapons and 29,754 rounds of ammunition have been seized. Read less...

Reports indicated that troops deployed in the anti-crime Operation Clean Heart will be withdrawn from January 11. Read less...

Speaking to the media in Dhaka, on January 9, noted writer and journalist Shahriar Kabir said the coalition government, especially its partner the Jamaat-e-Islami, was destroying intentionally the image of Bangladesh as a liberal democratic country with the aim to turn it into a fundamentalist state. He accused the government of misusing the Special Powers Act, Section 54 of the CrPC and preventive detention provisions to muffle divergent opinion. Read less...

Speaking to the media, Foreign Secretary Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury refuted India’s claim that nearly 20 million illegal Bangladeshi immigrants were residing in that country, reports said on January 9. He said, "There are no Bangladeshis residing illegally in India, nor had there been any in the past." Read less...

The Cabinet, on January 9, approved the Joint Drive Indemnity Ordinance 2003 to provide legal immunity to troops for actions during Operation Clean Heart. Read less...

The drive against criminals and terrorists launched by the security forces on October 17, 2002 has come to following a Cabinet decision media reports said on January 11, 2003. Field level Army commanders have been asked to withdraw troops, even as the Army set free those in its custody. Naval troops deployed in coastal areas during the drive were also asked to go return to base. However, some Army camps would be maintained for a few more days in Dhaka and Chittagong to ensure smooth transition, official sources said. Besides, a company each of the Army be kept ready round the clock in Chittagong, Sylhet, Rajshahi and Jessore cantonments to aid the civil administration to meet any emergency. Reportedly, 24,023 Army personnel and 339 Navy troops along with the paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), police and Ansars were deployed in Operation Clean Heart. 11,280 people, including 2,482 listed criminals/terrorists, were arrested and 2,028 weapons and 29,754 ammunition rounds were recovered in the Army-led drive. Read less...

After the Army-led joint drive against criminals/terrorists––code-named Operation Clean Heart––was declared complete, troops returned to barracks on January 11. However, a 150-member company will be stationed at each of the divisional headquarters in the country, media sources reported. According to official sources these troops stationed at the divisional headquarters, would be used to the civil administration, in case the need arose. However, the government has not yet announced the magistracy powers of these troops and if indemnity given to the Armed Forces during Operation Clean Heart would not be extended to them, too. Read less...

Law Minister Moudud Ahmed, speaking to media on January 11, said a new strategy to deal with criminals/terrorists has been formulated to consolidate the gains of Operation Clean Heart. He, however, gave no details of the strategy. Read less...

Bangladeshi agencies, including the Army and police, do not disturb NDFB cadres at camps located in Alikadam in Chittagong district, the report further said quoting another arrested NDFB cadre. Islamic fundamentalist organizations in Bangladesh, including the Islami Chatra Shibir (ICS) and the Jamaat-e-Islami, also allegedly offer hospitality to the ISI, the report added. Read less...

Indian media reports said earlier that the arrest and subsequent interrogation of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) vice president Dhiren Boro, held in Sikkim on January 1, substantiated India’s claims on the presence of terrorists and activities of Pakistan’s external intelligence agency, the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), in Bangladesh. The report also said the NDFB bought arms from Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, and NDFB leaders and cadres visited Pakistan with ISI help from their bases camps in Bangladesh. Read less...

Police in Bangladesh recovered eight illegal weapons and 26 ammunition rounds on January 14 from across the country. They have also filed five cases against six people under the Arms Act, reports added. Read less...

Home Minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury clarified, on January 15, in Dhaka, Operation Clean Heart targeting criminals/terrorists was yet not complete, though reports had earlier maintained otherwise. The Army has, however, been withdrawn from the operation from January 11. He said the Armed Forces might be asked to assist if law and order deteriorated during the upcoming Union Parishad elections. Read less...

Police recovered 17 illegal weapons, 42 ammunition rounds and a huge quantity of explosives on January 15 in countrywide searches, reports said. Also seven cases have been filed against 12 people under the Arms Act. Read less...

A Malaysian newspaper, Star, quoting the Associated Press (AP) on January 18, reported that at least four persons were killed and eight more wounded in a bomb blast at a carnival in Dariapur village, Tangail district, 70kmnorth of the capital, Dhaka, on January 17. While, no one has claimed responsibility for the blast, details of the incident are awaited. Read less...

Media reports of January 18 claimed some 50,000 illegal weapons––including several hundred sophisticated weapons like the AK-47, AK-56, M-16, SMG and SMC––besides a huge stock of ammunition, are in the possession of the underworld in Chittagong. However, no official confirmation was available, as police do not have specific and complete data on either licensed or illegal weapons. Reportedly, these arms would be used in the forthcoming Union Parishad polls in Chittagong, Cox’s Bazaar and the three hill districts. A large number of these arms were legally issued but were not surrendered when the government had issued a directive to this effect in November 2002. Read less...

Media reports said police seized four illegal weapons in countrywide searches and arrested four persons in connection with the recoveries, on January 17. Two cases were filed under the Arms Act in this regard. Read less...

Unnamed official sources, in Dhaka, disclosed that the newly created Rapid Action Team (RAT) of police comprising 133 members would be deployed in anti-terrorism operations in the city from January 26. Read less...

According to media reports, the death toll in the bomb explosions at a decade-old fair in the Tangail district on January 17 rose to seven. 15 others were injured in the blast. Three persons died on the spot and the rest in different hospitals in Tangail and Dhaka. Locally known as the Failya Paglar Mela, the fair, the largest in greater Mymensingh, is held in Dariapur village every year. Although the motive behind the bomb blasts is unknown, reports quoting local villagers said that there was a feud over the land of the shrine and proceeds from the annual fair. Meanwhile, police have arrested nine persons in connection with the blast. Read less...

A Major in the Bangladesh Army was critically injured in a gunfight with tribal youth in a remote hill area in Naniarchar subdivision, on January 19. According to police sources the clash erupted when Army patrols were ambushed in Kalapahar area. In the ensuing encounter with armed men––locally known as neo-insurgents––Major Anis was struck by bullets. The area has been cordoned-off and a search is on to nab the attackers. Read less...

An internecine battle is on in the area between pro-and anti-CHT Peace Accord elements for supremacy. The rival groups are offshoots of the disbanded Shanti Bahini. Read less...

Another report said, speaking in Mirpur on January 19, Home Minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury clarified Operation Clean Heart, the anti-crime drive, is continuing, but is now concentrated at certain levels. Earlier media reports indicated that the operation was concluded on January 11. Read less...

On January 19, officials of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) conducted investigations at the site of the January 17-blast in Tangail district’s Sakhipur subdivision, at a village fair, and concluded that a time-controlled device was used in the blast that had claimed seven lives. They also said explosives used there were similar to those used in the blasts at cinemas in Mymensingh on December 7, 2002. Read less...

Armed cadres of the Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) shot at a policeman in a brief gunfight in Hathazari subdivision, Chittagong district, on January 20. Police has also arrested two Shibir cadres––Alamgir and Mojammel Haque Chowdhury Nazim––and recovered seven rounds of SMG ammunition. The injured policeman was identified as Nayek Jahangir Alam. Shibir cadres shot at him for attempting to prevent extortion from a tea garden contractor in Udaliya. Read less...

One more person injured in the bomb blasts at a village fair on January 17 succumbed to his injuries at Kumudini Hospital, Mirzapur, on January 20, increasing the death toll in the incident to eight. Seven persons, including a child, were killed and 15 more injured when two bombs went off at a traditional fair in Dariapur village, Shakhipur. Thus far, 10 persons have been arrested in this connection. Read less...

A cadre of the left-wing extremist Biplobi Communist Party (BCP) was allegedly shot dead in intra-party rivalry in Chandmari village, Sadar subdivision, Kushtia district, on January 21. The victim was identified as Kalimuddin. Police said eight BCP cadres abducted him at gunpoint from his house and shot him dead from point blank range. Read less...

One person, a resident of Khulna, was killed in a bomb explosion in Fakirhat subdivision on January 22, media reports said. It is suspected that the explosion occurred while the victim was manufacturing bombs. Read less...

Two persons were killed in an accidental blast, in Kungapatti village, Bhola district, on January 22, while they were fabricating bombs. The dead body of one was recovered while that of another remains to be traced. The bombs were reportedly being made for use during the forthcoming Union Parishad (UP) elections to settle rivalries. Read less...

Another report said the Rapid Action Team (RAT) founded to perform law and order duties in Dhaka will be deployed from January 25. Read less...

Bangladesh police recovered 18 illegal arms and 26 ammunition rounds in countrywide searches on January 25. Reports said six cases were filed against 21 persons under the Arms Act, in this connection. Read less...

The Rapid Action Team (RAT) specially formed to perform law and order duties after Army was withdrawn begins operations in the capital Dhaka from today, January 25. The Army was called out on October 17, 2002 Operation Clean Heart to tackle increasing crime and terrorist activities. The total strength of RAT is 133. Its members will arrest criminals and hand them over to police for further investigations. Depending upon the performance of this unit in Dhaka some more could be formed in the future. Read less...

In another development, on January 28, India urged Bangladesh to cooperate in halting illegal migration. Read less...

At the recently concluded meeting of the Indo-Bangladesh joint working group (JWG) in Dhaka, India asked Bangladesh to hand over 88 Indian terrorists currently living in that country, media sources reported on January 29. The list includes Sanjiv Debbarma of the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF), and Anup Chetia and Paresh Barua of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). Turning them in would send a clear message to all terrorists that Bangladesh does not welcome anti-India activities on its soil, India said. It also asked Bangladesh to shut down terrorist training camps. Also, the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan’s external intelligence agency, using Bangladesh for anti-India operations was discussed. Bangladesh assured of action. Read less...