Bangladesh: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2006

On January 1, a charge-sheeted militant of the Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), identified as Mamun Gazi, surrendered to a court in Narail district, according to Independent. According to the report, Gazi is suspected to be involved in the August 17 countrywide bomb blasts. Read less...

In Kishoreganj district the JMB on January 2 threatened to kill the president and secretary of Kishoreganj Press Club and three editors of local newspapers for their reports against the outfit. In a letter sent by a JMB ‘commander’ to Kishoreganj Press Club President Ruhul Kuddous Selim, the outfit claimed that there are 1500 JMB cadres in the district, who are working to establish Islamic rule in the country. Read less...

In the Rajshahi district, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel arrested JMB Bagha sub-district unit 'commander', Tashikul Islam, in front of the Bagha High School gate. RAB sources said that Tashikul used to collect subscription from local JMB activists and send the money to ‘sub-district commanders' in Rajshahi and Naogaon districts. Read less...

In the Tangail district, police arrested a Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) cadre, Abdul Alim, at Singair village in the Kalihati sub-district along with a large number of jihadi books on January 2, according to Daily Star. Police sources said that Alim was involved in the August 17 bomb blasts in Dhaka. Read less...

According to Daily Star, security forces, on January 3, arrested three Myanmarese militants of the Arakan Liberation Party and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from a hideout in the remote forest areas of Naikkhongchhari in the Bandarban district. The cache included one British-made LMG, one AK47 and five M16 rifles, two .303 rifles, seven Pakistan-made guns, 32 magazines and 7,000 bullets. The arrested were identified as Ka Aong, Aong Theong and Tcha Thoang Ching, hailing from Ghayagong village in the Akiyab district of Myanmar, an official release said. Read less...

The Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) said on January 3 that the Government is withholding information on the arrested JMB bombers to protect the Jamaat-e-Islami even after the arrested militants claimed to be activists of the Jamaat or its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS). "The government is not letting the nation know about the activities of JMB cadres just to protect Jamaat," said the president of an IOJ faction, Alhaj Michhbahur Rahman Chowdhury, in a press release. Read less...

The proscribed Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) militants on January 3 threatened to blow up the gas field at Shahjibazar in the Habiganj district. A letter to this effect was delivered to the deputy general manager. Security at the gas field was subsequently augmented. Read less...

Unidentified militants exploded four bombs at separate locations in the Khulna city on January 3 evening. However, no casualty was reported in the blasts. Subsequently, a caller, identifying himself as Jihad, general secretary of an international terrorist network of Khulna region, claimed responsibility for the blasts. Read less...

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia while inaugurating the Police Week-2006 at Rajarbagh Police Lines in the capital Dhaka on January 4 asked the police to take all measures to bring the "bombers and their patrons" to book, according to Daily Star. "A misguided quarter attacked the state institutions to thwart the nation's development. This misguided quarter wants to disrupt the stability of the country and push it backward using the name of Islam", she said. Calling the bombers and their masterminds as enemies of Bangladesh, democracy and development, she said: "I would like to tell you in clear terms to take all-out steps to bring the bombers and their patrons to book. Don't give them any concession… There is no question of general amnesty for the bombers." Read less...

According to Daily Star, a cadre of the Gono Mukti Fouz (GMF), Abdur Rahim, was lynched in the Kushtia district on January 5. Three GMF cadres had reportedly shot at and critically injured a police informer at Bazlar Moar and were escaping on a motorcycle. One of the cadres who fell off the motorcycle while being chased by the police personnel was beaten to death by the local people. Two rifles and nine bullets were recovered from the incident site. Read less...

According to Independent, Abdul Latif Pradhan, a 'commander' of the Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), in a letter sent on January 5 has said that 3,000 members of JMB’s suicide squad are ready to carry out attacks on Eid congregations, police stations, Deputy Commissioners’ offices and village homes of the ‘corrupt’ officers as well as personnel of the Rapid Action Battalion across the country any time on or before Eid festival. "The JMB cadres would carry out the most deadliest suicide attacks this time and for that 3,000 members of JMB are ready to sacrifice their lives," the letter said. Read less...

Daily Star reports that Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel on January 5 neutralised a Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) hideout at Moinartek in Dhaka city's Uttara area and seized five shotguns, 24 kg of explosives, gunpowder and safety pins. RAB also arrested two JMB cadres, including one ehsar (a full-time activist) identified as Habib. Read less...

Independent reports that two JMB were arrested from Bivagdi village under Avoynagar upazila in Jessore district on January 5. Read less...

According to Independent, a bomb exploded in front of the house of a local Awami League leader at Kachua village in the Kathalia area of Jhalakathi district on January 6-night. However, no loss of life or injuries was reported. Read less...

According to Independent, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel on January 6 neutralised a hideout of the banned Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and recovered a huge quantity of explosives and bomb-making equipment at Purba Ashkona in the Uttara locality of capital Dhaka. The explosives cache include several thousand circuits and two kilograms sulphur, 250 grams thinner, 800 millilitres acetone, potassium chloride and huge quantity of electrical equipment. Read less...

In a separate incident, unidentified left-wing extremists abducted a trader from his house and have demanded a ransom of Taka 3 lakhs for releasing him. Read less...

Police recovered seven live bombs from Husking Mill in the Beerganj sub-district of Dinajpur district on January 6. A day earlier, police had recovered two bombs from Biral sub-district in Dinajpur. Read less...

The RAB Chittagong Zone has recovered a total of 203 firearms including 24 AK-47, two AK-22 and a large number of explosives and ammunition in 2005, according to Independent. RAB personnel have also arrested 443 criminals, including the JMB leader Mohammad, during the same time. Read less...

According to Daily Star, Sohel, a top leader of the Purba Banglar Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist-Red Flag faction) was killed in an encounter between police and other cadres of the outfit on January 7 on Tangail-Baghil Road at Laojan in the Sadar sub-district of Tangail district. Police sources said that the encounter occurred when the slain militant was preparing for a criminal operation. Five police constables were injured during the encounter. A rifle with three bullets, one large dagger, and some used shells were recovered from the incident site. Read less...

On January 7, a regional leader of the Sarbahara party, identified as Sohel Rana Palash, was killed by his rivals near Tamilnagar sluice gate in the Sujanagar sub-district of Pabna district. Police sources said that armed miscreants brought Palash to the area and chopped him to death and subsequently opened fire on him to confirm his death. Read less...

According to Daily Star, Police on January 8 recovered two grenades from the house of a Jamaat-e-Islami leader and a teacher of Srirampur Madrassa (seminary), Moulana Yunus Ali, at Dhalipara on the outskirts of Satkhira town. Yunus' son Abdullah Al Mamun, an activist of Islami Chhatra Shibir, was arrested subsequently. Separately, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's scheduled visit to Satkhira was cancelled amidst rumours of a planned bomb attack at her meeting venue. Read less...

According to Daily Star, police recovered three kilograms of gunpowder, one pistol, two country-made shooter guns, one foreign-made shutter gun, 16 bullets, five cartridges and three knives from a hideout of the proscribed Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in the graveyard at Dakkhin Khan village in Gazipur district on January 8. Police sources said that the recovery was made following confessional statement of arrested JMB 'commander' Enayetullah alias Enayet alias Jewel alias Walid. Read less...

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia said on January 9 that all the "bomb terrorists" would be caught and brought to the law shortly. During consultations with a delegation of Bangladesh Muslim League (BML), she said, "It’s a matter of time." Separately, the BML secretary-general Mohammad Nuruzzaman Munna claimed, "A foreign power must be working behind the bombing carnage." Read less...

Former Prime Minister and Awami League chief, Sheikh Hasina Wajed, has reportedly accused the coalition Government of Begum Khaleda Zia of ‘letting loose its terrorist groups against the people, particularly against the political opponents.’ Read less...

According to Telegraph, the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel closed down a militant camp of the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) at Satcherri in the Habiganj district on January 12 and arrested two militants, Jogesh Debbarma and Surendra Debabrma. The report says that the RAB and BDR personnel had tipped off the militants of the impending decision to dismantle the camp and on December 26 the ATTF militants moved into the forest areas in Kalenga tea estate under Sylhet district, opposite Kamalpur subdivisional town in Tripura’s Dhalai district. Read less...

A regional leader of New Biplobi Communist Party (NBCP), Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, was killed during a shootout between Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and NBCP cadres at Rayermahal in the Khulna district on January 13, according to Daily Star. The RAB recovered one pistol with two bullets, one pipe gun, seven bullets of .303 rifle, and two empty cases of shotgun cartridges from the incident site. Read less...

According to Independent, two Chakma militants, Rango Chua Chakma and Sanjit Kumar Chakma, claming themselves to be cadres of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS)’s armed unit, were arrested from the Kyangghati area of Mahalchhari sub-district in Khagrachhari district on January 14. One Belgium-made gun and two bullets were recovered from their possession. Read less...

According to Daily Star, on January 15, in the first-ever verdict on a case relating to the August 17, 2005 country-wide explosions in the country, a court in the Kishoreganj district sentenced Obaidullah Sumon, a militant of the Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), to 15 years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Taka 2,000 or two-month jail in default. He was arrested on September 14 from a JMB hideout in the Gazipur district. Read less...

On January 15, security forces recovered a Belgium-made gun from Natun Chakma para in Guimara sub-district in the Khagrachhari district during a search operation, according to Independent. Read less...

A regional leader of the proscribed Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) belonging to the outfit’s Marxist-Leninist-Janajuddha faction, identified as Sonu Mondol, was killed during a shootout between PBCP cadres and police personnel in Chuadanga district on January 16. Sonu was arrested by the Jessore district police from Dadpur village in Chougachha sub-district along with his two accomplices on January 15 and was handed over to Chuadanga police the same day. One shutter gun and 12 bullets were recovered from the encounter site. Read less...

According to Daily Star, 11 guns were recovered from a truck and a container laden with imported cargo while passing out of the restricted area of Chittagong Port on January 16. Police said the guns are replica but can be used for training purpose and were smuggled into the country. Read less...

A regional leader of the Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP- Janajuddha faction) identified as Monir Talukder alias Moni was killed in 'crossfire' on January 17 during a shootout between police and PBCP cadres at Mongla sub-district in Bagerhat. Police sources said that the slain cadre was arrested from Baniashanta brothel at Mongla on the same day. Two guns, seven gun cartridges and four rifle bullets were recovered from the site of the encounter. Two constables were also injured during the shootout. Read less...

According to Independent, Joypurhat district police, on January 17, arrested a suicide squad member of the banned Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), identified as Abdul Wares, from Joypurhat rail station. Police sources said that Wares, hailing from Komor village under sadar sub-district, was waiting for a train to go to Rajshahi to meet the JMB ‘district commander’. Police sources further said that they have arrested 59 suspected JMB members from Joypurhat district for their alleged involvement in the August 17 serial bomb blasts. Read less...

According to Daily Star, Army and border guards personnel on January 18 arrested three unidentified Myanmarese militants belonging to the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) from Bhaginar Chhara area in Naikkhongchhari sub-district of Bandarban district and recovered a huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosives. The cache included 7 kilograms of TNT, a M1A1 machinegun, an AK-47 rifle, one .303, four M16 rifles, a long-range rocket shell, 3,500 bullets and a 500-yard coil of wire used in explosive devices. Read less...

According to Daily Star, a joint group of Bangladesh Army and Bangladesh Rifles personnel on January 19 recovered a huge cache of sophisticated explosives, firearms and military equipment from the remote Bhaginajhiri hills of Naikkhangchhari in the Bandarban district. The cache included one M16 rifle, one submachine carbine, one .303 rifle, 20 detonators, 10 mine-fixing devices, three grenade-throwing handles, mining cable, 14 fuses and 20 kilograms gunpowder. A global positioning system, two range-finders hand microphones, walkie-talkies, five binoculars and a telescope, and antennae were also recovered during the raid. Read less...

According to Daily Star, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel arrested two militants of the Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) from Charmathha bus terminal area in Bogra town and Shohagipara area in Bogra district and subsequently recovered a huge cache of bomb-making materials from the North Shahpara area under Sherpur sub-district of Bogra on January 19. The arrested militants were identified as Ashraful Islam alias Arshad alias Abbas Khan alias Araf, an Ehsar (full-time activist) and ‘commander’ of JMB’s Sherpur sub-district unit, Abdul Pramanik alias Mansur, Ehsar and former ‘commander’ of Mymensingh and Chittagong district units of the JMB. The cache included one kilogram of gunpowder, 6.5 kilogram sulphur, 4.8 kilogram lead styphnate, one kilogram beeswax, five litre sulphuric acid, 200 gram silica gel, 50 gram chalk powder, 100 gram putty and 500 gram liquid adhesive. A RAB source said that the seized materials could be used to manufacture a huge number of bombs. Read less...

In a separate incident, a JMB militant, identified as Shafiqul Islam Dulu, was arrested at Tangail Sari Kutir in the Feni town on January 19 for his involvement in the August 17, 2005 country-wide bombings. Read less...

Massive search operations by 10,000 security force personnel to arrest top leaders of the proscribed Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) were carried out in the four villages of Poradaho, Khajanagar, Jagati and Koburhat in Kushtia district on January 19, according to Daily Star. Ten suspected JMB cadres were arrested during the raids. Read less...

According to Daily Star, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) personnel on January 20 destroyed a terrorist hideout in the Uttar Bhuiyanchhari area under Baghaichhari sub-district of Rangamati district and recovered four country-made guns, two detonators, two fuses, 10 bullets of light gun, two explosive power gels weighing 110 grams and 50 grams and olive colour uniforms. The unidentified terrorists, however, managed to escape. Read less...

Police personnel on the same day recovered four pipe guns from a pond in the Palashpole area of Satkhira district. According to official sources, Dr. Hadi Khan, an activist of the Jamaat-e-Islami, owns the pond. Read less...

The eighteen-and-a-half-hour-long search operations for JMB militants in Kushtia district have been called off without arresting any militant. State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar told reporters that there was "enough time" for anyone to flee before the operation started. "Five minutes are enough for escaping," he told the reporters. Read less...

On January 21, the Rapid Action Battalion seized 14 kilograms of explosives, huge bomb-making materials, and over 2,000 books on jihad kept underground near the house of a Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) operative's relative at Shahjahanpur in the Bogra district, according to Daily Star. At least 1,000 bombs could be made with the seized explosives and equipment, according to police sources. The seizure was made following information from a JMB activist, Ashraful Islam alias Arshad, who was arrested on January 19. Read less...

According to Daily Star, a court in Bogra on January 22 framed charges against six Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) cadres, including its chief Sheikh Abdur Rahman and operations commander Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai, under Explosive Substances Act in one of the August 17, 2005 country-wide bombing cases. Only one of the six accused, Abdur Razzak, has been arrested. Read less...

According to Independent, the anti-terrorism bill will be placed before the Parliament during the winter session, which began on January 22. A decision to the effect was taken following a meeting on January 21 at the office of the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Moudud Ahmed, who subsequently informed the media that the draft bill would be sent to the Cabinet for approval prior to its tabling before the Parliament. The Act, after its passage and presidential assent, will be used against those individuals, groups and organisations who have been financing, patronising and provoking activities of the militants and terrorists in the country. Read less...

According to Daily Star, Bangladesh will ask India to help block routes used by the militants to smuggle in explosives from India for subversive acts across the country in the last few months. The Government is also likely to request India to conduct an investigation to verify the information obtained from some arrested militants about an Indian arms ring involved in selling explosives to the Bangladeshi militants, and take measures to trace the syndicate and stop its activities. The report further said that security agencies are preparing a detailed report on their findings about the networks of explosives smugglers both in Bangladesh and India. "The report will be completed in a few days," a senior intelligence official told Daily Star. Read less...

Mufti Hannan, chief of the banned Harkat-ul-Jehad-al-Islami, Bangladesh (HuJI-B), was sent to the Dhaka Central Jail after completion of a 106-day remand on January 23, reports Independent. Read less...

Ziaur Rahman alias Badal alias Reaz Ahmed, a ‘regional commander’ of the Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) was arrested from Ayub Ali Ansari mosque in the Sukhnagar area of Gaibandha district on January 23, according to Daily Star. Two live bombs and five books on jihad were recovered from his possession. Five of his accomplices, however, managed to escape. During primary interrogation, Reaz, who hails from Chapainawabganj district, told police that he joined JMB three years ago to establish Islamic rule in Bangladesh and was subsequently made its 'regional commander'. Recently, he came to Gaibandha with some of his aides to reorganise JMB activities and to boost morale of its cadres. Read less...

According to Independent, three students were injured in an explosion inside the Shamaspur School in the Sreenagar sub-district of Munshiganj district on January 24. Read less...

Daily Star reports that two cadres of the Janajuddha faction of Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP), Mofazzel Hossain alias Mofa and Sheikh Golam Mostafa alias Mosto, were killed during an encounter between Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel and PBCP cadres at Jabusha village under Rupsha sub-district in the Khulna district. RAB personnel recovered one revolver, two pipe guns and 16 bullets from the incident site. Read less...

Two bombs were thrown at a congregation of Kirtan (Hindu devotional songs) killing one person and injuring at least 20 others in the Gangni area of Meherpur district on January 25, according to Daily Star. Locals said an argument occurred outside the local mosque as some Muslim residents complained that the Kirtan was disturbing the peace of the area. The border-area of Meherpur has a large Hindu population and is reportedly also a stronghold of the outlawed Islamist outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Read less...

According to Daily Star, the High Court on January 26 rejected three bail petitions filed by Asadullah-al Galib, chief of the Ahle Hadith Andolon Bangladesh (AHAB), who is accused in arms and explosives cases. Galib, a Professor at the Rajshahi University, was arrested on February 23, 2005 on charges of involvement in militancy related activities in northern Bangladesh from his Rajshahi University residence. His lawyers indicated that they would appeal to the Supreme Court against the decision. Read less...

On January 26, two Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) militants, Abdul Quyum alias Kamal and Harun, were arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion personnel near Gaibandha Bus Terminal in Gaibandha district, according to Daily Star. Read less...

According to Independent, two more JMB militants, including a suicide member, were arrested from Sarulia village in the Mollahat sub-district of Bagerhat district on January 27. The duo were identified as suicide bomber Shahidul Islam alias Palash alias Emon and Nur Alam. During interrogation, Shahidul admitted his involvement in the bomb attack on the Gazipur court premises on November 29, 2005. Read less...

The US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, Christina Rocca, ended a three-day visit to Bangladesh on January 28 during which she met Motiur Rahman Nizami, chief of the country’s largest Islamic party the Jamaat-e-Islami, according to Reuters. Rocca’s visit was primarily aimed to discuss terrorism, corruption and political conflicts in the country with Government and opposition leaders. Read less...

According to Independent, Mahfuzur Rahman Mahfuz, a suspected militant of the Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) was arrested from Joypurhat town on January 29. Police sources said that the arrested militant is the son-in-law of the JMB 'Regional Commander' of the district, Montezar Rahman. Read less...

Daily Star reports that two JMB militants, including the outfit's Chittagong divisional chief Mohammad alias Javed Iqbal, confessed to their involvement in the August 17, 2005 bomb blast cases before a court. Mohammad also confessed that he along with other JMB members were trained on shooting, blasting bombs and spying at Baghmara in Rajshahi. He reportedly said, "After the countrywide bomb blast on August 17 I went to Dhaka and met Sheikh Abdur Rahman who praised me for my successful operation in Chittagong." Read less...

Daily Star, quoting an unidentified senior police official reported that the JMB has recruited over 200 cadres including six suicide squad members from different areas of Kalihati sub-district in Tangail district. The villages where the recruitment drive was conducted were Balla, Rampur, Mominnagar, Somjani, Belabari, Tenguria, Dorikhashila and Kazibari. Read less...

According to Daily Star, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel arrested a Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) ‘regional commander’ of Tongi-Uttara area, Abdullah al Sohail al Maruf alias Akash, from Ashulia in the Gazipur district on January 30. Following his interrogation, RAB personnel on January 31 raided a mess in Gazipur and recovered four locally made guns, 48 detonators, one packet power gel, two packets of water gel, one packet lead nitrate, an electric switch and an electric valve. According to the report, the arrested militant has confessed to his involvement in the August 17, 2005 bombings. He said that he had distributed bombs and leaflets among more than 10 JMB operatives and taught them how to detonate the bombs in Tongi and Uttara police station areas. Read less...

Chuadanga district police arrested a woman leader of the Banglar Communist Party belonging to the Laltu faction, identified as Chanmala alias Sawrashati, from Bhalaipur village in the Alamdanga sub-district of Chuadanga district on January 30, according to Daily Star. Police said she was absconding since October 12, 2005 when police raided her house to arrest her. Read less...

In the Nilphamari district, RAB personnel arrested a district-level JMB leader Amzad Hossain at Titpara of Dimla sub-district on January 30. Read less...

According to Daily Star, a cadre of the Janajuddha faction of the Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) has demanded Taka 10,000 from Abu Zafar Shikder, manager of Kajdia branch of Agrani Bank, at Rupsha sub-district in the Khulna district on January 31. The unidentified militant also reportedly threatened the bank manager with death over cell phone for non-payment of the demanded amount. Read less...

Police recovered two bombs and some bomb making material from the premises of the house of a Pir (saint) at Kamlapur in Khoksa sub-district of the Kushtia district and arrested the Pir and his five followers on January 31. Read less...