Bangladesh: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2017

14 JeI-ICS leaders and cadres were arrested in Gaibandha District in a case filed in connection with the murder of local Awami League (AL) Member of Parliament (MP) Manjurul Islam Liton, reports Independent. Read less...

AL’s general secretary Obaidul Quader on January 1 said religious extremist forces might be behind the killing of Manzurul Islam Liton, reports New Age. “We initially assume that religious extremist forces might be responsible and they must pay highly for the killing,” he said.      Read less...

Deputy Inspector General of Police (Rangpur Range) Khandker Golam Faruq on January 1 told "We are looking into all possible sides but involvement of militants or Jamaat is on top of them," reports The Daily Star. Similarly, a senior Police official, requesting anonymity, said, "There were some feuds involving the lawmaker but we don't believe his killing is a result of those. The style of the killing indicates that it was the act of militants." Read less...

Police in a special drive arrested 16 leaders and cadres of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and its students wing Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) from different places in Nilphamari District on January 1, reports The Daily Star. Police said that they were arrested on charge of planning subversive activities in the areas. Read less...

Police arrested four activists of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) from different areas of Gaibandha District on January 4 in connection with the killing Manzurul Islam Liton, ruling Awami League (AL) Member of Parliament (MP) of Gaibandha-1 constituency, reports New age. Police also recovered a large number of explosives and jihadi books from their possession. Read less...

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on January 4 urged people of all strata to stay alert to keep the student community away from militancy and terrorism, reports New age. She said “Bangladesh is now being regarded as a role model of development in the world. To maintain the continuity of success, the students who are future leaders of the nation, will have to pursue education in a way that makes them good human beings.” Read less...

International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on January 5 demanded departmental action against two Police officials allegedly for trying to keep a witness from testifying in a war crimes case, reports The Daily Star. In a letter sent to the Home Secretary, it recommended suspending or transferring Ali Ahmed Hashmi, an Inspector, and Rafiqul Islam, an Assistant Sub-Inspector of the Detective Branch of Police, from Satkhira District immediately for the sake of investigation. Read less...

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal while talking to newsmen at his Dhanmondi residence in Dhaka city on January 6 said that none of the militants would be spared, reports The Independent. He said, "Saddam was involved in the killings of northern part of the country. Marzan was one of the masterminds who led the killings. Marzan has been killed. No one will be spared like him." The militants are already cornered due to the recent raids at militant hideouts across the country, he added. Read less...

Police arrested four activists of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) while they were gathering to plot subversive activities in South Buruj Bangan village of Jessore District on January 6, reports The Daily Star. The arrestees are Noor Hossain (40), Abdus Salam (47), Akkel Ali (45), Tipu Sultan (47). All hail from Pantapara village. Police recovered eight crude bombs from them. Read less...

Two Neo Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) leaders were killed in a gunfight with Police in Dhaka city on January 6, reports The Daily Star. They are Nurul Islam Marzan, who allegedly coordinated the Gulshan café attack, and Saddam Hossain alias Rahul, who led Neo JMB activities in northern region. Police said that Marzan was next in the rank to top Neo JMB coordinator Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury while Saddam was wanted in at least 10 murder cases, including that for the killing of Japanese national Kunio Hoshi in Rangpur District. Police recovered a pistol, three bullets and a knife from the spot. Read less...

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque January 7 proposed to establish de-radicalization and rehabilitation centers in Jail to prevent them from motivating prisoners to join militancy, reports The Daily Star. “As the militants are highly motivated, they try to create or recruit followers wherever they stay. So I feel the necessity of establishing the centre under the jail authority or other government bodies so that they can turn back to a normal life,” he said. Read less...

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal while presiding over a review meeting on the preparation of the Bishwa Ijtema at Tongi municipality under Gazipur City Corporation in Gazipur District on January 8 said there is no militancy threat in the country at this moment, reports Dhaka Tribune. “We are working considering every possible security aspects. Law enforcers have undertaken all the necessary security measures to hold the Bishwa Ijtema peacefully. Our security personnel are experts at covering the technical aspects and they have everything under control,” he said. Read less...

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia speaking at a ceremony to give financial aid to the families of police officers who died in the Gulshan attack on January 9 said the risk of terror attacks remains despite the Government's efforts to round-up terrorists, reports The Independent. Asaduzzaman Mia also said that the charge sheet for the attack on the Holey Artisan Cafe in Gulshan will be submitted after the investigation is completed thoroughly.  Read less...

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested 10 suspects of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) from Dhaka city on January 9, reports The Daily Star. Of them, at least four were former colleagues of fugitive top JMB militant Maynul Islam Musa, a suspect in the July 1, 2016 Gulshan café attack.RAB said the 10 arrestees used to try to motivate the guardians of schoolchildren into militancy. None of the arrestees took part in terrorist activities. Their role was to increase members of the militant group and to promote its ideology among a target group of people through invitation. Read less...

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressing a huge public rally at Dhaka city's Suhrawardy Udyan on January 10 called upon all, including imams, teachers and parents, to put up strong resistance against militancy and terrorism, reports The Daily Star. Hasina vowed to build a Bangladesh where there would be no room for militancy and terrorism, and people irrespective of caste and creed would practice their religions peacefully.Further, launching a stinging critique of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), Hasina on January 10, said “BNP-Jamaat lives in Bangladesh, their mind is in Pakistan”, reports Dhaka Tribune. Referring to the violence during BNP-JeI movement, the Prime Minister said Khaleda Zia killed people in 2013, 2014, 2015. According to the Prime Minister, BNP had no real accomplishments other than torture, corruption, murder, disaster, looting, terrorism, and the creation of Bangla Bhai. Read less...

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Mohamad Asaduzzaman Mia on January 11 said that militants are getting funds from home and abroad, reports Dhaka Tribune. “We are yet to find any evidence on foreign financiers but investigation is underway. However, we have identified most of the local donors who had financed militant activities in the country. We have arrested some of them. If the terrorists were not getting any local support, they could not have paid for their rent or foods as well as the weapons. Therefore we are certain that the militants are getting local funds,” he said. Read less...

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan talking to journalists after a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Home Affairs Ministry at the Deputy Commissioner’s conference room in Rangpur District on January 11 said that the activities of extremists across the country remained under control of the Government, reports New Age. “It is our great achievement that people of the country has stood united against the extremists. So, the rise of such outfits and their activities still under our control,” he said. Read less...

Police arrested six JeI activists from a house at Housenagar village in Chapainawabganj District when they were holding a clandestine meeting on January 11, reports The Daily Star. Police recovered five crude bombs from them. Read less...

Director General (DG) of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Benazir Ahmed on January 12 said that they have intensified intelligence surveillance to oversee the activities of the extremists and their patrons aimed at rooting out extremism from the country, reports New Age. “RAB personnel are on hot pursuit to capture the militants and their patrons,’ he said, adding that none will be pared. Read less...

Investigators said that New Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) leader Mainul Islam alias Abu Musa, who is believed to be the new operational chief, is trying to reorganize the militant outfit, reports Dhaka Tribune on January 13. Investigators said they had information that although the groups are trying to reorganize themselves, they are yet to unite under one network. Besides, the leaders of the groups are in stray condition. “Musa is currently working to reconnect all of them and was also working on recruiting new members, especially for the operational cell”, informed an Investigator. Read less...

Police on January 12 arrested 11 cadres of Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) while holding a secret meeting at a hostel of Eden School and College in Mohammadpur area of Chittagong District, reports The Daily Star. A good number of books on Jihad were also recovered from them. Read less...

Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque on January 13 said that Police will never bow down to terrorists and militants, reports The Daily Star. He said “Militancy is being created in the name of religion. Militants kill innocent people. If general people work with police in combating militancy, terrorism and drugs, all the problems will be eliminated from the society.” Noting that militants are brainwashing students into militancy, he underscored the need for the guardians to remain alert. “If you notice any unusual behaviour in your child, you should inform the matter to police immediately to prevent them from getting involved in militancy,” he said. Read less...

Islamic State-linked Neo-Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (Neo-JMB) leader Jahangir Alam alias Rajib alias Gandhi, another mastermind of ‘Dhaka cafe attack’ was arrested by Bangladeshi Police's Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit from Elenga in Dhaka late in the evening of January 13, reports Business Standard. Rajib is one of the main masterminds of the Gulshan's Holey Artisan Bakery (cafe) attack in Dhaka's diplomatic area that killed 23 people, including 17 foreigners, CTTC Chief Monirul Islam said.  Police said Rajib's name surfaced during investigations when they found that he served Neo-JMB as the ‘commander’ of the outfit for the Northern Districts. Earlier, South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP) had reported, Police, on January 13, arrested Fazlur Rahman Taher alias Raj (23), a militant of JMB from his Pabnapara home in Natore District while planning to carry out subversive activities. Read less...

Police on January 13 arrested a militant of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) from his Pabnapara home in Natore District while planning to carry out subversive activities, reports The Daily Star. The arrestee is Fazlur Rahman Taher alias Raj (23). Police recovered four pistols, six magazines, 17 bullets, six knives, six straight razors and some bomb-making materials from the house. Read less...

Police arrested a JeI leader accused in different arson cases from Station Road area of Rangpur District on January 14, reports The Daily Star. The arrestee Obaidullah Salafi (47) is the general secretary of Rangpur District JeI unit. Read less...

Police arrested three activists of JamaateIslami (JeI) from different places of Gaibandha District on January 14 in connection with the killing of Manzurul Islam Liton, ruling Awami League (AL) Member of Parliament (MP), reports The Independent. Identities of the arrestees could not be confirmed yet. Read less...

Unidentified assailants hacked Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) secretary of Phulbaria upazila (sub-district) unit in Mymensingh District on January 14, reports The Daily Star. The victim was identified as Sarwar Hossain (27), son of Abdur Rashid of Bhalukjan village. Rifat Khan Rajib, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of Phulbaria Police Station, said a group of five to six miscreants hacked Sarwar indiscriminately at upazila headquarters around 6:00pm, leaving him critically injured. The miscreants fled immediately, he said. Read less...

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CounterTerrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) Chief Monirul Islam on January 15 said that NeoJama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (NeoJMB) leader Jahangir Alam, who was one of the masterminds behind the Gulshan café attack, was also the chief of the killing squad with expertise in using sharp weapons and hacking people to death, reports The Daily Star. He adopted his organizational name Rajib Gandhi to confuse law enforcers. Jahangir became the chief of the squad, which the militant outfit terms “Ishaba Group”. Read less...

Police on January 16 arrested Saiful Islam Dulal (45), a militant of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in Chandpur Pabnapara area of Natore District, reports The Daily Star. Police said that Saiful is the elder brother of arrested JMB's ‘regional commander’ Fazlur Rahman Taher alias Raj (23). Following information gleaned from Fazlur Rahman Police arrested Saiful. Read less...

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on January 16 killed Abdur Razzak (42) ‘regional leader’ of Purbo Bangla Communist Party (PBCP) in an encounter in Bilshalangi village of Pabna District, reports Dhaka Tribune. Three RAB members suffered minor injuries during the operation. RAB recovered a pistol, several rounds, as well as a number of sharp weapons from Razzak. Read less...

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed the Home Ministry to be on alert to preclude any untoward incidents like target killings, sabotage, and attacks on the minorities and their houses by vested quarters, especially militant groups, reports The Independent on January 18. The Premier issued the instructions at a time when there has been a spurt in criminal activities like political killings and attacks on people of the minorities in some areas during the last few months. On receiving the instructions, the Home Ministry has asked the authorities, especially the law enforcement agencies, to take extra security measures to preclude any incident, the sources added. Read less...

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested a militant of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in the Waizghat area of Old Dhaka city on January 17, reports Dhaka Tribune. The arrestee is Mohamad Maksudur Rahman alias Monir alias Sharif alias Ajmal alias Tuhin. RAB recovered two knives, three jihadi books and some leaflets from Tuhin’s possession. Read less...

SemTwo Bangladeshis were arrested on January 19 for their suspected links to Islamic State (IS) in Malaysia, reports The Daily Star. The Bangladeshis, aged 27 and 28, worked as salesmen, and were arrested in Kuala Lumpur. They were suspected of having ties to IS militants in Bangladesh and planning to join Dr Mahmud's terror cell, according to the report. Dr Mahmud was a former lecturer at University Malaya who had joined IS militants based in the southern Philippines. Read less...

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on January 19 urged the Government to disband Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), reports The Daily Star. The HRW said, for years, RAB has been deployed by successive Governments not only to fight crime, but often as an “in-house death squad”, leaving a string of extrajudicial killings often referred to as crossfire deaths, torture, disappearances, and arbitrary arrests in their wake. The HRW urged the Government following the Narayanganj seven-murder verdict.On January 16, a Narayanganj court sentenced 26 people, including 16 former RAB members, to death for their rolein killing seven people including Narayanganj City Corporation panel mayor Nazrul Islam and senior lawyer Chandan Sarker in 2014. Besides, nine other ex-RAB members were sentenced to different prison terms. Read less...

Police arrested a cadre of Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), the student wing of JamaateIslami (JeI) from South Shibrampur village in Gaibandha District on January 19 in connection with the killing Manzurul Islam Liton, ruling Awami League (AL) Member of Parliament (MP) of Gaibandha1 constituency, reports The Independent. The arrestee was identified as Saidul Islam, a resident of the same village. Read less...

President Abdul Hamid addressing the seventh national conference of Ekattorer Ghatak-Dalal Nirmul Committee at the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB) auditorium in Dhaka city on January 19 said that the anti-liberation forces are killing people and unleashing terrorism in the country, reports The Daily Star. He said "The anti-liberation forces are killing people and unleashing terrorism in the country, spreading the poison of communalism in the name of religion in their evil bid to block the country's development and stigmatize the holy religion. We must conserve and help flourish our thousand-year-old non-communal spirit and values. We must implement the ideology of our Liberation War." Read less...

A team of the Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit on January 22 arrested two students from Char Kakra union of Companiganj upazila (sub-District) in Noakhali District for their alleged connection with militant activities, reports The Independent. The arrestees are Amjadul Islam Rasel (23), a 7th semester student of Uttara University and Abu Abdullah Ishtiaque (17), a Class X student of Basurhat Government High School. Read less...

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while talking on a condolence motion of ruling Awami League (AL) Member of Parliament (MP) Manzurul Islam Liton in Parliament on January 22 said that Manjurul Islam Liton was killed for resisting Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI)-Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), reports New Age. She said that Manjurul constituency was den of terrorist and JeI-ICS. JeI-ICS had been making constant attempts to kill him as he put up resistance against the evil force. Read less...

Unidentified armed men killed a ‘regional leader’ of Purbo Banglar Sarbahara Party (PBSP) in Badlapara area of Pabna District on January 22, reports The Daily Star. The deceased was identified as Kubad Ali Sikder alias Kubad (40). Read less...

NeoJama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) leader Jahangir Alam alias Rajib Gandhi (32) before a Dhaka court on January 23 confessed to plotting the Gulshan café attack, reports The Daily Star. Rajib told the court that he planned the crime with some other top leaders but was not physically present in the attack. He also admitted that he recruited operatives in the militant outfit.On July 1, 2016, the Gulshan café attack had left 22 people killed. Jahangir Alam is the only mastermind behind the attack arrested alive on January 14 in Tangail District. Several others including NeoJMB top coordinator Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury was killed in separate Police raids in Dhaka and elsewhere. Read less...

Police on January 24 arrested war crimes accused Abdul Ali Mollah (65) in Bagerhat District hours after the International Crimes Tribunal1 (ICT1) issued warrant against him in a case filed for allegedly committing crimes during the Liberation War in 1971, reports The Daily Star. Ali is one of the 14 accused of the case and the tribunal earlier issued arrest warrant against 13 others. Tribunal's investigation agency on January 22 said to have found evidence against the 14 over their alleged involvement in crimes committed during the Liberation War. Read less...

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressing senior Police officers at her office on January 24 on the occasion of the Police Week 2017 directed Police to raise engagement in combating terrorism and militancy, reports Dhaka Tribune. She said "The people are our main strength. So you will have to raise people’s involvement as it would help face any situation like fighting terrorism and militancy.” Read less...

Field-level Police Officials were instructed to keep an eye on the Rohingyas, following allegation that some of them are being motivated to join the Islamic State (IS), reports Daily Star. Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque issued the instruction after a top police official raised the matter at a meeting on January 26, said sources at the meeting. “We have information that some Rohingya refugees staying in Bangladesh are being motivated and tricked into joining the IS. Again, some of them have already been motivated and are trying to join the militant outfit,” the source quoted the top Police official as saying. The Rohingya Muslims refuges are state less people from the Rakhine (Arakan) State of Myanmar. Read less...

Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque on January 26 instructed field-level Police officials to keep an eye on the Rohingyas following allegation that some of them are being motivated to join the Islamic State (IS), reports The Daily Star. “We have information that some Rohingya refugees staying in Bangladesh are being motivated and tricked into joining the IS. Again, some of them have already been motivated and are trying to join the militant outfit,” the source quoted the top Police official as saying. Later, the IGP asked the field-level members of the force to ensure strong vigilance so that the Rohingyas could not go out of their designated places. Read less...

Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) ‘leader’ Abdul Gaffar (resident of Tangail) was on January 26 shown arrested in the case filed over carrying out grenade attacks at two mosques inside Bangladeshi Navy’s Issa Khan Base in Chittagong District during Juma prayers (Friday Prayers) in December 2015, reports Daily Star. Earlier, on January 15, Police lodged a petition with the Court seeking permission to show him arrested in the grenade attack case, said Court sources. Read less...

Police arrested a Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) leader accused in four sabotage cases from Islami Adarsha Bidya Niketon in Lalmonirhat District on January 26, reports The Daily Star. The arrestee is Abu Hena Mohamad Erhsad Hossain Sazu (48). He is coordinator of JeI leaders and activists of Lalmonirhat-1 constituency. Read less...

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personals arrested two suspected Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami Bangladesh (HuJI-B) militants along with jihadi books and explosives, in Damurhuda upazila (sub-District) of Chuadanga District on January 28 (today), reports Daily Star. The arrested HUJI members were identified as Abdullah Al Mamun and Rakibul Islam. Read less...

An alleged Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) activist was arrested on January 29 during a raid on a ‘secret office’ in Seroil Kancha bazar area of Rajshahi District, reports The Daily Star. The arrestee, Monirul Islam (35), is a lab demonstrator of Masjid Mission School. Two crude bombs, 3,000 jihadi books and hundreds of leaflets of JeI and its student body Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) were recovered during the raid. Read less...

A Joypurhat court on January 31 framed charges against 14 militants of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in a case over the killing of three ‘village police’ [the force is operated under the Local Government Division] personal, reports Daily Star. One of the 14, Montezar Rahman (50), is serving a life term for his involvement in the countrywide near simultaneous bomb blasts on August 17, 2005. He is also accused in a case over an attack on police and looting of firearms in Uttar Moheshpur village of Joypurhat's Khetlal upazila in 2003. Whereabouts of the rest could not be ascertained. The remaining 13 are Kamruzzaman, Shahdat Hossain, Anisur Rahman, Mokshed Fakir, Abdus Samzad alias Samsuddin, Jewel Rana, Mosaraf Hossain, Abdul Mozid alias Bhutto, Nur Mohammad Mandal, Delbar Hossain, Shukor Ali alias Shakun, Abdul Latif and Shamser Ali. Recording of witnesses' testimonies will begin on March 14, Public Prosecutor advocate Nripendra Nath Mondal told Read less...

Four cadres of Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) were arrested from Shaheed Habibur Rahman Hall of Rajshahi University (RU) in Rajshahi District on January 31 cases for conducting subversive activities, reports The Daily Star. The arrestees are Abu Jafar, Saiful Islam, Enamul Islam and Abdul Alim Read less...