Bangladesh: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2019

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested a suspected member, Shafiqul Islam Alal (34), of the banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) from Sahebdanga area in Patgram upazila of the district on January 1, reports Daily Star. They also seized leaflets and books on jihad from his possession, said Mozammel Haque, commanding officer of RAB-13 in Rangpur. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) arrested two United People's Democratic Front-Prasit group (UPDF-P) member, Sumanta Chakma, (20) and Dipankar Chakma, (22), in Laxmichhari area of Khagrachari district, reports Daily Star. SFs recovered a US-made M4A1 assault rifle and 53 bullets from them. Read less...

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on January 2 said that the law-enforcement agencies have been asked to remain alert against militancy and its network as the Awami League-led grand alliance is celebrating landslide victory in the national election, reports Daily Star. The nationwide anti-militancy drive will be strengthened further in line with the government's election pledges as well as “zero tolerance policy” against any sort of terrorism, he said. Read less...

A case was filed against 72 leaders and activists of (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) in connection with the attack on Awami League activists on December 30 at a polling centre in Jashore-2 constituency, reports Daily Star. Read less...

A Jubo League activist was stabbed to death, Shakil Ahmed Ashis (40), allegedly by his rivals in Pirojpur Sadar upazila on January 3, reports Daily Star. Read less...

A three-member Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) delegation, led by its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, yesterday met United States Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller and discussed various issues relating to the recently held national election, reports Daily Star. A BNP leader close to Fakhrul said the BNP delegation informed the US envoy about their party's observations over the election and various “irregularities”. He said the BNP team also provided Miller with documents, including paper cuttings and video clips, on “election irregularities and vote fraud”. Read less...

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia on January 3 said she would not say anything about December 30, 2018 national election, reports Daily Star. Read less...

Police on January 3 detained 31 Rohingyas, including women and children, from Eidgah Intersection of Cumilla city, reports Daily Star. Of them, Shah Alam, (30), son of Aman Hossain, Shafi Alam, (24), son of Ala Mia, Habibulla, (40), son of Yakub Nabi, Minara Begum, (25), wife of Shah Alam, Yakubnabi, 63), Abu Syed, (58), hail from Bolibazar in Mongdu district of neighbouring Myanmar. Shah Alam said they went to Jammu in India from Myanmar about three years ago. They entered Bangladesh following the Indian government's decision to push them back to Myanmar. "We first travelled to Delhi from Jammu and then to Agartala in Tripura by train. Instead of going to my home country Myanmar, I entered Bangladesh as some of my relatives live in Cox's Bazar," Shah Alam said. Read less...

A group of unidentified criminals killed a member of MN Larma faction of Parbatya Chattogram Jana Samhati Samity (PCJSS-MN Larma), Bashu Chakma, (40), near Babupara Community Centre in Baghaichhari upazila on January 4, reports Daily Star. Read less...

Jatiya Party (JaPa) Chairman HM Ershad on January 4 announced that his party will serve as the main opposition in the 11th National Parliament, reports Dhaka Tribune. The release read: “As the chairman of the Jatiya Party, I want to inform all leaders, activists, and supporters—and the people of Bangladesh—that JaPa will serve as the main opposition party in the 11th National Parliament.“I [HM Ershad] will serve as the leader of the main opposition party, because of my rank as the president of JaPa. Meanwhile, Co-Chairman Golam Mohammed Quader will act as the deputy leader. No Jatiya Party lawmakers will be part of the new cabinet.” Read less...

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members claimed to have busted a factory of manufacturing fake currency notes in Dhaka's Kadamtali area on January 4, reports Daily Star. RAB arrested a couple, Sumon alias Sagor, (37) and his wife Husne Ara (35), and seized around Bangladesh Taka worth 900,000 in fake notes, unfinished counterfeit Fake Indian Currency Rupees (FICN) worth around Taka 300,000, around one lakh security threads of Indian currency, and fake currency-printing machinery worth Taka 5 crore from their possession, said a press release from the RAB headquarters. Read less...

Around 3,000 garment workers blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway at Uttara locality in the Dhaka city for five hours and set ablaze a bus during protest over the disparity in pay in the new wage structure, reports Daily Star.Workers said the protest arose due to a disparity in the raise of wages among the different grades in the latest wage gazette for the garment workers.The incident was reported during the second consecutive day of demonstration. Read less...

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, who declared himself the leader of the opposition in parliament, now wants the status of a deputy prime minister, reports Daily Star on January 7. But such a post does not exist.The leader of the opposition now enjoys the status of a Minister. If it is to be given the deputy prime minister's status, the constitution first needs to be amended to create the post. Read less...

The Counter Terrorism (CT) unit of Chattogram Metropolitan Police said they had arrested member of banned Islamist outfit Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT), “chief of private universities unit in Chattogram” Sabqat Ahmed (20), in the city's Kotwali area on January 6, reports Daily Star on January 8. Read less...

The Jatiya Oikya front (is a Bangladesh-based political alliance of primarily five opposition parties) on January 6 decided that none of its seven newly elected Member of Parliament, including the two from Gonoforum, would join parliament, reports Daily Star. It comes a day after Oikyafront Convener Dr Kamal Hossain hinted that the two Gonoforum lawmakers-elect might take oath of office to play their role in the House.Oikyafront, a combine of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Gonoforum, JSD (Rob), Krishak Sramik Janata League and Nagorik Oikya, formed about two months before the election. Read less...

A Cumilla court on January 7 adjourned the hearing on Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia's bail petition in connection with a murder case filed for killing eight persons by arson in Cumilla, reports Daily Star. The court also set the same date for hearing on charge-framing against Khaleda and other accused in the case.The case was filed on charges of killing eight people and injuring 25 to 26 others by torching a bus in Chouddagram upazila in February 2015. Read less...

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina had replaced 34 of the 47 Ministers to induct 27 new faces and four former Ministers in the 47-member council of Ministers set to take oath on January 7 (today), reports Daily Star.The prominent Ministers not included this time include Awami League bigwigs Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Mohammed Nasim and Matia Chowdhury. None of the allies got any ministerial berth. President Abdul Hamid on January 6 appointed Hasina as the PM, and upon her advice appointed 46 ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said. Read less...

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) troopers arrested four Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) militants from Taraganj upazila (sub-district) on January 7, reports Daily Star.The arrestees militants were identified are ‘northern region coordinator’ Abdur Rahman Biswasalias Fuad alias Neaz (22), Akhinur Islam(23), Lokman Alialias Korban (55) and Mizanur Rahman (38).RAB troopers recovered a pistol, a revolver, two magazines, three bullets and books on jihad from them. Read less...

According to Middle East Eye (MEE), a London-based news portal covering events in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is going to deport scores of detained Rohingyas, to Bangladesh, reports Daily Star on January 8.Many Rohingyas locked up in the Shumaisi detention centre went to Saudi Arabia on Bangladeshi passports, obtained via fake documents.Meanwhile, Mujibur Rahman, counsellor at Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah, said that they did not issue travel pass to any Rohingya.Mujibur Rahman said, “We issue outpass [travel pass] to those whose Bangladeshi citizenship could be verified. So, there is no question of Saudi Arabia deporting Rohingya,” Read less...

At least 10 people were injured as Police charged batons on garment workers who blocked Dhaka-Aricha highway in Savar on January 8, reports Daily Star.Workers from several garment factories blockaded Savar Bus Stand area on the highway when police went into action around 9:30am, leaving at least ten workers injured.The agitating garment workers have been holding demonstrations since January 6 over disparity in wage raises in the latest government pay scale. Read less...

Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder on January 8 reiterated that participatory polls does not necessarily equate to a fair election, reports Daily Star. “On December 17, 2018, I said a participatory election means all political parties participate in the polls. That has no connection with a free and fair election. A participatory election is a primary achievement. The main concern is whether the election is held acceptably and credibly,” Mahbub said.“If the election is not held in an acceptable and credible manner, there will be no benefit even if it is participatory,” Mahbub added.He made the remarks in a written statement to clear his stance regarding “confusion” over his comments at a programme organised to thank Election Commission (EC) officials on January 3.At the programme, Mahbub said that the EC has held a participatory election and that created confusion. Read less...

The Saudi authorities on January 8 deported to Bangladesh at least 13 Rohingyas, who had travelled to the kingdom with Bangladeshi passports several years back, reports Daily Star.The 13 Rohingyas had travel passes issued by Bangladesh Consulate General in Jeddah but it is unclear how they had obtained those. Read less...

A gazette notification issued on January 9 by the parliament secretariat declared Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman HM Ershad as the leader of the opposition in the 11th Jatiya Sangsad, reports Daily Star. JP Co-chairman GM Quader has been elected deputy leader of the opposition, it added. Read less...

Bangladesh Foreign Ministry, in a press statement, refuted Myanmar’s allegation of presence of Rakhine militants in its soil and termed the allegation as fake, reports Daily Star. Foreign Ministry protested and termed such “baseless and provocative accusations”. Based on some media reports, it said the spokesperson for Myanmar President's Office on January 7 had alleged that there was an existence of two Arakan Army (AA) bases and three Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) bases in Bangladesh. The statement futher claimed, “Bangladesh, on several instances, proposed Myanmar [to] conduct joint operations in addressing claimed terrorist activities along the border area. But unfortunately, not much enthusiasm was received from the Myanmar side.” Read less...

Garment workers' protests over disparity in their new wage structure once again turned violent as they clashed with law enforcers and vandalised some factories and vehicles in Savar, Ashulia and Gazipur areas on January 9, reports Daily Star. At least 72 people, including 15 policemen and two journalists, were injured in the clashes that led to long tailbacks on both sides of Dhaka-Aricha and Dhaka-Mymensingh highways. Operation of around 170 garment factories was suspended, fearing further unrest. Members of Border Guard Bangladesh had been deployed in the areas around 10:00am to keep the situation under control. Read less...

Law Minister Anisul Huq on January 9 said the government would take an initiative to amend the relevant law again to try and punish Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) as an organisation for committing war crimes during the Liberation War, reports Daily Star. In its previous term, government had taken a step to amend the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act-1973 for holding the trial and punishing JeI as an organisation, but the process was not completed. Read less...

Police arrested two Arakan Liberation members, Chaching Marma, (29) and Ungshingnu Marma, from Gabachhari forest area of Raikhali union in Kaptai upazila (sub District) on January 9, reports Dhaka Tribune. Police recovered one G3 rifle, 24 rounds of bullets, two magazines, and an ammunition pouch were recovered from them. Read less...

Readymade Garments workers staged demonstrations and blocked Dhaka-Tangail highway on the fifth straight day to protest the wage disparity on January 10, reports Daily Star. The workers clashed with Police in At least 30 garments workers were injured in clashes with law enforcers at Berun and Kathgora areas of Ashulia industrial area. Read less...

The tripartite committee formed to resolve the labour unrest in garment industry has found disparity in three grades of the workers' pay structure, and has started working to minimise the wage gap that sparked the protests five days ago, reports Daily Star on January 11. The 10-member committee with representatives from the government, union leaders and factory owners said disparity was found in grades three, four and five. Read less...

Hefajat-e Islam (HeI) Chief Shah Ahmed Shafi on January 11 made parents promise that they won't send their daughters to school, reports Daily Star. Addressing a rally the Islamist leader said girls should not receive schooling beyond grade IV or V because education would make them disobedient. Shah Ahmed Shafi said this while addressing a gathering at Darul-Ulum Moinul Islam Madrasa in Hathazari upazila (sub District) of Chattogram. Read less...

Jatiya Oikyafront Convener Dr Kamal Hossain on January 12 said that there has been a mistake in taking part in the December 30 national election with Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) contesting under the alliance banner, reports Daily Star. He also said they would put pressure on the BNP to sever its ties with JeI in order to keep the unity of the Oikyafront intact and strong. Read less...

Jatiya Oikyafront Convener Dr Kamal Hossain on January 13 appreciated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's decision to hold fresh talks with political parties, saying it was a positive step, reports Daily Star.Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said Hasina would hold fresh dialogue with the political parties that joined talks at the Gono Bhaban before the December 30 election.“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had invited all the political parties, including BNP, Jatiya Oikyafront and Jukto Front, for dialogues before the polls…she will invite them again for exchanging views with them. The dialogues will be held at the Gono Bhaban,” he said. Read less...

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina on January 13 said she wanted to sit with all the political parties who were invited to the Gono Bhaban for pre-polls dialogues, reports Daily Star.The PM said she wanted to meet the parties as she sought to run the country in consultation with all, said meeting sources. “I will invite them some day and take recommendations from them,” an AL central leader quoted her as saying. PM Sheikh Hasina also urged the BNP MPs-elect to join parliament for the sake of democracy and to utilise the opportunity for their “return to constructive politics”. Read less...

The Government on January 13 announced a revised pay structure for the garment sector, with a slight increase in both basic and gross wages in six of the seven grades, reports Daily Star.The meeting of the 20-member committee, which has representation of workers, owners as well as the government, approved wage increase in grade 1-6.Government announcement comes after eight days of labour unrest andfollowing directives from the Prime Minister. Amirul Haque Amin, president of the National Garment Workers Federation, said, “We welcome the revision and the new wage structure.”He was speaking on behalf of the trade union leaders who are on the tripartite committee. Read less...

The Counter Terrorism (CT) unit of Chattogram Metropolitan Police claimed to have arrested a Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT) militant, Fahad Bin Solaiman (18), in Chawakbazar area the city on January 14, reports Daily Star. Read less...

Counterterrorism Police on January 15, arrested an Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) militant for “directly taking part” in the murders of (LGBT) magazine editor Xulhaz Mannan and his friend in 2016, reports Daily Star. Asadullah alias Fakrul alias Faisal (25), was one of the two ABT men who stabbed and obstructed the security guard of Xulhaz's home in Dhaka's Kalabagan area for letting the three others to hack the duo to death in a flat, Police said. Asadullah was arrested from a house in Gazipur's Tongi area. Read less...

Hizb ut-Tahrir is campaigning secretly in Chattogram city, targeting private university students to recruit fresh operatives, said officials of Counter Terrorism (CT) unit of Chattogram Metropolitan Police, reports Daily Star. To strengthen the outfit's organisational activities, its leaders and operatives are working in several groups and picking new members who have good academic and family backgrounds, the officials said. As part of its strategy, the HuT men are regularly holding meetings and carrying out other organisational activities in different parts of the city. They have chosen busy intersections and playgrounds for their regular meetings to dodge the eyes of law enforcement agencies. Read less...

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina's Political Affairs Advisor HT Imam said the PM would invite all political parties for “talks”, just a day after Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said Hasina would invite the parties to “exchange post-election greetings”, reports Daily Star on January 16. Read less...

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia failed to appear before court during the hearing of Gatco graft case as she developed a boil on her leg on January 16, reports Daily Star. Judge Abu Syed Diljar Hossain of the Special Judge Court-3 of Dhaka set the next hearing date on January 24. Read less...

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, on January 16, advocated for strengthening the unity between Jatiya Oikya Front and the 20-party Alliance further to defeat the current regime, giving a hint at not leaving Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) as per Gono Forum's desire, reports Dhaka Tribune.Speaking at the National Press Club, Secretary General, Alamgir, stated, "I would like to say it clearly that there is no alternative to unity, no matter who thinks what... BNP has created a bridge between the Jatiya Oikya Front and the 20-party Alliance for the cause of a historical necessity. It is still necessary to maintain, and we think now a greater unity is essential." He further said, "We do not accept the election. As political parties, it is our duty to consciously cement the national unity, and remain alert so that frustration does not grow among us."On January 12, Gono Forum President Kamal Hossain said it was a mistake of his party to join the 11th National Election, held on December 30, 2018, with JeI under the banner of Jatiya Oikya Front, which he leads.He also said that they would mount pressure on BNP to drop JeI from its coalition to keep the Jatiya Oikya Frontintact and make it stronger. Read less...

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) K M Nurul Huda, on January 16, rejected the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) report on irregularities in the 11th parliamentary polls, terming the report “baseless”, reports Daily Star. The TIB in its study titled “Review of Election Process of 11th National Election” released on January 15, said that irregularities took place in 47 out of the 50 constituencies it surveyed.TIB study claimed that ballot papers stamping took place the night before the election in 33 constituencies, stamping ballots openly after occupying booths in 30 seats on the Election Day and non-availability of ballot papers in 22 constituencies. The study found ballot boxes filled-up before polling even began in 20 constituencies; voters forced to cast ballots for a particular symbol in 26 constituencies, casting of fake votes in 41 seats, silence of the administration and law enforcing agencies in 42 seats and obstructing and driving out polling agents in 29 seats. In the 50 constituencies, not all the polling centres necessarily saw the anomalies. Irregularities happened in one or more centres of a seat. Read less...

Four more prosecution witnesses gave their statements before an Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal in connection with the Holey Artisan attack (July 1, 2016) case on January 16, reports Daily Star. The witnesses are Sanjoy Barua, an electrician of the café; Mohammad Hossain, a security guard; Mohammad Lelin Mollah, an employee of the café; and Tarun Gomez, manager of a building adjacent to Holey Artisan Bakery. Judge Majibur Rahman of Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal recorded their statements. Afterwards, defense counsel for the accused cross-examined the witnesses on different points. Terrorists attacked the Holy Artisan Bakery in Gulshan's diplomatic zone of Dhaka city and killed 20 people. Read less...

A Sylhet court on January 17 placed three suspected militants, Jahurul Haque, his wife Arjina Begum and Hasan, on five-day remand each in a case filed in connection with the five-day anti-militant drive at Atia Mahal in Shibbari area of Sylhet city, reports Daily Star. The anti-militancy drive codenamed “Operation Twilight” went on from January 24 to January 28, 2017, and resulted in the death of four suspected militants and seven other people. Read less...

Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), intelligence wing of militant group Ansar-al-Islam, militants had opened several Facebook accounts to gather information on Xulhaz Mannan, who founded Roopban, before killing him, reports Dhaka Tribune on January 18. Police investigation into the murder of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, Queer (LGTBQ) activist Xulhaz Mannan has revealed that his murderers from Ansar-al-Islam, a banned militant group, were stalking him on a pro-LGBTQ Facebook group and rallies. Roopban is Bangladesh's first and only LGBTQ magazine. A unnamed source from Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit confided to the newspaper that Asadullah, one of the prime suspects arrested for his involvement in Xulhaz's murder, have reveled these details. Read less...

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit recovered a huge cache of firearms, ammunition and explosives during a raid from a militant hideout in DOHS Baridhara area of Dhaka city on January 17, reports Dhaka Tribune. CTTC units recovered two automatic handguns with 11 bullets, two shotguns with two shells, seven jihadi books, cash worth BDT 300,000 and Fake Bangladeshi Currency Notes. Read less...

Awami League (AL) General Secretary, Obaidul Quader, on January 18, said that Jatiya Oikyafront, the opposition alliance, cannot last as ties between communal and non-communal forces cannot continue, report Daily Star. “Elements of split are there [within the Oikyafront], so it cannot exist,” he said, adding, “We spotted the splitting factors in the Oikyafront from the beginning.” Further, Obaidul Quader in his reply to a question whether the ruling party would take any step to bring the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)in the upcoming upazila (sub-District) election to be held in March, said, “We didn't call the BNP to participate in the parliamentary election. We will not ask them to join the upazila parishad polls.” Read less...

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) operative, Mamunur Rashid alias Ripon, (30), from Gazipur District on January 19, reports Daily Star. Ripon is one of the main accused in the Holy Artisan café attack case. Four sketches of maps, a diary and Bangladesh Taka worth 147,000 were also recovered from his possession. Following the arrest of the militant, JMB), RAB officials revealed that the militant formation was planning a Trishal-like prison van ambush to snatch the inmates accused in the Holy Artisan café attack case. On February 23, 2014, JMB militants took away three of their comrades at Trishal Upazila as they were being transported in a prison van from Kashimpur jail to a court in Mymensingh District. Read less...

A group of persons set ablaze three houses and cut down 400 betel leaf plants allegedly to grab land belonging to ethnic Khasi community in Nalikhai punjeei area in the District on January 20, reports Daily Star. Khasi people filed a case with Barlekha Police Station in the district against 10 persons. Read less...

Detective Branch (south division) of Police arrested ‘patron’ of Jama'atul Muslimeen, Rizwan Haroon, from Dhanmondi area of the City on January 20, reports Daily Star. The suspect is also the former owner of Lakehead Grammar School. A press release issued by Dhaka Metropolitan Police stated that the Government had blacklisted Jama'atul Muslimeen soon after its activities came to the notice of law enforcers in 2005. Jama'atul Muslimeen is the first organisation in Bangladesh that followed the ideology of Al-Qaeda, the press release said. Dhaka Tribune adds that Jama'atul Muslimeen created a network in English medium schools to build up a reservoir of potential recruits. Rizwan purchased the school in 2006. According to the Police, Rizwan Haroon sold the Lakehead Grammar School to Khaled Hasan Motin, another suspected militant in 2017 and went into hiding. Read less...

Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Jasim on January 20 issued an arrest warrant against Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia, in a case filed over making derogatory remark on the Awami League in 2014, reports Daily Star. The order is based on the probe report submitted by Shahbagh Police Station on June 30 2018. Magistrate Mohammad Jasim directed Gulshan Police Station to execute the warrant and submit a report before it by February 18. Read less...

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on January 20 said that India should not worry about the China-led One Belt One Road (OBOR); rather it can join the initiative for the economic benefit of all countries, reports Daily Star on January 23. "Being such a big country and big economy, India should not worry about it [OBOR]. Rather, they can also join so that all the countries can benefit economically," she said in an interview with Indian news channel CNN-News18. "The world has become a global village. For economic development, you need connectivity. It is very, very important," PM Sheikh Hasina added. Read less...

Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) detained a family of six Rohingyas, including three children, from Kadamtali Bus Terminal area in Sylhet city on January 20, reports Daily Star. Zedan Al Musa, additional deputy commissioner (media) of SMP, said the detained Rohingyas entered Bangladesh from India through Zakiganj border. They were sent to the Kutupalong refugee camp in Cox's Bazar under Police escort on January 21. Read less...

The High Court on January 21 granted six-month bail to former Inspectors General of Police (IGP) Ashraful Huda and Shahudul Haque, who were convicted in a case filed over 21 August grenade attack, reports Prothom Alo. Read less...

A Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court on January 22 directed Counter Terrorism & Transnational Crime (CTTC) Unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police to submit by February 18 the probe report of the case filed over the murders of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) magazine editor Xulhaz Mannan and his friend Mahbub Rabby Tonoy in 2016, reports Daily Star. The investigating agency has so far taken 20 dates for submitting the probe report to the court. Xulhaz Mannan and Mahbub Rabby Tonoy were killed by suspected Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) militants. Read less...

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on January 22, said regional connectivity will be a major instrument in promoting economic development in the South Asian region, and the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) initiative for motor vehicle movement can play crucial role in enhancing trade and commerce among the four countries, reports Daily Star. Momen stated, “We have made substantial progress in cross-border energy cooperation with India and it helps us address the problem of energy deficiency". Read less...

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) detained a suspected operative of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Monirul Islam (35), from Shibnarayanpur village in Shibganj upazila (Sub-District) on January 22, reports Daily Star. The RAB members seized some leaflets and books on jihad and detained Monirul from his house. Read less...

Asadullah, a militant of Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), on January 24, confessed his involvement in the murders of United States Agency for Agency for International Development (USAID) staffer and Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) activist Xulhaz Mannan, and his friend in 2016, reports Daily Star. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Mainul Islam recorded the confessional statement of Asadullah for over three hours at his chamber. Read less...

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-14) arrested four militants of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Siam Al Mahmud, (19), Nasreen Akhteralias Joaira, (21), Md Shaheen Islam alias Mahbub Islam, (22) and Md Shakhawat Karim, (36), from Biddyaganj Railway Station in Mymensingh Sadar upazila. RAB recovered seven jihadi books from their possession. Read less...

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) militant, Shariful Islam alias Khaled, (27), in the 2016 Holey Artisan bakery attack case, from Haripur area in Nachole upazila (sub-district) on January 25 reports Daily Star. Khaled, a charge-sheeted accused in the case, took part in a meeting of top JMB leaders in Gaibandha in February 2016 when the attack was planned, law enforcers dealing with militancy said. Khaled is also involved in the killing of Prof A. F. M. Rezaul Karim Siddique, a teacher of Rajshahi University’s English department, on April 23, 2016. Read less...

The arrested JMB militant Shariful Islam alias Khaled, sent Bangladeshi Taka worth 39 milion to JMB leader Sarwar Jahan to fund the café attack, reports Daily Star on January 27. “The money came from the Middle East,” Mufti Mahmud Khan, Director (legal and media) of RAB, said at a press briefing at the RAB Media Centre in Dhaka on January 26. Read less...

United States President Donald Trump has wished Sheikh Hasina a successful third term as Bangladesh's Prime Minister, reports Daily Star on January 26. In a letter, he also said, “On behalf of the American people, I commend tens of millions of Bangladeshis who voted, demonstrating their democratic aspirations for the country.” Read less...

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested two suspected militants, Islam (30) and Shahnewaz Islam (26), of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in separate raids in Rangpur city, reports Daily Star. RAB recovered jihadi books and leaflets from their possession. Read less...

Gonoforum party still sticks to its decision of not joining even as two Member of Parliament (MP-elect), Sultan Mohammad Mansur and Mokabbir Khan, have expressed willingness to join the newly elected Jatiya Sangsad (parliament), reports Daily Star on January 29. “The Gonoforum decided not to join parliament. The decision of its lawmakers' about not joining the House is still valid,” party's General Secretary Mostafa Mohsin Montu said in a press statement on January 28. Gonoforum is a part of Jatiya Oikyafront, an alliance of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and some other parties, announced that its MPs-elect would not take oath. Read less...

Jashore Kotwali Police arrested six Rohingyas, including three children, from Monihar area in Jashore town of Jashore District on January 28, reports Daily Star. The arrestees are Farid Alam, (30), his wife Sahara Banu (20), son Raihan (3), daughters Rubina (3) and Monsha (7) and Rehana Akhter, (22), wife of Anisur Rahman, all residents of Shahbazpur area of Mandaltola in Rakhine of Myanmar. Farid Alam said they were in Hyderabad city in India, and left it seven days ago. They came to Jashore through Benapole border to go illegally to the Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar, he added. Read less...

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) detained five suspected members of an international drug smuggling gang from the Kaula area of the capital city on January 28, reports Daily Star. The detainees were identified as Fatema Imam Tania (26), Afsana Mimi (23), Salma Sultana (26), Sheikh Mohammad Badhon alias Parvez (28) and Ruhul Amin alias Saimon (29). Yaba pills (a stimulant comprising a mix of methamphetamine and caffeine), Foreign Currencies and passports were seized from them. “The gang operated in multiple countries and has networks in Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Malaysia and Sri Lanka,” Mufti Mahmud Khan, RAB's Legal and Media Wing Director, stated on January 29. The five arrested are linked to a massive haul of drugs in Sri Lanka on December 31, 2018, when Sri Lankan Police seized 272 kilograms of heroin and five kilograms of cocaine during a special operation at a housing complex in Templers Road at Mount Lavinia suburb in the capital city of Colombo. Read less...

On January 31, Bangladesh has informed the United States that they plan to relocate around 100,000 Rohingyas to Bhashan Char, an island in Noakhali District, reports Dhaka Tribune. Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen shared this with US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller when the envoy met the Minister. The Minister also added that pressure needs to be applied on Myanmar so that the latter creates a favourable environment in Rakhine State in order for the Rohingyas to return home. Read less...