Most Ahab members in Satkhira hiding

Most of the teachers and students of about 40 madrassahs in Satkhira, a stronghold of Ahab, have left their institutions and are hiding to avoid arrest. The institutions are virtually closed, police said.

Dr Galib was behind setting up of the madrassahs, it was gathered.

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Earlier, on February 21, members Satkhira Ahab had brought out a big motorcycle rally and held a press conference in the town protesting "distorted" news published in different national dailies about their Amir.

These newspapers published news against Islam they said and urged the government to take action against those.

Dr Asadullah-Al Galib, son of Manlana Ahmad Ali, hails from Bularati village in Satkhira Sadar upazila.

He passed 'Fazel' from Kakdanga Able Hadith Madrasha and MA in Arabie from Dhaka University in 1979. He joined as Lecturer in Arabic Department at Rajshahi University (RU) in 1980 with the blessings of Dr Abul Bari, the then Vice Chancellor of RU and president of the Ahle Hadith Andolon.

After some years Galib had difference of opinion with Dr. Bari and formed Ahle Hadith Juba Sangha (youth organisation).

He set up several madrassahs and mosques with financial assistance from Islamist groups abroad.

Many of his followers went to Pakistan and Afghanistan to join Talibans, sources said.

The Al-Salafi Madrasha at Bakal, established by Galib's near his village, was used as a centre for "training" students, sources said.