Manhunt in Bagerhat for 3 Bangla Bhai cadres

The three cadres are Hekmat Molla, 55, of Gaola village in Mollahat upazila in Bagerhat and his two sons Abdul Matin Molla, 35 and Shariful Islam, 19.

They are fleeing since launch of the countrywide hunt for Bangla Bhai.

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According to police, JMJB leader Siddiqur Rahman had made an abortive bid to kill Tarapada Poddar, a leader of Hindu community on August 17, 2002.

Tarapada Poddar, 60, his son Tapan Poddar, 28 and daughter Pravati Poddar, 19, were injured severely when they came under armed attack by Bangla Bhai cadres in their house at Gaola village.

Police had arrested Bangla Bhai Siddiqur Rahman, 45, and his cadres Hekmat Molla, Matin Molla and Shariful Islam on August 17 midnight in 2002 from Gaola village and recovered from their possession a blood-stained sword, a dagger, two khaki shirts and half pants, three belts used by army, one bomb, seven black masks, a pair of boots, a blood-stained lungi and a cell phone.

Police also recovered a book containing 18 tactics of 'commands operations' and how to make bombs.

The arrestees including Bangla Bhai had told interrogators that they belonged to Jamaatul Mujahedin, which aimed at establishing an Islamic state.

They also admitted to police that their main base was in Rajshahi district and there was a training centre in Khulna city.

Meanwhile, Rajshahi police on Friday night arrested three persons identified as Abdullah Al Asad, Monirul Alam and Hedayetullah from jessore. Asad and Monirul are cadres of Jamaatul Mujahidin, and Headyutuallah of JMJB, Jessore Police said quoting Rajshahi police. They were taken to Rajshahi Saturday morning.