Drive in Khulna to flush JMB cadres from hideouts

High level sources in Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) said jobless youths residing in slum areas, IWTA terminal ghat, railway platform and abandoned houses are under watch as it is very easy to hire them on payment to carry out subversive activities.

JMB cadre Shahidullah alias Lokman, now in Khulna district jail, said Mamun is one of the members of the suicide squads. Mamun is killer of two senior Assistant Judges of Jhalakati district. Shahidullah hailing from Mollahat upazila of Bagerhat and arrested in Dhaka on September 8 told police that Manun is operation commander of JMB squad in south western region.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

KMP Commissioner Khan Saeed Hasan has sent letters to leaders of all political parties requesting them not to hold any rally or bring out procession after dusk to help avoid lawlessness and subversive activities.

The letters were sent through special messengers on Tuesday last to leaders of BNP, Awami League, Jamaat-e-Islami and Jatiya Party.

When asked, police commissioner told The Daily Star that terrorists find it easy to flee after carrying out destructive mission after dusk. It is very easy for police to maintain law and order and ensure security of rallies and processions during day time, he said. We have no ill motive behind writing this letter to political leaders, he said.

When contacted, Khulna city AL President Talukder Abdul Khaleque MP termed such move by police commissioner as 'highly objectionable move.

"It is a conspiracy to suppress opposition movement. He has no right to write such letter to political leaders", he said.

Intelligence sources also said that, the Janajuddho faction of outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) have joined hands with the Islamist zealots in the destructive activities.

Together, they are taking preparation to implement their 'killing missions through gun and bomb attacks now'.

The sources also claimed that JMB suicide squad members are also in the south western region to carry out bomb attacks on important installations 'at opportune moments'.

The DIG of Khulna Range and the KMP Commissioner said law enforcers have been put on high alert after JMB last week threatened to blow up Khulna district jail where two of its cadres --Shahidullah alias Lokman and Mahbubur Rahman alies Palash -- have been lodged.

Unconfirmed sources said authorities of Khulna district jail received a hand-written letter last week, sent by post, threatening of bomb attack for freeing the two JMB cadres. But Jail Super Farhad Mia, when asked on Sunday, said he did not receive any letter from JMB.

He said security has been tightened in and outside the jail.

On Monday last, Janajuddho circulated leaflets in Jhenaidah threatening to take revenge against killing in crossfire incidents.

JMB also threatened to blow up important installations in the south-western region.

There are 62 police stations in the ten south-western districts and five in Khulna metropolitan city.

Apart from 4, 197 police camps and over 100 outposts, there are 791 permanent camps in the entire south western zone.

But the force is not adequate to face attacks by Islamist outfits of banned JMB and armed cadres of outlawed PBCP and ensure security ot over two crore people in the area, said a senior police officer at Khulna DIG office.