Militants still use 14 mosques and 8 madrasas in Jhenidah

Activists of Harkat-ul-Jihad (HuJi) and Allahr Dal, an alleged offshoot of JMB (Jama'atul Mujahedin Bangladesh), are still active, taking advantage of lax vigilance by law enforcers, the sources claimed.

"We have enough information that mosques and madrasas are being used by militant groups. But as the government does not give green signal, police can not nab the militants," a source declining to be named told this correspondent.

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A large number of activists of HuJi and JMB are active from different mosques and madrassa complexes in Chaklapara, Chhoto-Kamarkundu, Upashaharpara, Kanchanpur, Pabahati, Hamdah, Adarshapara, Boro-Kamarkundu and Baparipara in Jhenidha municipal area, it was gathered during this correspondent's recent visit.

The militants have also strongholds in Balidapara Quami Madrasa in Kaliganj upazila; Bhabanipur Madrasa in Harina-kundu; Modhupur, Bharuapara and Kangsha villages in Sadar upazila and Borodah, Garaganj, Kashimpur and Bakshipur in Shailakupa upazila, intelligence sources said.

Although 45 suspected militants have been listed by police, they so far arrested 15 including HuJi 'top trainer' Abul Kalam Azad alias Bulbul. Top five militant cadres who recruited and trained militants are yet to be netted by police.

Talking to The Daily Star, Jhenidah Police Superintendent Akram Hossain denied the allegation of lax vigilance. Fifteen suspected militants including HuJi trainer Bulbul have already been arrested and police hunt is on to nab the rest five top militants, he said.

Although Bulbul, son of Ator Ali of Bajukhali village in Shailakupa upazila, was arrested from near Borodah Dakhil Madrasa in the upazila on November 18, one of the two chiefs of Allahr Dall and alleged kingpin of August 17 blasts in Jhenidah Matin Mehedi alias Matinul is yet to be nabbed.

Matin Mehedi, son of Enamul Huq hailing from Bridge Road in Gaibandha town, was arrested earlier by Jhenidah police on October 20 in 2003 along with 10 other suspected militants during a training but were released on bail.

Meantime, security has been tightened in Harinakundu and Kaliganj upazila headquarters as JMB operatives in separate letters threatened to blow up Harina-kundu police station and Kaliganj Upazila Parishad office, local police station and cinema halls.

In the letter sent to the Officer-in-Charge (OC) Harinakunda thana Shafiqul Islam on December 8, the militants threatened to blow up the police station if they continue to harass its cadres. After getting the letter, OC filed a general diary.

In the hand-written letter sent by post to the Kaliganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Moazzem Hossain on November 29, JMB operatives asked him to stop all 'anti-Islamic' activities. Otherwise the establishments including the UNO office will be blown up, the letter said. This created panic among policemen and other officials.

SP in Jhenidah however said that police were never afraid of any threat. Police at six police station and 34 outposts have been asked to be more cautious only, he said.

Talking to this correspondent, UNO Moazzem Hossain also said he is not scared. Security has been tightened in the upazila headquarters and officials have been suggested to be careful in their movement, he said.