Trial of five JMB men begins in Patuakhali

In Gaibandha, all the 26 JMB suspects were released on bail.

Our Patuakhali Correspondent reported that the five JMB men facing trial are Al-Amin alias Abdullah, Mostafa Hasan, Masum Billah, Abu Zafor and Asadul Islam. They are from different villages in Barguna Sadar upazila. Asadul Islam is being tried in absentia, court sources said.

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Charged were framed against the five accused under Sections 3 and 6 of the Explosives Act on March 30.

The JMB activists allegedly blasted seven bombs in different places in Patuakhali town on August 17 last year.

Police arrested their ringleader Al-Amin from Kathaltali village in Mirzagonj upazila in December.

Acting on his confession, police later arrested tree others from their village homes.

Our Gaibandha Correspondent reported that a magistrate court there released 26 suspected militants of outlawed JMB on bail yesterday.

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested the 26 in a raid on the house of one Habibur Rahman at Dhangharah village in Gaibandha Sadar upazila on March 1.

Police had earlier said that during primary interrogation, the arrestees had admitted that they are supporters of Allar Dal, a militant group.

But during interrogation on remand, police could not find any proof of their link with JMB, the militant organisation responsible for doing violence in the name of religion.

Twenty-four of the arrestees hail from Gaibandha and one each from Bogra and Thakurgaon, police said.