2 women Hijbut activists held in Patuakhali
Jihadi books, CDs seized
Two women activists of Hijbut Tauhid were sent to jail after police produced them before a court following their arrest with books, CDs and leaflets.
The arrestees are Jeunnahar alias Poli, 28, an assistant teacher of Kalikapur Saleha Khatun Girls High School in Mirzaganj upazila, and her sister Meherunnesa Mili, 39.
At about 11:00am Poly and Mili went to Muncefpara in Patuakhali town to distribute books named 'Dazzal Christian Ehudi Sabhyata' written by Mohammad Bayezid Khan Ponni, police and locals said.
As they entered the house of Shahidul Islam and tried to give them the books and CDs, the inmates informed Patuakhali Police Station. Then police rushed to the spot and arrested them.
Family sources said both Poli and Mili were divorced by their husbands for their alleged involvement with militancy.
Police sent them to the local court under Section 54 then the court sent them to jail.
On January 19 this year, a Daily Star report titled 'Militants preaching jihad in Patuakhali' said Islamist militants were organising again in Patuakhali under the banner of Hizbut Tauhid, an Islamist organisation that is still operating legally in the country while propagating jihad through distributing books and leaflets among villagers including school children.
Two months ago, local police arrested Habibur Rahman of Patuakhali and four others from Chandpur when they were distributing jihadi books and leaflets, locals said.
During April 4 to 7 last year, over 1,500 people including about 700 women activists of Hizbut Touhid took part in a four-day training course on militancy on board a launch under the guise of a boat journey from Dhaha to Kuakata, said a participant in the course.
"Male participants took training in bomb making and other weapons operation separately while women participants took training in recruiting techniques," she said adding, "Party leaders prefer women members as they can easily motivate the local people, especially the local women."
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