35 'most-wanted' JMB men still at large in 4 N dists

Police worried as Pahela Baishakh approaches

6 April 2009, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Nilphamari

Thirty-five out of 50 'most-wanted' activists of banned Jama'atul Mujaheedin Bangladesh (JMB) are still active in four northern districts as police so far could arrest only 15 of them in the last four months. The absconding militants have now become a major cause of concern for police as they fear subversive attempts on the eve of Pahela Baishakh, the Bangla New Year Day. Police, however, claim that they have intensified their drives to hunt down the militants. Police said they foiled JMB attempt to create a chaotic situation and panic prior to the Jatiya Sangsad election on December 29 last year. They also seized some compact discs (CDs) and leaflets from a courier service office in Jaldhaka in the same month. Those CDs and leaflets contained speeches of Osama Bin Laden and executed JMB leaders Shaikh Abdur Rahman and Siddukul Islam Bangla Bhai. The law enforcers thus came to know about a vast network run by 50 JMB militants and launched massive drives from December 3 to net them. "The drives are still on," said a top police official. Police raided different parts of Nilphamari, Rangpur, Dinajpur and Lalmonirhat and arrested only 15 of the most wanted JMB members in the last four months. They recovered from their possession many 'Jihadi' books, important notebooks and documents on making and using firearms and bombs. Sources said the remaining 35 JMB members have now chosen inaccessible Teesta shoals making those safe abodes for shelter and training. The 15 arrested hard core JMB activists are Noor-e-Alam,22, of Shoalmari Munshi Para village of Jaldhaka, Mamunur Rashid,35, of Shaolmari Munshi Para village of Jaldhaka, Didar Rahman,53, of Shoalmari Dewani Para of Jaldhaka, Majedul Islam Labu,32, of Shoalmari Ansarer Haat of Jaldhaka, Afiar Rahman,22, of Jaldhaka municipality, Hasenur Rahman,21, of Bogulagari Sarkar Para of Jaldhaka, Guljar Hossain Nahid,22, of Dakshin Kharibari of Dimla upazila, Hafizul Islam, 28, of Dakshin Tit Para of Dimla, Abul Kalam, 19, of Chhatnai Bangla Para of Dimla, Abdul Baki, 25, of Patgram of Lalmonirhat district. Mostafa,28, of Mezakort village of Lalmonirhat, Shahjahan Ali, 40, of Jot Joy Ram village of Dinajpur district, Abdul Kuddus Khan Salafi,48, of Protab Joy Sen village of Rangpur district, Moshiar Rahman,40, of Purba Khutamara village of Jaldhaka and Moawar Hossain, 37, of Shoalmari Alsiya Para village of Jaldhaka. Of the arrested, 11were rounded up from Nilphamari, two from Lalmonirhat, one from Rangpur and another from Dinajpur. "The absconding 35 JMB members have become a major cause of concern for police. Like at Pahela Baishak celebration in Dhaka, a few years ago, these fugitive militants may launch similar attack on this year's Pahela Baishakh function in the capital," said a top police official. Three special teams of police have already launched a massive haunt to nab them, he said. “We take special measures not only for Pahela Baishakh celebration but also for other important events," said Rashidul Haque, acting SP of Nilphamari.