Tale Of Ala-huzur, An Aide To Bangla Bhai

<i>Smuggler turns top JMB leader </i>

5 May 2009, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent, Khulna

Ala-huzur, Khulna division 'in-charge' and planner of banned militant organisation JMB, after his arrest recently.Photo: STAR

Alauddin alias Ala-huzur, involved in smuggling from 1990 to 1995 on Kushkhali border under Satkhira Sadar upazila, later became an organiser and planner of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in south-western region. Detective Branch of police picked up Alauddin on April 13 from his house at Kushkhali village under Satkhira Sadar upazila. Alauddin, who read up to class eight in Satani High School under Satkhira Sadar upazila, fled to 24 Parganas district of West Bengal after killing a man from Punjab during the Liberation War, locals said. After the independence of Bangladesh, he spent a long time in India, marrying a woman of Balti village under Swarupnagar Police Station in 24 Parganas district, said Abdus Saltar, a freedom fighter and former army member hailing from Taluigachha village under Satkhira Sadar upazila. Alauddin joined the militancy after coming in contact with JMB kingpin Shaikh Abdur Rahman and second-in-command Siddiqul Islam Bangla Bhai in Satkhira around 1997 and gradually became a most trustworthy operative of JMB. In the guise of imam he served at Kushkhali mosque and then Taluigachha mosque. During khutba of Jum'a prayers, Alauddin would call upon Musallis to join jihad against persecution of Muslims in Pakistan, America, Iraq and Afghanistan. Alauddin was the planner for bomb attacks at five spots in Satkhira town and several places in a few districts of south-western region, sources said, adding that he had several secret meetings with Shaikh Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai at his house before August 17 serial bomb blasts. On August 18, a day after the countrywide serial bomb blasts in 2005, police raided the house of Alauddin, who used to train JMB members at dead of night, said Nur Islam, Mominur Rahman and Sharif Hossain of Kushkhali village. The JMB leader then fled to India and stayed there shaving off his beard. Alauddin's wife Mashtuara, son Isarul Islam and daughters Shefali and Rizia denied Alauddin's involvement with JMB.