Maulana Sheikh Abdus Salam, a founding member of Harkatul Jihad al Islami (Huji) and the ameer of Islamic Democratic Party (IDP), was taken on a four-day remand yesterday in connection with the bomb attack on a CPB rally on January 20 in 2001 that killed five people.He was arrested by the intelligence on Monday at his home in Bashundhara Residential area.
CID inspector Matiar Rahman produced him before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's court yesterday seeking remand for seven days and the court granted four days.
According to CID sources, six others were placed on remand this month in connection with blast at the CPB rally at Paltan Maidan.
Salam went to Afghanistan in the early 80s and returned in 1989. He studied in Kowmi madrasa in Bangladesh and also in Pakistan.
The government banned the organisation in October 2005 and the USA blacklisted it in June last year. IDP also applied to the Election Commission (EC) for registration in November 2008 but the EC rejected its application.
According to sources, two of Salam's party leaders, Maulana Abu Taher and Arif Hasan, are accused in a case filed in connection with the grenade attack on an Awami League (AL) rally on August 21, 2004. They are now in jail.
Two other Huji leaders Maulana Monir and Hafiz Idris, arrested for their involvement in various militant activities, have jumped bail.
Three Huji other leaders Maulana Sheikh Farid, Maulana Abdul Hai and Mufti Shafiqur Rahman are accused in the Ramna batamul blast case and are absconding.