Another top aide to the Islamist militant Siddqul Islam 'Bangla Bhai', this time Bagmara upazila chief advisor to Jagrata Muslim Janata, Bangladesh (JMJB), was arrested yesterday by the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in a raid at Shikdari Bazar in Bagmara.After the August 17 serial bomb blasts last year, Abdus Sattar Master's name along with Prof Lutfar, Mahtab Khamaru and Abul Member were included in the list of 300 suspects compiled by the law enforcing agencies; but later, the names of the ones mentioned above were erased from the list following directives from the home ministry.
Sattar Master was one of the masterminds of JMJB killing missions in 2004 as well. In the last week of June, 2004, five JMJB men led by Sattar Master abducted Yasin, son of Ismail, hung him from a tree near Kodapara madrasa and beat him to death.
Lieutenant Colonel Quazi Shamsuzzaman Khan, commander of Rajshahi Rab unit, confirmed Sattar Master's arrest and said he is a close associate of 'Bangla Bhai' and has been regrouping the outlawed Jama'atul Mujahideen, Bangladesh (JMB) militants on the run.
Rab members also apprehended several other JMB activists from Hamirkutsa, Sakoa, Goalkandi, Udpara, Polashi and Khatalbaria while Sattar Master's brother, another suspect, managed to flee.