After three near-simultaneous explosions rocked railway stations in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet on Tuesday, law enforcers now rethink seriously if it was a new phase of the rise of the militants who carried out the countrywide serial blasts on August 17, 2005.Duh... Lemme think, here...
The blasts that left a rickshaw-puller injured in Chittagong triggered a fresh panic among people. Police chief Nur Mohammad said although the incident was small-scale, they are looking into it seriously and all intelligence agencies are directed to find out the attackers. The bombs were detonated between 6:45am and 7:10am. The explosions raised security threats leading the law enforcers to set up several hundred check points in the capital and elsewhere.
The law enforcers had been apprehending retaliation from the banned Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) following the execution of its six members including five top leaders on March 29. However, Tuesday's blasts at the railway terminals created confusion about whether the JMB is behind the incidents or a new militant group has emerged as aluminium plates recovered from the blast sites bore inscriptions of "Zadid al Qaeda, Bangladesh" (meaning new al Qaeda or an establishment of al Queda).
Or it could be that the JMB his simply put on a false nose and moustache and continues doing business at the same old stand.
Police, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and other intelligence agencies are suspecting the attack was a militant one but they are yet to be sure about the identity of the group behind it. They also could not arrest anyone as of last evening. "We are investigating whether the third-fourth row leaders-activists of JMB have reorganised and orchestrated the bomb blasts or another new militant group is behind it," Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Naieem Ahmed said at a press briefing yesterday. He said the law enforcers were fully unaware of the name of Zadid al Qaeda, Bangladesh and its activities in the past. The law enforcers said they are verifying the mission of JMB and the Zadid al Qaeda to identify if JMB activists carried out the attack under a new identity.
Inspector! How do you do it?
The JMB mission was to establish the rule of Islamic law through Jihad and their targets included the court, NGOs, jatra (traditional theatre) and cinemas. Tuesday's attackers expressed their vengeance on the NGOs and Kadiyanis (Ahmadiyyas). The one-foot radius aluminium plates found near the scene bore a message inscribed on it: "The Kadiyanis and NGOs prepare for death. It is haram [prohibited] to work in NGOs and having relation with the Kadiyanis. All must quit NGO jobs by May 10, all Kadiyanis must recognise Prophet Muhammad (SM) as the last and best prophet and if you fail to do it before the aforesaid time, your death is a must." Below the message was inscribed: Zadid al Qaeda, Bangladesh.
Bet they had a skull and crossbones inscribed on 'em, too.
Rab Director General Hasan Mahmud Khandaker at the press briefing said they are investigating the matter seriously and are hopeful to find out those involved in the incident. "The incident took place when a stable situation was prevailing in the country. So, we are also taking into consideration whether the bombs were blasted to destabilise the situation."