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| Bangladesh |
| Hizbut militants active in 4 Kishoreganj upazilas |
| 2007-06-05 |
| Detained 'district commander' (Zila Amir) of Hizbut Touhid, Md. Jashim Uddin, during interrogation disclosed that the militant organization is active in four upazilas in the district. Jashim was arrested on May 24 in Haibatnagar in Kishoreganj town and placed on five days' remand on May 27. He was produced before court again on May 31. The court sent him to jail. A day after the arrest, five cadres of Hizbut Touhid entered a magistrate's room at the officers' dormitory in Old Court Road area on May 25 and threatened him of 'dire consequences' if their leader Jashim was not released, it was learnt from official sources here yesterday. During interrogation on remand, Jashim said, Hizbut cadres including female ones are active in four upazilas of Kishoreganj district, investigation officer (IO) Sub Inspector Abul Kalam Azad of Kishoreganj Sadar police station told this correspondent. The four upazilas are Kishoreganj Sadar, Karimganj, Katiadi and Hossainpur. Jashim told interrogators that their main target of recruitment is poor and illiterate rural people. Strong Hizbut units are active at Koirail, Tarapasha, Hoibatnagar, Jashodal, Binnati and Maria unions of Kishoreganj Sadar upazila, according to SI Abul Kalam Azad. Jashim also disclosed names of three other upazila 'commanders' of the militant organization. They are Hanif, 28, in-charge of Hossainpur upazila; Golap Shah, in-charge of Katiadi upazila and Abid, 25, in-charge of Karimganj upazila. The police official said Abid is an ex-employee of Abul Khair Tobacco Company. Jasim told the interrogators that his party does not acknowledge the existing laws of the land. They want to establish 'rule of Allah' in Bangladesh. SI Mainuddin of Kishoreganj Sadar police station who arrested Jashim along with several books on Islami Jihad (revolution) said two women activists of the party-- Sheuly and Hashy--from Uttara in Dhaka spent the night at Jasim's residence before his arrest. Women activists from Dhaka used to visit different areas in Kishoreganj and held secret meetings to recruit women members and train them, said SI Mainuddiun, who is the complainant of the case filed against Jasim. Jashim disclosed that their spiritual leader is Bayzeed Khan Panni who is relative of former speaker of Jatiya Sangsad late Humayun Khan Panni. He said he received directive from Bayzeed over cell phone. Jashim was a teacher at a government primary school at Katiadi upazila. He was suspended after his arrest on September 8 last year for links with Islamist militants, police sources said. Jashim was granted bail after seven months, police sources said. Since then he resided at a rented house in Kishoreganj town and led a lavish life without any known source of income, the police officials said. Jashim hailed from Madyha Charipara village in Katiadi upazila in Kishoreganj. When contacted Kishoreganj Police Superintendent Lutfur Rahman Mondol said, police are trying to arrest all Hizbut activists and to destroy its network. |
| Posted by:Fred |