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| Bangladesh |
| Probe focuses on Jamaat's JMB link |
| 2010-07-04 |
| [Bangla Daily Star] Police yesterday focused on Jamaat-e-Islami's alleged link with banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) as they interrogated detained Jamaat leaders Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojahid and Delwar Hossain Sayedee. Law-enforcement agencies learned about Jamaat's alleged link with JMB from detained chief of the outfit Saidur Rahman alias Zafar. Sources say Saidur told interrogators that there are at least 25 Jamaat-e-Islami Rokan [highest position in the party's primary level] members who are concurrently holding posts in JMB. Jamaat's Publicity Secretary Tasneem Alam straightaway denied the allegation. "We actually don't want to comment on this matter as the information gleaned in remand is not supposed to be made public," he told The Daily Star. In a press release, the party later claimed it does not have even the remotest link with the militants. Officer-in-Charge of Paltan police station Shahidul Haque yesterday said, "We questioned Mojahid and Sayedee whether their party has any connection with JMB, but they denied the allegation." A top police interrogator, however, said following their denial, they mentioned specific names of some Jamaat rokans who are also Gayeri Ehsar [part-time] and Ehsar [full-time] JMB members. "We wanted to know how a Jamaat member can be involved with a banned organisation when no-one in the party takes any decision without the high-ups' nod," said the official wishing anonymity. In reply, Mojahid said they have already ousted some members with such links, the interrogator continued. He added as they mentioned names of a number of Jamaat rokans from Lalmonirhat, Chapainawabganj, Nilphamari, Dinajpur and Gaibandha with JMB connection, the Jamaat duo seemed apparently confused and kept mum. Earlier on Thursday, police took Mojahid and Sayedee to the Detective Branch headquarters for questioning in a case filed with Paltan Police Station for violence, attacking law enforcers and obstructing their work in February. Jamaat Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami, Secretary General Mojahid and Nayeb-e-Ameer Sayedee were detained on June 29. They were remanded for 16 days the next day in connection with five cases. Nizami has yet to face quizzing. Police sources say he would be quizzed after interrogation of Mojahid and Sayedee in this case ends. Meanwhile, the two leaders will be produced before a Dhaka court today as their three-day remand in the case ended yesterday, police say. |
| Posted by:Fred |