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10 citizens get 'Ansarullah death threats'
[Dhaka Tribune] A radical Islamist group, believed to be Ansarullah Bangla Team, has threatened to kill 10 eminent citizens of the country including ruling party leaders, academicians and secular activists terming them atheists and anti-Islam.

Copies of the same computer-composed letter, that had the names of the recipients and a warning message from "Alkaida A-Bangla Team:13," were sent to the persons' home addresses on Wednesday. The registered letters were sent by post.

The warning reads: "Must you will prepare for dead."

The names include Prime Minister's Adviser HT Imam, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique, Awami League politician Tarana Halim, DU Jagannath Hall Provost Ashim Sarker, Gonojagoron Moncho Spokesperson Imran H Sarker, DU teacher Kaberi Gayen, writers Bikash Saha, Paltan Sutradhar and Md Iqbalur Rahim, and Shahjalal University teacher Prof Muhammed Zafar Iqbal.

In the letter, the names were mentioned chronologically as "H.T Imam (Anti Islam.Advisor), Dr.Arifin Siddik (I.Dusmon. VC, or enemy of Islam), Tarana halim (Nastic or atheist), Ashim sarkar (Hindu moulobad or radical), Imran H sarkar (bloger), Kaberi gain (I, enemyDU), Bikash saha (I.Dusmon), slam Enemy), Md.Iqbalur Rahim (I.enemy), Paltan Sutar (Anti Bang.Raw.Adv) and Md.Zafor Iqbal (se.lar)."

State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said the government would ensure security for the listed persons. Detectives observe that through the letter, the bandidos bandidos krazed killers are trying to publicise their organization.

Police recently requested the Home Ministry to impose ban on radical Islamist group Ansarullah, believed to be involved in the killing of at least seven secular activists and bloggers since 2013. It grabbed credit for the murders in Twitter.

Detectives think Ansarullah might have link with international terrorist group Al-Qaeda. In recent video posts, the Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent grabbed credit for the murder of several secular activists including Avijit Roy.

Ansarullah chief Jasim Uddin Rahmani (now in jail) in his sermons, available on the Internet, admitted to his link to Al-Qaeda and Taliban. He also supported Jamaat-e-Islami
...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores...
 and Hefajat-e-Islam
...a madrassa-based false nose and mustache of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, formed in 2010 to protest against secular education. In 2011 demonstrated violentyly against women's rights and in 2013 held large rallies demanding capital punishment of Shahbag Square protesters and banning women working outside the home...
 saying that the two organizations are working to establish Islam in Bangladesh. He also professed to kill atheists.

Jasim and seven of his followers are now facing trial for the killing of war crimes trial campaigner and blogger Ahmed Rajeeb Haider on February 15, 2013.

When contacted, Arefin Siddique said: "I received the letter on Wednesday morning. The letter contains a list of several noted personalities, targeted by the members of an bad boy group. We are not afraid after the threat. The senders must be identified and brought under trial."

Jagannath Hall Provost Ashim said: "I got the letter around noon on Wednesday. I am passing my days in fear as my name is mentioned in number four of the list circled with red ink."

He filed a general diary with Shahbagh police yesterday, OC Abu Bakkar Siddique confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune.

DU Proctor Amzad Ali said: "The GD was filed on behalf of the university authorities as some of our teachers received death threats through identical letters."

According to media reports, Ansarullah and other radical Islamist groups targeted secular activists based on a list of "84 atheist bloggers" -- given to a government committee, probing anti-Islamic activities, on March 31, 2013. Of them, nine persons have been killed.

The junior home minister yesterday said there was something mysterious behind the killing of bloggers and the letters.

After attending a programme in the city, Asaduzzaman said these incidents might not be linked. "The people who killed bloggers may have different kind of thoughts. All these 10 persons are not bloggers..." He hoped that the mystery would be unearthed through investigation. "We will take steps to ensure their security."

Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of the Detective Branch of police, said they were evaluating security measures of the listed persons.

Also the spokesperson of the DMP, Monirul said: "It can be a publicity move for such a new organization [Ansarullah]."

He doubts Ansarullah has the capacity to carry out such attacks. "But we are not taking the issue lightly."
Posted by: Fred 2015-05-23
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=418518