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Hamza Brigade kingpins keep eluding RAB
[Dhaka Tribune] It has been about two years since Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-7) cracked down on Shahid Hamza Brigade,
| ...a group no doubt of about seven people including Numbers One, Two, and Three... |
a holy warrior organization based in Chittagong,
| ...that mysterious, exotic, and terribly corrupt sink of villainy and vice... |
, but the two men they have identified as top leaders have so far eluded capture.
RAB says the men are Dubai citizen Allama Libdi and a Malaysian expatriate Bangladeshi who the captured Lions of Islam only know as "Boro Bhai" (big brother).
| They're furriners?! Chittagong must be more corrupt than we imagined, dear Reader. |
The information RAB has on these two are also scant, despite the fact that most of the organization is already behind bars, Sherlocks said.
| Yep, all five of them thus far. They only take up one jail cell in the local two cell jail, though to be fair the RAB doesn't traditionally hang on to their prisoners for very long. |
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, RAB-7’s Commanding Officer Lt Col Miftah Uddin Ahmed said: "After quizzing the tossed in the slammer
Please don't kill me!
Lions of Islam and financiers, RAB learned that Dubai citizen Libdi had come to Bangladesh several times and funded the organization to carry out holy warrior activities.
| Ah. He was a drop-in hobby investor taking care of his jihad support requirement more directly than most, not an actual Number One. Betcha that went over well at cocktail parties back home. |
"However,
ars longa, vita brevis...
the details regarding Libdi are yet to be known."
| They've got a name, which might even be a true one. Put it on the unwanted list at all airports. |
Lt Col Miftah said after learning of Libdi’s involvement with holy warrior funding, RAB went to immigration to look for his details but failed to get any information as they did not know his passport number.
| How many Dubai citizens named Libdi can have come regularly through the airports? |
"We have been trying to find out about Libdi by sharing our information with concerned authorities."
He said they had also learned about the involvement of a suspected Malaysian expatriate Bangladeshi.
He was code-named "Boro Bhai," Abdullah, Junayed and Mahmudullah and was funding and guiding the group.
| Another hobby investor. How many Malaysians can afford such a thing? |
However,
ars longa, vita brevis...
RAB believes the Hamza Brigade’s network has been destroyed as its top three organisers, key arms supplier and bombs expert are all under arrest.
Hamza Brigade took form in Chittagong in late 2013, gathering former Chhatra Shibir men, members of other holy warrior groups and former members of 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...
The elite force has so far arrested more than 33 persons including five alleged financiers of the brigade. A giant cache of firearms and ammunition including eight AK-22 rifles were also found in their possession.
| My goodness. That is a good deal bigger than anticipated. |
RAB busted the brigade’s indoctrination centre at a qawmi madrasa named Al Madrasatul Abu Bakar in Hathazari upazila on February 19, 2015 and arrested 12 holy warriors. Three days later RAB found a training centre in Lotmoni Pahar area of Banshkhali upazila.
| Both schools had the slogan "We're building for the future." |
Then RAB discovered another hideout of the group at a flat in the Halishahar residential area in Chittagong city where a large quantity of bomb making materials were found.
| Has the brigade been that busy, or are they supplying to the trade as well? |
Over the next two years RAB also caught five financiers, three of whom are lawyers and two readymade garment businessmen who allegedly funneled millions to the holy warrior organization.
| The responsibility to support jihad, if one does not take up the sword oneself, is one of the five pillars of Islam, as I recall. |
Posted by: Fred 2016-10-17 |
