 The government on Wednesday launched a crackdown against radical Islamists, banning two organisations for their alleged involvement in anarchic and subversive activities across the country, and arresting an alleged extremist leader. The Ministry of Home Affairs announced the ban on Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh and Jamaatul Mujaheedin hours after the police arrested a professor of Rajshahi University, Dr Asadullah al-Ghalib, for instigating violence in the name of Islam.
The police also conducted raids in different parts of the northern region to arrest Siddiqul Islam, popularly known as Bangla Bhai, who is the linchpin of the Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh. 'The government is firm to take action against anyone involved in destroying peace and discipline, and instigating anarchic activities in the name of any organisation,' said a press note issued Wednesday by the home ministry. 'The two banned organisations have been engaged in killing, dacoity, bomb attacks, issuing threats and other subversive activities in different parts of the country, endangering the lives of the common people and destroying their property,' the press note said.
| Wonder what they did to fall out of favor? |
The government's admission of the existence of radical Islamist outfits in the country comes at a time when quarters at home and abroad — the media in particular — have long been warning of their existence and motives.Foreign lenders and development partners have been the latest to express 'grave concern' over the emergence of Islamist outfits in Bangladesh. Sources in the ruling party said Wednesday's admission and action against radical Islamists came following mounting pressure from international lenders who are currently meeting in Washington DC to review their aid policy towards Bangladesh.
| Ahhh... That's it. Crack down or the money flow turns off. That means the crackdown won't last long... |
The government press note, however, mentioned as a reason for the ban order the recent attacks on socio-cultural and non-governmental organisations including the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee and the Grameen Bank in the northern part of the country. The Islamist outfits have continued to threaten such attacks. Following the latest bout of attacks, the government launched a countrywide police-drive and has nabbed as many as 50 alleged extremists in the last couple of days, including Wednesday's arrest of Ghalib, a professor of Arabic at Rajshahi University. Ghalib's arrest came following many of the arrested people naming him as their leader. The press note said Ghalib has been 'trying to create instability in the country exploiting religious sentiments and distracting a group of youths'. Expressing the government's commitment to handle 'these elements' with an iron hand, the press note said, 'Such activities will not be tolerated.'
| I'll believe that when he's dangling from a rope. |
Mentioning the recent attacks on different organisations, the press note said the government has strengthened police activities across the county. A number of people were caught red-handed in Bogra, Jaipurhat, Sirajganj, Gaibandha, Thakurgaon, Moulavibazar, Gopalganj, Dhamrai and Savar, it said. The press note said that the police operations also recovered explosive items and objectionable books and documents. From the confession of some of the arrested people, it was known that they are all active members of the JMJB or the Jamaatul Mujaheedin. 'They have engaged in such criminal activities to materialise their objectives. In their identical confessional statements, they disclosed Siddiqul Islam alias Bagla Bhai and Rajshahi University teacher Ghalib as their leaders,' the press note added. |