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| Bangladesh |
| 5 army men detained |
| 2009-11-10 |
| [Bangla Daily Star] Five army officers detained for interrogation have named six of their former superiors as masterminds behind last month's bomb attack on Awami League lawmaker Fazle Noor Taposh, said intelligence agency sources. They have also claimed Lt Col Saiful Islam Joarder, one of the six, provided funds for the attempt on Taposh's life. Saiful has been on the run since he lost his job on November 5 for suspected links with the blast. He had been posted at the Jessore cantonment. Besides him, three other lieutenant colonels--Abdur Rouf, Zahid and Afzal--were dismissed that day. The rest two of the six--Brig Gen Habibur Rahman Rukon Uddin and Major Zakir Hossain--have been sent into retirement. Meanwhile, the five army men, hauled up for questioning five days ago, are still being quizzed. Of them, four hold the rank of captain and one major. Following up their information, the six army officers were removed from the services. The bomb attack in front of Taposh's law chamber at Motijheel on October 21 left 13 persons injured. The ruling party lawmaker, also nephew of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, escaped unhurt. Investigators claim Habibur Rahman Rukon Uddin has been a rokon (full-member) of Jamaat-e-Islami, while Saiful Islam Joarder had close relations with sacked Brig Gen Abdullahil Aman Al Ajmi, son of Jamaat's former ameer Golam Azam. Contacted, Habibur's wife however dismissed the claim as rubbish. She also said there's no question of her husband having involvement in the attack on Taposh. Detectives have traced 35 cellphone numbers that were used by the suspected plotters and attackers. Some of those who had used the numbers have been detained and interrogated by intelligence officials, said sources close to the investigation. Investigators believe the attackers sought to destabilise the government by creating anarchy. They suspect the blast might have something to do with "Taposh's handling of things before and during the February 25-26 BDR mutiny". It might also have been made to halt the trial process of the war criminals. Disrupting the proceedings of Bangabandhu murder case might be another motive. Other sources say the attack might have been designed to scotch any possibility of the government taking measures against some army officials accused of corruption during the last caretaker rule. The Detective Branch (DB) of police has so far arrested seven persons for suspected links with the bomb attack. Of the arrestees, five are from among the families of Bangabandhu murder convicts. Sources said those with suspected complicity in the bomb attack have been under close watch. |
| Posted by:Fred |