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| Bangladesh | |
| Security officials arrest suspected Islamic militant | |
| 2007-03-15 | |
DHAKA, Bangladesh: Security officials on Thursday arrested a suspected Islamic militant in northern Bangladesh, a domestic news agency reported. Members of the special security force Rapid Action Battalion raided the home of Mostafizur Rahman and arrested him in Pabna district, 120 kilometers north of the capital, Dhaka, the United News of Bangladesh agency reported.
The group, which wants to replace secular laws with harsh Islamic rules in Bangladesh, has been held responsible for a string of bombings across the country in 2005. Earlier this month, the country's President Iajuddin Ahmed rejected appeals for clemency by the group's six top Islamic militants sentenced to death for killing two judges in 2005. The Supreme Court turned down the militants' appeal against the death sentence in late November. No date has been set for the execution but prison officials said it can happen anytime. Under the law, an execution must take place no more than 28 days after the president rejects a bid for clemency. The six men were to die by hanging for the killing of two judges on Nov. 14, 2005 in southern Jhalakathi town. The bombings have killed 26 people and wounded dozens more since August 2005, police said. Six of the accused admitted their involvement in the attack. A seventh defendant was tried in absentia and convicted. In May last year, a trial court in Jhalakathi sentenced the militants_ including group leaders Shaikh Abdur Rahman and Siddiqul Islam — to death for the murder of the judges. | |
| Posted by:Steve |