Patronising Militants: Sedition case against Minu kept waiting

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/06/10/d70610011611.htm     Patronising Militants Sedition case against Minu kept waiting A sedition complaint against Mizanur Rahman Minu, detained Rajshahi city mayor, for patronising militants still hangs in the balance even after two months as police authorities await home ministry's approval for it to be accepted as a case. On April 8, advocate Moazzem Hossain from Mollahpara, Rajshahi lodged the complaint with Rajpara Police Station in Rajshahi against four people including Rajshahi city mayor and former BNP lawmaker Minu, former telecommunications minister barrister Aminul Huq, former Rajshahi deputy commissioner (DC) Aziz Hasan and then Rajshahi superintendent of police (SP) Masud Miah (dismissed in 2006). The complainant accused the four of taking part in subversive activities as well as aiding and abetting militants of banned Islamist outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). When asked, Joydev Chowdhury, an assistant commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP), said, "We recorded the complaint as a general diary and sent a letter to police headquarters for necessary permission from home ministry." The compliant has many components for it to be recorded as a sedition case and filing of such case needs the home ministry's nod, Chowdhury explained. Moreover, a senior government official (then Rajshahi DC Aziz Hasan, now divisional commissioner of Sylhet) was accused in the complaint and the ministry's permission is also required for suing a government official, he added. The sedition complaint is the first and lone case against mayor Minu implicating him with JMB. Recently hanged militants of JMB -- its chief Shayekh Abdur Rahman and commander Siddikul Islam Bangla Bhai -- also named Minu as one of their patrons. In his complaint, advocate Moazzem said, assisted by mayor Minu, barrister Aminul, DC Hasan and SP Masud, JMB leaders including Prof Lutfar Rahman, Mahtab Khamaru, Abdus Sattar, Jalil Amin and Natib Lutfar gathered around 2,000 militants from Rajshahi and its adjacent areas and marched toward Rajshahi city on May 23, 2004. The militants marched through different city streets. Chanting slogans against the state from the procession, they declared war against Bangladesh and vowed to establish an Islamic state in the country through forming an Islamic jihad group. The JMB militants also submitted memorandums to the then DC and SP. The JMB militants later held a rally in front of Rajshahi Court where many militant leaders boasted that mayor Minu, barrister Aminul, DC Hasan and SP Masud had assured them (JMB) of full cooperation and support in JMB's bid to establishing an Islamic state. The militant leaders also declared that they were pledged to "change the map of the country" and Minu, Aminul and other government officials would help strengthen JMB by providing necessary financial and administrative support. The militants delivered similar speeches from another rally organised later at Zero Point of Saheb Bazar, the complainant added.