Himu's Window

11 JMB men get life for sedition A Rajshahi divisional court yesterday awarded life terms to all 11 militants of Jama'aul Mujahidin, Bangladesh (JMB) in a sedition case filed for taking combat training to fight against the state in 2005. Judge M Sajedul Karim of the first court of Rajshahi divisional special judge also fined the accused Tk 20,000 each, in default of which they are to spend two more years in jail. The convicts include Enamul Haque and Golamur Rahman alias Golam Mostafa, both regional JMB commanders and followers of executed militant leader Siddikul Islam Bangla Bhai and arrested militant kingpin Asadullah Al Galib respectively. The others sentenced are – Rajshahi University Arabic student Ibrahim Hossain, madrassah teacher Jaharul Islam, madrassah students Merajul Islam, Shah Wali Ullah, Zakir Hossain, Mansur Rahman, Biplob Hossain, Abu Zafar and Mozammel Hossain. They were arrested from Mozammel's house at Puthiapara in Paba upazila on July 18,

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/08/08/d70808013220.htm           A businessman in Rajshahi city filed two cases yesterday against Lutfar Rahman, detained former president of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industries, in connection with extorting around Tk 1.50 crore. Nurunnabi of Shalgharia in Durgapur upazila, former business partner of Lutfar, lodged the cases with Boalia Police Station in the city. Joint forces arrested Lutfar at Dhaka several days ago. The complainant in one of the cases said Lutfar, former city BNP vice-president and a close aide to detained Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu, extorted Tk 1 crore from him using names of high-profile political figures like BNP Senior Secretary General Tarique Rahman and Minu. Ramjan Ali, officer-in-charge of Boalia Police Station, told newsmen that police started investigating the cases. "If other people were found to be involved during the investigation, they will be implicated in the c

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/07/28/d70728020124.htm     Editorial Verdict against militancy Let no one doubt our resolve to fight it   The conviction of former minister Barrister Aminul Haque and 24 others to a long prison sentence is clearly a historic judgment. There are quite a few reasons why this verdict stands out as a judicial landmark. In the first place, it is a maiden conviction ever to be handed in a case of patronising militants. The number of convicts -- 25 to be exact, including the former minister -- is indicative of the magnitude of the crime committed. The fact, however, that 17 of them, inclusive of the ex-minister, are absconding, means that they have to be ferreted out and made to face justice. That they have been found guilty of promoting and supporting Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh in their acts of extortion and torture of people in a court of law puts across some strong signals. It lends a robust credence to the widely acknowledged fact t

  http://thedailystar.net/2007/07/27/d7072701011.htm     JMB patron Aminul jailed 24 others also handed 31 years behind bars for helping militants   Anwar Ali, Rajshahi Former post and telecommunications minister barrister Aminul Haque and 24 others were yesterday sentenced to 31 years and six months' imprisonment in the first-ever judgment of a case for patronising Islamist militants. The convicts also include Rajshahi district BNP Secretary Shish Muhammad. The Second Additional Sessions Judge's Court, Rajshahi convicted them for aiding and abetting the militants of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in extorting and torturing people in Bagmara upazila of the district in 2004. The convicts were also fined Tk 25,000 each and in default they will have to suffer three years more in jail. Two accused union council chairmen--Besharatullah and Rafiqul Islam--were acquitted in the case. Judge Rezaul Islam delivered the judgment amid tight security

Shahjahan Mia     http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/07/24/d70724011915.htm   Extortion Case Ex-BNP MP in Kansat jailed for 5 years A Chapainawabganj court yesterday sentenced former BNP lawmaker Prof Shahjahan Mia and two others to five years imprisonment in a case filed in connection with extorting Tk 70,000. District and Sessions Judge of Chapainawabganj Hrishikesh Saha also fined them Tk 10,000 yesterday; if unpaid they would remain in prison six more months. The other two convicts are BNP president of Shibganj municipality unit Shafikul Islam and BNP adherent Aynal Haque. All of them were produced before the court during the delivery of the verdict yesterday. After the verdict, Shahjahan screamed out claiming he was innocent. He told his lawyers that he would appeal in higher court. One Panaullah filed the case with Shibganj Police Station on April 23 this year accusing the three of extortion. Panaullah in his complaint alleged that the accused, misusing the

http://thedailystar.net/2007/07/05/d7070501118.htm       Fresh case against Nadim     Former BNP lawmaker Nadim Mostafa and 11 other of his thugs were sued in a fresh extortion case at Puthia police station of the district on (July 2 ) Monday.   Recording the case, police yesterday arrested 7 accused including former Puthia municipal administrator and local BNP president Abdul Latif Biswas.   Other arrested BNP adherents are – Mohsin, Gaus, Idris, Sohrab, Abul Kashem and Mohidul.   Other accused are – municipal BNP secretary Munsur Rahman, BNP adherents Joynal, Isa Khalipha and Hashem Ali.   Meanwhile, Nadim Mostafa, already accused in total 11 cases including four for helping and abetting JMB militants, is absconding since January. In a cheating case, he was jailed for 5 years and he was acquitted in a relief fund CI sheet misappropriation case.   Rofikul Islam of Paschimbhag village lodged the case and alleged that the accused persons demanded Tk 40,00

Trial of 3 JMB patrons: two witnesses quoted militants to have revealing their leaders     A Rajshahi trial court June 25 recorded depositions of two witnesses in the case for aiding and abetting the JMB militants against former BNP stalwarts Barrister Aminul Haq, Ruhul Kuddus Talukhdar Dulu and Nadim Mostafa.   The witnesses -- plaintiff Ayub Ali Pramanik, a victim of brutalities by Jama'atul Mujahidin, Bangladesh (JMB) militants at Bagmara and his neighbour Abbas Ali told the court that militants including Bangla Bhai mentioned the BNP lawmakers as their patrons during their operations.   They claimed, they saw Bangla Bhai, Jalil Amin, Murshid having talks and directions from the BNP bigwigs frequently over cell phones during torture and extortion of Ayub.   Ayub of Polashi village said, armed militants waylaid him near his home and started beating up on April 7 morning in 2004. They demanded Tk 1 lakh toll.   When denied, Jalil Amin talked over mobile

Ayub's case for abetting militants Charges framed against Aminul, Nadim and Dulu   Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi   A judge court on June 17 framed charges against 30 persons including former BNP minister Barrister Aminul Haq, ex-deputy minister Ruhul Kuddus Talukhdar Dulu and ex-lawmaker Nadim Mostafa in the case for abetting JMB militants at Bagmara in Rajshahi.   Trial in the case, filed by torture-victim Ayub Ali Pramanik on April 1, will begin on June 24. The trial is to be completed within 45 days as the case was included for trial under the special power act of 2007.   The charges framed in absentia of Barrister Aminul and Nadim Mostafa (who were hiding since joint forces launched countrywide drive against corrupt politicians) and 14 other militants. They did not surrender despite repeated notices, court sources said.    Ruhul Kuddus Talukhdar Dulu who surrendered on February 20 and 13 JMB accused militants were present on the doc as Abu Saleh She

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 aidi

HC stayed Rajshahi public safety tribunal order favouring Galib   The high court (HC) yesterday stayed for three months the Rajshahi court order that asked an organisation named Tawhid Trust to hand over its 5-storied building at Kajla in the city to the detained militant kingpin Asadullah Al Galib.   HC bench comprising of justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury and Ashfakul Islam passed the rule, said the defense lawyers' certified statement faxed to Rajshahi last evening.   The HC bench also called for case documents from Rajshahi court after Tawhid Trust authority appealed to the bench challenging the cower court order.   Lawyers Hasan Feroj Siddik and Fazle Rabbi pleaded the case for the petitioners.   The petitioners Tawhid Trust chairman Abdus Salam, secretary general (SG) SM Mahmud Alam, assistant SG Rezaul Karim and their lawyers condemned the tribunal judgment to be 'unilateral and biased'.   Zahangir Alam Mollah, judge of public safety tr

http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/06/04/d7060401096.htm   Controversial NGO RIHS shut down Anwar Ali, Rajshahi Bangladesh chapter of giant Kuwait-based NGO Revival of Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS) is still running its offices and covertly continuing activities through some other NGOs, despite cancellation of its registration around one month ago. The RIHS, also known as Jamiatul Ehya-ut Turaj, played highly suspected roles by supplying funds to Islamist militants in the country, reliable sources said. The NGO Affairs Bureau in an official letter on May 6 informed RIHS of the government decision of cancelling its registration. Meanwhile, RIHS has appealed to the NGO Affairs Bureau for reconsidering cancellation of its registration. It also intends to hand over one of its landed properties to an organisation named Mesbah Foundation. RIHS has landed properties in Rajshahi, Gazipur, Mymensingh, Dhaka and elsewhere. The government in 2004 banned suspected Al Qaeda donor A

A Rajshahi court on Thursday ordered an organisation named Tawhid Trust to hand over its 5-storied building at Kajla in the city to its ousted member, an detained militant kingpin and Ahle Hadith Andolon, Bangladesh (Ahab) chief Asadullah Al Galib within 15 days.   Galib, also a Rajshahi University Arabic teacher was arrested in February 2005 after captured JMB militants named him as their spiritual head.     Zahangir Alam Mollah, judge of public safety tribunal and second special sessions court in his ruling turned down a lower court order that in 2004 adjudged Tawhid Trust and its contemporary officio as tenant of the building.   Tawhid Trust chairman Abdus Salam, secretary general (SG) SM Mahmud Alam, assistant SG Rezaul Karim and their lawyers condemned the judgment to be 'unilateral and biased' and said they would challenge it to the high court.   Abu Bakar, a trust lawyer said, Galib founded the trust and established the building, but he was expelled

Revolution The Islamist challenge to secular Bangladesh Nicholas Schmidle The headquarters of Al-Markazul Islami, an Islamic organization in Bangladesh, is a single tower whose frosted green windows rise several stories above the coconut trees and rooftops of Muhammadpur, a neighborhood in central Dhaka. Below, in the streets of this capital city of seven million, bicycle rickshaws with handlebar tassels, tin wheel covers, and carriages painted with faces of Bengali film stars ding-ding-ding along. Car, dump-truck, and bus horns blast four- and five-note jingles, and ambulance sirens wail. But none of the commotion reaches Mufti Shahidul Islam, the founder and director of Al-Markazul Islami, through the thick windows of his fifth-story office. Al-Markazul Islami provides free healthcare and ambulance services. Many Bangladeshi journalists, analysts, and politicians think it is just a cover, and that Shahidul's real business is jihad. "Mufti Shahidul is a