JMB trying to re-organise in north

6 activists of the banned militant outfit arrested in one week

Members of the banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) are trying to re-organise in the northern region, sources in the law enforcing agencies said. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has recently arrested six JMB men with firearms, gunpowder, and improvised explosive devices (IED) from various areas of the district within a week. “To strengthen their organisation, JMB members have secretly started a membership drive in rural areas of Rajshahi,” Lt Col Mahbub Alam, commanding officer of RAB-5, said yesterday.

JMB members went into hiding to avoid anti-militant raids and the net of law enforcement agencies, but they are again trying to build up the organisation.

Sources said some JMB members have taken shelter to rural areas of the region to train new recruits the use of firearms and the way to deal with explosives.

The RAB recently came to know that some JMB men were trying to re-organise in Tanore upazila of Rajshahi to carry out a coordinated campaign of sabotage  in the region.

However, RAB-5 arrested three active JMB members—Sahebjan Ali, 35, Abul Kalam Azad, 28, Jahangir Alam alias Alam, 28—with explosives on February 18.

After interrogating these members, RAB members came to know that the JMB is trying to create a network by recruiting members from Rajshahi and Chapainawabgang districts.

“We found money receipt books of the shelter of the arrested JMB members. It's clear that the militants are collecting money from their activists”, said RAB-5 deputy director Ashraful Alam.

Three more JMB men were arrested by the RAB from Puthia upazila with improvise explosive device (IED), bombs, firearms and gunpowder early yesterday.

The arrestees have been identified as Shafiqul Islam, 45, Jakaria Hossain, 43, and Ahsan, 35. They are trained on management of firearms and explosives.

“They incite devout rural people to join the JMB. When they manage to convert people to the way of Jihad, they train them for sabotage,” Mahbub Alam told The Independent.

He said these JMB members admitted that they, led by Jiaul alias Jakiul alias Jia, were trying to re-organise in the region.

Zia was in charge of Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon and Natore areas, he added.

Mahbub Alam said that a person was trying to organise a militancy campaign on facebook by using the pseudonym “John Cutter”. The owner of the profile was using different names and probably operating from Natore and Joypurhut areas, he added.     
“We'll interrogate arrested the JMB operatives by taking them in remand. Only then will we know more about this,” said Mahbub Alam.

JMB trying to re-organise in north

6 activists of the banned militant outfit arrested in one week

Members of the banned militant outfit Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) are trying to re-organise in the northern region, sources in the law enforcing agencies said. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has recently arrested six JMB men with firearms, gunpowder, and improvised explosive devices (IED) from various areas of the district within a week. To strengthen their organisation, JMB members have secretly started a membership drive in rural areas of Rajshahi, Lt Col Mahbub Alam, commanding officer of RAB-5, said yesterday. JMB members went into hiding to avoid anti-militant raids and the net of law enforcement agencies, but they are again trying to build up the organisation. Sources said some JMB members have taken shelter to rural areas of the region to train new recruits the use of firearms and the way to deal with explosives. The RAB recently came to know that some JMB men were trying to re-organise in Tanore upazila of Rajshahi to carry out a coordinated campaign of sabotage in the region. However, RAB-5 arrested three active JMB membersSahebjan Ali, 35, Abul Kalam Azad, 28, Jahangir Alam alias Alam, 28with explosives on February 18. After interrogating these members, RAB members came to know that the JMB is trying to create a network by recruiting members from Rajshahi and Chapainawabgang districts. We found money receipt books of the shelter of the arrested JMB members. Its clear that the militants are collecting money from their activists, said RAB-5 deputy director Ashraful Alam. Three more JMB men were arrested by the RAB from Puthia upazila with improvise explosive device (IED), bombs, firearms and gunpowder early yesterday. The arrestees have been identified as Shafiqul Islam, 45, Jakaria Hossain, 43, and Ahsan, 35. They are trained on management of firearms and explosives. They incite devout rural people to join the JMB. When they manage to convert people to the way of Jihad, they train them for sabotage, Mahbub Alam told The Independent. He said these JMB members admitted that they, led by Jiaul alias Jakiul alias Jia, were trying to re-organise in the region. Zia was in charge of Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon and Natore areas, he added. Mahbub Alam said that a person was trying to organise a militancy campaign on facebook by using the pseudonym John Cutter. The owner of the profile was using different names and probably operating from Natore and Joypurhut areas, he added. Well interrogate arrested the JMB operatives by taking them in remand. Only then will we know more about this, said Mahbub Alam.