WOMEN’S INVOLVEMENT IN TERROR STRIKES

Not direct, says counter terrorism unit; RAB differs

Militant leaders are yet to assign women members of terror outfits any role in attacks in the country. Till now, they have been assisting the male members by providing shelter, secret information and carrying arms and ammunition before a militant attack. Talking to The Independent recently, Sanowar Hossain, additional commissioner of the Counter Terrorism and Trans-national Crime (CTTC) unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), said: “We came to know that women were not involved in any of the attacks while interrogating arrested militants.”
They are helping in recruiting new members and providing other assistance to the militant leaders, he added.
Referring to some successful anti-militant drives across the country, the counter-terrorism expert said: “We found that the women members of the militant outfits are mainly providing shelter to those we were hunting. As we have intensified vigilance at hideouts, militants are not staying in any mess in the capital fearing arrest. We found that wives of several top militant leaders were staying at the Azimpur militant den.”
Secret meetings were held at the flat, but neighbours never suspected their activities as there were women, said another intelligence officer involved in the anti-militant operation.
Abedatul Fatema, alias Khadiza, wife of slain militant Jamshed, Shaila Sharmin, wife of JMB leader Basharuzzaman and Afrin, alias Priyoti, wife of JMB leader Nurul Islam Marjan, were living together at the Azimpur flat.
Investigators are grilling them for information on their plans and the organising capacity of the militant outfits, said ADC Sanowar. During the hearing on remand prayer in the court of the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate, Md Nur Nabi, Shaila, wife of Basharuzzaman, told the court that all three were coaxed into joining militant outfits by their husbands.
However, differing with the claims of the CTTC officials, a commanding officer of a battalion of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), said: “Since no attack took place after the Holey Artisan Bakery incident, we cannot say that women are not directly involved in militant attacks. During investigation, we found that many women militants brought their husbands and other male relatives into the organisation.” The RAB officer was speaking on condition of anonymity. Besides, women are involved in campaigning, recruiting new members by using social networking sites and other internet gateways, he added.

WOMENS INVOLVEMENT IN TERROR STRIKES

Not direct, says counter terrorism unit; RAB differs

Militant leaders are yet to assign women members of terror outfits any role in attacks in the country. Till now, they have been assisting the male members by providing shelter, secret information and carrying arms and ammunition before a militant attack. Talking to The Independent recently, Sanowar Hossain, additional commissioner of the Counter Terrorism and Trans-national Crime (CTTC) unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), said: We came to know that women were not involved in any of the attacks while interrogating arrested militants. They are helping in recruiting new members and providing other assistance to the militant leaders, he added. Referring to some successful anti-militant drives across the country, the counter-terrorism expert said: We found that the women members of the militant outfits are mainly providing shelter to those we were hunting. As we have intensified vigilance at hideouts, militants are not staying in any mess in the capital fearing arrest. We found that wives of several top militant leaders were staying at the Azimpur militant den. Secret meetings were held at the flat, but neighbours never suspected their activities as there were women, said another intelligence officer involved in the anti-militant operation. Abedatul Fatema, alias Khadiza, wife of slain militant Jamshed, Shaila Sharmin, wife of JMB leader Basharuzzaman and Afrin, alias Priyoti, wife of JMB leader Nurul Islam Marjan, were living together at the Azimpur flat. Investigators are grilling them for information on their plans and the organising capacity of the militant outfits, said ADC Sanowar. During the hearing on remand prayer in the court of the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate, Md Nur Nabi, Shaila, wife of Basharuzzaman, told the court that all three were coaxed into joining militant outfits by their husbands. However, differing with the claims of the CTTC officials, a commanding officer of a battalion of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), said: Since no attack took place after the Holey Artisan Bakery incident, we cannot say that women are not directly involved in militant attacks. During investigation, we found that many women militants brought their husbands and other male relatives into the organisation. The RAB officer was speaking on condition of anonymity. Besides, women are involved in campaigning, recruiting new members by using social networking sites and other internet gateways, he added.