"The ruling alliance leaders who said Bangla Bhai was the creation of media and those who spoke for the militants in the parliament should also be identified," he said during an interview with The Daily Star yesterday.

He also said that before claiming success for capturing Rahman, the ruling alliance should apologise to the nation for supporting the militants in Bagmara at that time.

"We came to the region to resist terrorism. We have the support of administrative officials as well as important people of the government. Join JMB and take part in resisting outlaws," Badsha quoted Rahman as addressing a Bagmara gathering and said that Rahman's speeches should be made a point of interrogation.

Rahman and Bangla Bhai's addressing of a women's rally and a press briefing at Bhawaniganj Women's College field on May 4, 2004 was audio and videotaped. Apart from several hundred JMB cadres, a large number of policemen were seen guarding the militant leaders at that time.

Badsha expressed his suspicion that a certain circle is active to save the patrons of the militants by keeping away Rahman and his revelations from the media.

"It is necessary to inform the nation what Rahman has to tell about their patrons, otherwise the real perpetrators could not be traced," he observed.

JMB (Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh) and JMJB (Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh) operated openly at six upazilas of Rajshahi and Naogaon from April 1 to May 24 in 2004. Members and leaders of these militant outfits killed several people and tortured hundreds of them openly at their torture camps with direct support from the local administration and the lawmakers.