Published on 12:00 AM, December 09, 2012

26 judges get death threat

SMS message terms them enemy of Islam

Twenty-six judges of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate's Court have received threats through SMS for “not granting bails to leaders and activists of Islam”.
The anonymous message was in Bangla written in English fonts and sent from mobile phone number 01981611914 between 3:00pm and 7:00pm yesterday.
"You are the enemies of Islam. You are keeping the leaders and activists of Islam in detention instead of granting them bail. We have beaten up policemen; now we will cut your tendons and that of your family members. We will kill you. Be ready. Allahu Akbar," reads the translation of the text.
The judges include Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Bikash Kumar Saha, additional CMMs Md Ali Hossain and Md Shahidul Islam Faruque, Keshab Roy Chowdhury, MA Salam, Shahriar Mohammad Adnan, Rezaul Karim, Ashiqur Rahman, Mustafizur Rahman, Ismail Hossain, and Tanvir Ahmed.
Preferring anonymity, one of the 26 judges said the members of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir might have sent the message. "The language of the message indicates it has been sent by their men."
However, Matiur Rahman Akanda, assistant publicity secretary of Jamaat central committee, outright rejected the allegation. "None of us has sent such massage as we do not believe in covert activities," He said.
Several hundred Jamaat-Shibir members, including the top brass, are behind bars on charges of war crimes and various other offences.
Contacted, Additional CMM (1) Md Shahidul Islam Faruque said, "I have no idea who may have sent the message and why."
Harun-ur-Rashid, deputy commissioner of Lalbagh division police, told this paper they were informed of the matter and have ensured the judges' security.
Home Secretary CQK Mustaq Ahmed said, "If it is true, we have modern technologies to identify the man who have sent the message. Law enforcers and intelligence officials would take proper action."
Meanwhile, Mahbubul Alam, nazir of the CMM Court, filed a general diary on behalf of the judges in connection with the threats, said Sub-Inspector Rokibul Haque of Kotwali Police Station.