Ansarullah's Jasim preached for killing atheists

Jasimuddin Rahmani. Star file photo

Jasimuddin Rahmani, the alleged spiritual leader of Ansarullah Bangla Team, has said students might have killed blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider being inspired by his sermons.
In a confessional statement before a magistrate on Monday afternoon, Jasim said as a teacher of Mohammadpur Jamia Rahmania Arabia madrasa he used to preach to his students by giving reference from Hadith.
Jasim said he later understood that saying such things aloud in public is not right because there is law and court in the country. If anyone does wrong, he will be tried under the traditional law, he added.
Metropolitan Magistrate Asaduzzaman Nur recorded his statement for three hours from 3:00pm when the Detective Branch of police brought to his chamber.
The arrestee in his confession also said that he does not know the killers involved in the murder of the blogger on February 15 in the capital’s Pallabi. He never spoke to them.
However, he said different university, college and school students used to visit his Bosila madrasa Markajul Uloom Al-Islamia, established in 2010, where as the Khatib he used to give sermons about killing atheist bloggers and those who talk demeaning Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.
The students might have been inspired by his sermons, he added.
Jasim also admitted writing different books on Jihad and distributing them to people who go to the madrasa-cum mosque.
He also said he studied in India and Saudi Arabia.
Jasim was arrested by police on August 11 from Barguna for his alleged involvement in militant activities. The five accused of Rajib murder had mentioned Mufti Jasimuddin’s name in their confessional statements before magistrate where they said they were inspired by his sermons.
Jasim was brought to Dhaka and placed on a six-day remand on August 27 by a Dhaka court. After his confessional statement today he was sent to Dhaka Central Jail.