Many militants still at large
Sanwar Hossain joined Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in 2000, influenced by none other than the banned outfit's then supremo Shaikh Abdur Rahman.
Law enforcers suspect Sanwar, who became radicalised over the years while associating with JMB's top leaders, was directly involved in the near-simultaneous, countrywide bomb blasts on this day in 2005.
Also known as Abdur Rouf, the militant served as chief of JMB's Nachol and Gomastapur units in Chapainawabganj and continued to coordinate the outfit's activities until he was arrested by Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) in April this year.
Led by Sanwar, a group of the outfit's members killed self-proclaimed JMB ameer Salman on April 26, 2012 in Nachol. Sanwar received a death sentence in November 2019.
While law enforcers have arrested Sanwar, 108 JMB operatives who are accused in different cases filed over the bomb attacks are still at large, posing a threat.
Of the 99 members who are out on bail, at least four have gone into hiding after getting bail. Rashidul Hasan from Meherpur is now believed to be hiding in a middle-eastern country, while Abdul Haq of Barguna, Abbasi Islam of Narsingdi, and Ariful Islam of Bagherhat have no trace, according to an intelligence report.
The banned outfit is now being led by its current ameer Salahuddin alias Salehin, a death-row convict, who law enforcers believe is hiding somewhere in India.
He fled to India after an armed gang ambushed a prison-van and snatched three convicted JMB militants, including Salahuddin and Boma Mizan, in Trishal upazila of Mymensingh on February 23, 2014. Rapid Action Battalion had arrested Salahuddin in April, 2006.
However, a police high-official, following the outfit's footprints, said a suspect, whose organisational name is "Khan Saheb", is currently giving the lead to JMB's Bangladesh chapter.
According to a report of ATU, a police unit dedicated to combat militancy, Harkatul Jihad al Islami started militant activities in Bangladesh, but Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB), later renamed JMB, intensified them.
Under the leadership of Shaikh Abdur Rahman, JMB started to emerge in the char areas in Jamalpur (birthplace of Abdur Rahman), Bogura (birthplace of JMB second-in-command Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai), and Gaibandha, with participation of some ideologues of the Ahale Hadith movement in 1998-99.
The activities then spread to almost all northern districts, including Chapainawabganj, Natore, Naogaon, Rajshahi, Pabna, Joypurhat, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Kurigram and Panchagarh.
JMB grabbed the spotlight through the countrywide bombing in 63 districts on August 17, 2005. A total of 159 cases were filed against 256 named and many unknown JMB leaders and operatives following the bomb blasts.
Law enforcers have already submitted charge sheets in 142 cases against 1,131 JMB militants.
Trial of 43 cases is still ongoing, while the rest of the cases have been disposed of.
ATU data shows that 322 accused have been convicted and sentenced to death or different jail terms. A total of 46 JMB convicts have been executed in August 17 blast cases, while 11 others, who were also accused in the blast cases, have been executed in other terrorism-related cases.
A total of 358 accused have so far been acquitted. After probes, investigators submitted final reports in 17 cases.
Md Asaduzzaman, chief of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC), told The Daily Star, "Almost all of those who were involved in the attacks have been arrested. Many have been convicted, while trials of others are continuing."
Asked about JMB's present strength, he said, "It does not have any organisational strength, and its network has been disrupted. The absconding chief Salahuddin tries to reorganise the outfit from time to time, but due a lack of response from the outfit's activists and law enforcers' vigilance, he cannot do so."
Asked about the JMB militants who got bail are now absconding, he said, "Those who are out on bail are under surveillance, and drives are underway to arrest the absconding ones."
ATU Superintendent of Police MM Hasanul Jahid said not only JMB, activities of all militant organisations are under the control of law enforcement agencies.
Jahid said they often send dedicated teams to different districts to check and collect data on these militants, what they are doing, whom they are communicating with, so that they do not have any scope to reorganise.
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