SMS message terms them enemy of Islam
Twenty-six judges of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court have received anonymous text message threatening them and their families with dire consequences for not granting bails to “leaders and activists of Islam”.
The text was in Bangla typed in English fonts and sent from the mobile phone No 01981611914 between 3:00pm to 7:00pm yesterday.
The judges who received the message 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.
“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 sever tendons of you and your family members. We will kill you. Be ready. Allahu Akbar [God is great],” reads the text.
Talking to The Daily Star, one of the judges said the members of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir might have sent the message. “The language of the text indicates it has been sent by their men.”
However, Matiur Rahman Akanda, assistant publicity secretary of Jamaat central committee, outright rejected the allegation.
He said, “None of us has sent such massage as we do not believe in covert activities.”
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, said they were informed of the incident and they are ready to ensure 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 with on behalf of the judges in connection with the threats, said Sub-inspector Rokibul Haque of Kotwali Police Station.
Source: The Daily Star
