Rapid Action Battalion on Sunday arrested five top JMB leaders for allegedly trying to foil the ongoing trials of the war criminals by destabilising the law and order situation.
Rab officials said they arrested the leaders of banned Islamist outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh at the capital’s Mirpur in the early hours of Sunday while preparing for a ‘secrete meeting’.
A huge number of JMB’s books, leaflets, CDs and pen drives containing the party’s organisational directives were also seized from their possession.
At a press briefing at Rab’s Uttara headquarters, its Legal and Media Wing Director Captain M Sohail said, “The leaders of the banned organisation have been gathering under the umbrellas of some religion-based political parties.”
“In their joint collaboration, they are trying to destabilise the law and order situation aiming to foil the war crimes trials and save the war criminals.”
“Besides, the JMB leaders and leaders of their same-minded organisations have targeted some top ranking leaders of two top-level political parties,” Captain Sohail said and added, “The JMB has targeted Rohingya people in Myanmar to bring them in its organisation and involve them in the militant activities.”
A top intelligence official of the Rab told The Daily Star that the JMB men have targeted to kill BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Awami League chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, AL leader Suranjit Sengupta and Foreign Minister Dipu Moni.
Capt Sohail said JMB men are trying to keep contacts with detained war criminals.
According to the Rab official, one of the arrestees, Shaik Rahamat Ullah alias Masum, 33, is a member of Majlish-e-Sura, the highest decision-making body of the JMB.
Three other detainees are Ehsar (fulltime) members–Shahinuzzaman Shahin alias Shafique, 27, Amit Hossain alias Ajmeri, 26, and Shariful Islam Shohag alias Milton, 23,–and the rest one Saidur Rahman, 40, is a Gayeri Ehsar (part-time) member.
Rab officials said Sura member Masum, who hails from Narayanganj district, had been working as the 2nd man to JMB’s chief Sohel Mahfuz, who is now hiding in India.
“As per the directives of JMB chief Mahfuz, Masum came to Bangladesh on November 10 from India through the border in Rajshahi,” said a Rab source.
Besides, Ehsar member Shahiuzzaman is the chief of Khulna district, Shariful is the chief of Satkhira district and Amit Hossain is the finance secretary of the JMB.
Source: The Daily Star
