Wednesday • November 30, 2005

N E W S   O F  T H E  H O N ' B L E  P R E S I D E N T

Sheikh Hasina shocked at death of Shahadat

Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and Bangladesh Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday expressed deep shock at the death of eminent journalist and editor of the Shaptahik 2000 Shahadat Chowdhury.

In a condolence message she recalled his courageous role in the war of liberation saying that his glorious contribution in journalism will also be ever remembered.

She prayed for the departed soul and expressed profound sympathy to the bereaved family members.

Sheikh Hasina, British High Commissioner discuss security issues

British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury yesterday met opposition leader Sheikh Hasina and discussed the security issues and the latest situation arising out of the bomb explosions in Gazipur and Chittagong.

The meeting continued for nearly one and a half hours at Sudha Sadan in the afternoon, but both sides preferred to keep mum and refrained from formal press briefing.

Awami League presidium member Kazi Zafrullah MP and Sheikh Hasina's Political Secretary Saber Hossain Chowdhury were present at the meeting.

N A T I O N A L  N E W S

Government has link to JMB: Sheikh Hasina

Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina yesterday alleged that the ruling coalition bears direct links to Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) which has been staging blasts across the country under government patronage.

"It is now clearly evident that the ruling alliance having Jamaat-e-Islami as its partner has links to the militants. Jama'atul Mujahideen cadres are the associates of the ruling parties," Sheikh Hasina said after an emergency meeting of 14-party opposition combine.

She also alleged that the government is using the militants to destroy the country's independence, democracy, and above all, the constitution.

She said the ruling BNP was prompt to take action against one of its lawmakers for making anti-militant statements, but it seems very much reluctant to go after the extremists.

She said, "There was no bomb attacks in the country during the Saarc summit while they [explosions] occurred before and immediately after the summit."

"It shows that the government can halt the blasts if it wants," she added.

On yesterday's suicide blasts in Gazipur and Chittagong, the Awami League President said the government has orchestrated the attacks, using the JMB to shift people's attention from the anti-government movement, which has gained momentum after the November 22 rally.

Referring to frequent bomb attacks on the courthouses, Sheikh Hasina said, "It seems the government is not sincere to root out the militants. It has failed miserably to provide security for the judges, lawyers and others in the courts."

She also alleged that because of Hawa Bhaban, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) had to release Mahtab Khamaru, an aide to Bangla Bhai, within a few hours of his arrest.

Awami League leaders Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Motia Chowdhury, Obaidul Quader, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President Hasanul Haq Inu were present at the opposition combine's meeting held at Awami League's central office on Bongobondhu Avenue.

Meanwhile, different front organizations of Awami League brought out processions in the capital yesterday to protest the blast incidents in Gazipur and Chittagong.

9 including 2 lawyers, 2 cops killed; 78 hurt at Gazipur, Ctg

Twin JMB suicide strikes spell carnage in courts

Nine people including two lawyers and a police constable were killed and 78 others injured yesterday in two suicide bomb attacks by Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), on Chittagong and Gazipur court premises.

In the latest wave of terror strikes on the judiciary, two JMB members blew themselves up -- one near a police check-post at the entrance to the Chittagong court building at 8:44am and the other at 9:45am in a crowd of lawyers and their clients at the Gazipur bar association building.

The Gazipur suicide bomber died on the spot, while doctors until late last night were trying hard to save the life of Chittagong bomber, Abul Bashar.

The JMB has targeted the judiciary as a part of its professed struggle to turn the state into an Islamic shariah-based one. Two notes found with Bashar termed the attack a preliminary warning to the forces working to ensure security of judges and announced to continue the Jihad until an Islamic welfare state is established.

WHEN ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE

Activities in the entire Gazipur district came to a halt, as most of the government and non-government officials came out of their offices immediately after the suicide bombing rocked the Bhawal Rajbari court area at around 9:45am.

The bomb exploded amid some 100 people, including 50 lawyers and their assistants and clients, busy on the ground floor of the hall building 2, the former library of the bar association. The association has nine hall buildings.

According to witnesses, the bomb went off in between 9:37am to 9:45am on the bar association premises located between the judge court in the east and the magistrate courts in the west.

Those killed in the blast are former secretary of the bar association advocate Amzad Hossain, retired army man Abdur Rab, Gachha Union Parishad former member Bashir Uddin, an unidentified woman of about 40 years and the bomber whose identity could not be confirmed immediately. Of them three died on the spot while Amzad and the woman died later at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). Advocate Golam Faruq, 40, former member of Gazipur Bar Association, and another unidentified person aged around 35, both admitted to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) in a critical condition, died at 10:35pm and 11:00pm.

The police and witnesses said the bomber, aged around 25, was wearing a black gown similar to what lawyers wear when he entered the hall building. After the explosion, his body with wires tied around his thighs and waist was left on the floor for a couple of hours. The bomb was so powerful it torn away a ceiling fan and bent two others. The fire burnt all the furniture, files and other documents in the room. The shock broke all the glasses and windowpanes of the room, its upper floor and an adjacent building. Several ventilators of the room also splintered.

CHITTAGONG BLAST

The suicide bomb attack took place at the entry point of Chittagong Court Building at 8:44am. The JMB suicide bomber tried to enter the court premises when some 20 policemen, mostly from Dampara Police Lines and the Special Branch, were taking briefing on their duty to ensure security at the court building.

The police stopped the JMB militant, Abul Bashar hailing from Nalua village in Tangail, in a bid to check him as he was walking past the cops.

"The militant then turned back, walked straight into the middle of the policemen and exploded the bomb," Constable Rashida of Khulshi Police Station told The Daily Star.

According to police, the powerful bomb, believed to be a plastic explosive, was strapped to his body and the bomber switched it on finding no way to enter the court.

Critically injured Constable Rajib Barua, 28, son of Shimul Barua of Aburkhil Khalifa Ghona under Raozan upazila, and leader of local Swechchha Sebak League Shahab Uddin, 35, son of Salamat Ullah of Premtala under Sitakunda upazila, were rushed to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) where doctors declared them dead.

The suicide bomber got both the legs and wrists blown off in the explosion.

The death toll in the ghastly blasts may rise as at least five others were lying unconscious in the hospital with critical injuries.

JMB attacks kill 15 since Aug 17

Fifteen people including judges, lawyers and police have been killed since banned Islamist militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) started terror attacks on August 17 in the name of establishing Islamic rule in the country.

In the latest wave of strikes by JMB suicide bombers on Gazipur Bar Association building and a police check-post at Chittagong court building yesterday, seven people including two lawyers and a police constable were killed and 78 others injured. Two suicide bombers also blew themselves up.

Another attack by JMB on November 14 killed two senior assistant judges and wounded three people in Jhalakathi.

The banned outfit carried out attacks on the courtrooms in Chandpur, Laxmipur and Chittagong districts, killing four people and injuring 38 including a judge on October 3.

On October 18, militants hurled a bomb at the vehicle of judge Biplop Goswami in Sylhet, leaving him injured.

The militants' August 17 simultaneous serial blasts at 459 spots in 63 districts across the country killed two people and injured many others.

The Daily Star, November 30, 2005

Lawyers protest killings by suicide bombers in Chittagong, Gazipur courts

SCBA calls for hartal tomorrow

Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) called a countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal for December 1 (Thursday)) in protest against Tuesday's bombings in courts in Gazipur and Chittagong by Islamic militant outfit JMB that left at least six people dead and scores wounded.

The SCBA, led by its president Mahbubey Alam, announced the hartal after holding an emergency general meeting at the Supreme Court yesterday noon. They sought support of all classes of people, including political parties and civil society, to Thursday's hartal.

Agitated lawyers demanding resignation of the State Minister for Home Affairs brought out a protest march from the court compound and paraded up to National Press Club.

Lawyers across the country boycotted courts at an impromptu call of the SCBA in protest against the bomb attacks-in a string since the August 17 serial blasts across the country, when some courts also came under attack.

Earlier, a delegation of the SCBA led by president Mahbub-e-Alam met acting Chief Justice MM Ruhul Amin at his chamber, informed him of the latest situation and requested him to suspend yesterday's court proceedings.

Later, the SCBA delegation moved to each bench of the High Court and the Appellate Divisions requesting the judges to suspend the court proceedings. Showing solidarity with the protestors, the judges rose from their respective benches.

Agitated lawyers of different district bars boycotted courts in an instant protest against the bomb attacks in Chittagong and Gazipur.

The Independent, November 30, 2005

Pro-BNP lawyers attack pro-Awami League advocates in Barisal

Pro-BNP lawyers Tuesday attacked the processions of the pro-Awami League lawyers in Barisal injuring several advocates.

The incident occurred when the pro-Awami League lawyers brought out a procession at 11 am in protest against the bomb attacks on the judge's court premises in Gazipur and Chittagong.

Some of the pro-BNP lawyers beat a number of lawyers. President of the District Bongobondhu Ainjibi Parishad Nasiruddin Khan Babul was also injured in the attack and admitted to a local clinic.

Former General Secretary of District Bar Association AKM Jahangir, General Secretary of Awami Ainjibi Parishad Mojibor Rahman and Munsur Ahmed of Bongobondhu Ainjibi Parishad were also assaulted in the procession.

Witnesses said members of the BNP Ainjibi Forum led by its President Advocate Shakhawat Hossain Jumman attacked the pro-Awami League lawyers.

The Independent, November 30, 2005

Top Netrakona police official says

Ruling party leaders obstruct drive against JMB men

Netrakona police can not take all out drive against JMB (Jama'atul Mujahideen, Bangladesh) activists because of pressure from ruling party leaders, a high police official admitted yesterday.

Seeking anonymity, he told this correspondent that activists of JMB and other Islamist militants are active in several areas in the district.

To substantiate his claim, he said a central leader of a ruling coalition partner who is a minister interfered and talked to the top brass in the district police administration for release of JMB suspect Maulana Abdur Rahman after he was arrested on August 6.

The district secretary and another leader of the party lobbied with police and got him released, he said.

Maulana Abdur Rahman is a teacher at Sreebardi Bali Dakhil Madrasa in the Sadar upazila.

Police could have arrested JMB activists after the August 17 bomb blasts but they went slow following intervention by leaders of a coalition partner. There was pressure also from some local BNP leaders, he claimed.

Two JMB activists Kawser Alam Sumon and Sanaullah--both from Gouripur in Mymensingh were arrested on October 6 and 12 respectively from Natrakona following the August 17 blasts. They had named more seven JMB activists who were involved in the blasts. They are Manju, Kafi, Habib, Sujon, Iliyas, Raju and Shamim. The names were disclosed by Kawser Alam Sumon and Sanaullah during interrogation but they are yet to be arrested. The twM are now in Netrakona jail.

Police recently submitted charge sheet against four JMB men in the August 17 blast case. They are Shaikh Abdur Rahaman, Kawser Ahamed, Kawser Alam Sumon and Sanaullah.

Mentionalby, the Natrakona Police Superintendent was threatened over telephone thrice recently not to disturb JMB cadres.

The Daily Star, November 30, 2005

Bombings of court compounds in Ctg, Gazipur

Lawyers stage angry protests

Angry lawyers came onto streets in towns across the country as the news of dastardly bomb attacks on Gazipur and Chittagong court compounds reached them within hours of the incident.

Lawyers irrespective of party affiliations marched streets hand in hand, chanting slogans in a spontaneous show of anger against the government's failure to protect life of citizens.

In some districts, lawyers announced protest programs for several days, including court boycott, rallies and memorial meetings for those killed in the blasts.

At rallies, the lawyers demanded resignation of the government, alleging that attackers are operating under the shelter of a partner in the ruling alliance.

Sylhet: Lawyers in Sylhet boycotted courts and began a week-long agitation program including wearing black badges and holding mourning processions and rallies. The lawyers paraded the main streets of the city and held a rally at the Bar library Hall with Sylhet district Bar Association President AKM Shibli in the chair.

They strongly protested the repeated attacks on courts in the name of religious fundamentalism. They also blasted the government for its failure to punish the real culprits.

Barisal: As the news of bomb attacks reached the court area by 10 am, agitated lawyers immediately decided to boycott courts while panicked judges rushed to the chamber of the District Judge to decide what to do.

All judicial activities were suspended and teams of Rapid Action Battalion and police cordoning the court compound and surrounding areas tightened their security measures. They immediately drove people from the court compound and restricted entry of outsiders.

The lawyers immediately brought out a procession condemning the blasts and killings and decrying government's lax security measures and failure to nab militants.

They expressed solidarity with the programs of hoisting black flags atop buildings in court the area and wearing black badges on Wednesday and a countrywide hartal on Thursday, declared by the Supreme Court Bar Association.

Our Staff Correspondent in Khulna reports: Lawyers in Khulna boycotted courts and brought out a procession in the city protesting bombs attacks by Islamist extremists in the country one after another.

At a rally held at the Khulna District Bar Association compound, speakers demanded resignation of the four-party alliance government for failing to contain terror attacks by suicide bombers of outlawed JMB. They accused Jamaat, a component of four-party alliance, of harboring militant outfits from behind the screen.

Satkhira: Boycotting courts, lawyers in Satkhira brought out a procession and held a rally in the town protesting the repeated bomb attacks and demanding resignation of the government for failing to arrest militants.

The militants are threatening the judiciary but no action has been taken against those responsible for the attacks, speakers at the rally said. They also threatened of tough agitation programs if the government failed to ensure security of judges and lawyers.

RU: Political parties and lawyers brought out separate processions and held rallies in Rajshahi city and Rajshahi University campus yesterday protesting the bomb attacks.

At a protest layers' protest meeting held at the court premises, speakers said the BNP-led coalition government has to bear the responsibility for the lawyers' killing and all bomb attacks in the country as it patronises fundamentalist forces.

Kushtia: Lawyers In Kushtia, Meherpur and Jhenidah brought out processions in the towns and held rallies protesting the bomb attacks.

In Kushtia a lawyers procession barricaded the Kushtia-Khulna highway for about an hour. Some judges in Kushtia said they were feeling insecure. Some of them said they are thinking to go on leave for some days. Gunmen will not be able to give them security, Kushtia District Judge Enayaet Ullah said.

Protests were also held in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Faridpur, Gopalaganj, Natrakona, Brahmanbaria, Comilla, Jessore, Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari.

The Daily Star, November 30, 2005

O T H E R S

Absconding, but not absent!

A madrasa teacher wanted in August 17 bombing case in Nilphamari is absconding but he puts his signature regularly on the teachers' attendance register.

Atiar Rahman, assistant teacher of Boro Jumma Darussalam Dakhil Madrasa in Dimla upazila went into hiding just after the serial blasts.

Police raided the madrasa on November 16 for harboring militants and arrested two assistant teachers Nur Islam and Rabiul Islam suspecting them as militants.

The madrasa students said Atiar neither takes classes nor visits the institution for a long time.

The Daily Star, November 30, 2005

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