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November 17, 2005
Bangladesh: Islamist Group Promises To Attack More Judges
Following on from the bomb attack in the small district of Jhalakati in the southwestern region of Bangladesh, Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) have threatened to carry out more attacks against the judiciary, states the Daily Star.
In the attack at Jhalakathi town on Monday November 14, in which two judges and four others were killed, the bomber was apprehended, even though he was injured and tried to detonate an explosive package strapped to his leg. On him were found 25 handwritten letters from JMB, demanding an end to the process of law, and the institution of Sharia law. Similar notes were distributed at scenes of the mass bombings which occurred throughout the nation on August 17.
The Daily Star reports that four judges have since then received death threats in letters from JMB. The judges are based in Khulna and Rajshahi. In addition an upazila governing officer and an assistant commissioner from Bhola yesterday received death threats by phone.
Sub Kudge Pabna Sharif Mostafa Karim, of Khulna, was told in a letter that he would be "blown to bits" is he does not conduct his court proceedings according to Sharia law. "If you do not deliver your verdict according to Islamic shariah, you and your court will be blown up with a remote control bomb," the letter stated. It was handwritten, and came with a black shroud drawn on it. The letter claimed to come jointly from JMB and the Janajuddha faction of the outlawed Purba Banglar Communist Party.
Currently several judges are on strike in protest in Jhalakathi and neighbouring Barisal district as a result of the attacks, and the local branch of the Awami League organised a half-day strike and protest march in Jhalakathi yesterday.
Another article from the Daily Star announced that the Bangladesh Judicial Service Association, or BJSA, an association of judges, has threatened to cripple the judiciary if any more judges are killed or injured by the Islamists.
BJSA claims that although the first attacks on the judiciary came three months ago, the government has not made safety measures. Today members of the association are boycotting all courts to voice their protest.
The attack on Monday was the first suicide bombing to have occurred in Bangladesh. A further article from the Daily Star highlights how the government had been warned last month about the potential of a suicide attack, but had been to wrapped in plans to ensure the SAARC trading conference went ahead without problems to acknowledge the threat. The warning came after explosives experts examined a bomb that was thrown at Judge Biplob Goshwami in front of his residence in Sylhet on October 18, which failed to explode.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at November 17, 2005 7:13 AM
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