Western Resistance

« Germany: "Minority Report" Online | | Turkey: Trial Of "Cartoon Jihad" Priest-Killer Starts »

May 14, 2006

Bangladesh: 11 Islamists Found Guilty Of Bombing

Today, the BBC, the New Nation and New Kerala report that a trial in Bangladesh of Islamists has concluded today, with life sentences being handed out to 10 individuals. Three other convicted men were given 20 year jail terms. 14 other individuals were also acquitted.

The trial concerns seven bombings which took place in Joypurhat town on the morning of August 17 last year. The bombings were part of a nationwide series of bombings carried out by activists from Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and its affiliate Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) or "Vigilant Muslim Citizens, Bangladesh".

The August 17 bombings involved a total of more than 450 bombs, carried out across 63 of the 64 districts in Bangladesh. In these attacks a man and a boy were killed, and more than 100 people were injured. At the location of each bomb, leaflets were found, demanding Bangladesh hand over jurisdiction to Sharia Law.

The individuals sentenced to life imprisonment were: Ataur Rahman, Majnu, Mehedi Hasan alias Raju, Dulal alias Harez, Likhon alias Shariful Islam, Montejar Rahman, Azizul Bari Mintu, Tuhin alias Nazmul Hossain, Abdur Rauf and Monsur Rahman. Four of those accused are still at large and were tried in absentia

The Speedy Trial Tribunal in Rajshahi was presided over by Judge AFM Aminul Islam, who also gave those found guilty a fine of a mere 5,000 taka ($73).

A similar trial held in February in the western district of Jhenidah saw 21 members of JMB sentenced to death.

***********
In other news, another trial will be resuming tomorrow, where senior members of the ruling council of the JMB, also called the Majlish-e-Shura, will be facing trial for the killing of two judges in Jhalakathi on November 14 last year. Seven people are going to be in a Jhalakathi court to answer charges of murder, brought under section 342 of the penal code.

The individuals on trial include Abdur Rahman (pictured, top), the leader of JMB, and Bangla Bhai, or Siddiqul Islam (pictured above left), the leader of JMJB. Abdur Rahman was arrested in Sylhet district in the northeast on March 2 and Bangla Bhai was arrested on March 6 in Mymensingh district in the north.

Their appearances in court so far have been colourful. Their comments, made on Tuesday, 9 May, are reported by the New Nation, the Daily Star and the Bangladesh Independent.

Abdur Rahman said: "Killing of more judges and others who do not accept Allah's laws is needed." He refused to have a lawyer, and was "defending" himself. He added: "I want the trial to be held truly following the Allah's laws, otherwise, I will divulge everything."

This was an obvious threat to name politicians who are involved in supporting the JMB. The seven members of the Shura-e-Majlis of JMB are known to have had links to the Jamaat-e-Islami Party and its student wing, the Islami Chhatra Shibir, according to the Daily Star of April 28. We discussed some of these links with people in power on May 2.

"None of you will be spared if we open the Pandora's box. Masks will fall and all of you will be exposed," Rahman warned in the court.

Similar accusations were made on May 2. Rahman then told the court that he had ordered the killing of the judges because the populace wanted Sharia law, but the judiciary did not. He said: "That's why, we killed the judges and they will also be punished on the final day of judgement." He also threatened to kill more judges if "man-made" law was not repealed.

At that same hearing, Bangla Bhai threatened to expose members of the government, using the analogy of the Pied Piper. "We can show the hero as well as the villain of the drama staged by the government over militancy. Not a single mouse would be able to stay in power if we start playing the flute of Hamelin," he claimed.

On Tuesday, May 9, Bangla Bhai/Siddiqul Islam told the court that he was suffering from blood cancer due to "inhuman physical torture" by police, and Abdur Rahman claimed that Ataur Rahman Sunny, his brother, had also been tortured in custody.

Right from the start of this trial there has been drama. On April 18 when the eight defendants were brought to the court at Jhalakathi to be formally charged, Abdur Rahman announced that he would not recognise a "worldly court". He said "We are not repentant for our acts done to establish the law of Allah." This caused some lawyers to throw shoes at him (a gesture of insult in the Indian subcontinent). In response Abdur Rahman cursed them and said that they would go to Hell.

Feelings from the judiciary, who lost two of their number in the November 14 attacks, are high. A procession was brought into the court compound on April 18 by lawyers, who were carrying brooms and the shoes which they hurled at "Shaikh" Rahman.

The two judges who were killed were Senior Assistant Judge Sohel Ahmed and Jagannath Pandey. These were killed in a minibus which was taking them and others to work. The bus was attacked by a bomb-throwing youth called Iftekhar Hasan Al Mamun, who was also injured. When arrested, the youth tried to blow himself up in the ambulance taking him to hospital.

Those who are accused, and returning to court tomorrow to face Additional District and Sessions Judge Reza Tarique Ahmed, are Bangla Bhai, Abdur Rahman, Ataur Rahman Sunny, Abdul Awal, Iftekhar Hasan Al Mamun, Sultan Hossain Khan and Khaled Saifullah alias Amjad.

Bangla Bhai, Abdur Rahman, Ataur Rahman, Abdul Awal and Saifullah are all members of JMB's Majlish-e-Shura.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at May 14, 2006 9:18 PM

Comments

Post a comment