Bangladesh Timeline - Year 2008

Date

Incidents

January 5

Police recovered four grenades, one sub-machine gun and 167 rounds of bullets at Balianpur of Monirampur sub-district in the Jessore district. Police sources said that the recovery followed the sighting of a grenade by children near a farm. No one was arrested in connection with the recovery.

January 8

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel recovered 12 kilograms of gunpowder and five kilograms of explosives from Digholshingha village at Chowgachha in the Jessore district. The explosives were hidden in sacks containing radish and were to be loaded in a Jessore bound truck. No one, however, could be arrested as the persons involved had managed to flee the scene before the arrival of the RAB personnel.

January 9

Police arrested a Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) militant, identified as Moazzem Hossain Mollah of Ghatbila village in Mollarhat sub-district in the Bagerhat district, while photocopying a leaflet at Sardarpara in Jamalpur town. Police sources said that the leaflet contained 'motivational speeches' of executed JMB leaders Shaikh Abdur Rahman, Ataur Rahman Sunny and Abdul Awal. Following Moazzem's preliminary confession, police raided his rented house at Adipaita village in Melandaha sub-district in the district on the same night and recovered some more leaflets.

January 10

The Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) urged the caretaker government to have dialogues with it under the government's initiative of dialogues with political parties. Rupayan Dewan, councillor of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Regional Council and central committee member of PCJSS, in a press release said the appointment of a set of five new advisors to the caretaker government is an important step for a credible election at the earliest.

January 11

Kamrul Ahsan alias Himu Khan, a left-wing extremist belonging to the Sarbahara Party, was arrested by the RAB personnel while holding a secret meeting of armed cadres of his outfit at Agorpur Bazaar in the Barisal district. A pipe gun and two bullets were recovered from the arrested extremist described as a leader of the Zia group and former chairman of the union parishad (local government body) of Agorpur. RAB sources said that Kamrul is an accused in five cases for murder and extortion.

January 18

Abdus Salam Pintu, former Deputy Minister in the Khaleda Zia Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Cabinet in Bangladesh admitted before a Dhaka court that the then Home Minister, Lutfozzaman Babar, and Ms. Zia’s son, Tariq Rahman, had given the nod for the August 21, 2004 grenade attack on the Awami League (AL) rally in capital Dhaka that led to the death of 23 AL activists. Pintu, who is currently under detention, said the plan was to kill AL leader Sheikh Hasina and senior leaders of the party. Pintu is the brother of Maulana Tajul Islam, a militant leader, who reportedly supplied the grenade to Harkat-ul Jihad-al Islami-Bangladesh (HuJI-B) leader Mufti Hannan to conduct the "operation." Both Babar and Rahman are now facing charges of corruption and misuse of power and are under detention.

January 20

A former zonal chief of the Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP), identified as Arif allias Badal, was killed during a shootout with RAB and police personnel at Ramjibanpur village in the Sujanagar sub-district of Pabna district. Arif’s accomplices, however, managed to escape. A single barrel gun, a shutter gun, a light machine gun and two bullets were recovered from the encounter site. RAB sources said that Arif, accused in several cases including nine for murder, had recently formed a new faction 'Maobadi Sangha Bangladesh'.

Two PBCP cadres, identified as Abbas Ali and Amirul Islam Khokon, were arrested during separate raids in the Meherpur sub-district and two arms and three bombs were recovered from them.

A judicial magistrate court in Chuadanga sent arrested journalist Rafiq Rahman, working for a Dhaka based vernacular daily Bhorer Kagoj, to jail. He had earlier been arrested on January 19 on the basis of a statement by Akram Hossain, an extremist belonging to the PBCP-Marxist–Leninist (PBCP-ML). He has been accused of printing posters of the outfit in his printing press.

RAB personnel recovered a time bomb from a pond of Montu Laskar in Pabahati village under Sadar sub-district in the Jhenidah district.

January 19

Sadar police in the Jhenidah district recovered five bombs in an abandoned state from a pond in Pabahati village.

January 21

Suspected extremists riding a motorbike killed a local BNP leader at Sailkupa in the Jhenidah district. Police sources said that the victim, Idris Ali, was the organising secretary of the BNP’s Sailkupa police station unit. However, no outfit has claimed responsibility for the killing.

A left-wing extremist leader belonging to the Red Flag faction of the Swadhin Purba Bangla Communist Party-Marxist-Leninist was killed during an encounter with the RAB personnel at Ratowal village in the Raninagar sub-district of Naogaon district. The slain extremist, identified as Ajit Pramanik of Bhatkoi village, was the second in command of the outfit and was accused in a number of cases, including five for murder with Atrai and Raninagar police stations. One RAB personnel was injured during the encounter. A foreign pistol, some ammunition and locally made arms were recovered from the encounter site.

A special judge court in Jamalpur sentenced three JMB militants to 34 years' rigorous imprisonment in connection with a grenade attack on police at Bhatara in the Sarishabari sub-district in 2007. The convicts identified as Habibur Rahman Yousuf of Satpoa village in Sarishabari sub-district, Sultan and Sohel of Charaildar village in Melandaha sub-district were also fined Taka 8000 each. Five other accused were acquitted. Yousuf was arrested first and following his confession, Sultan and Sohel were arrested at Charaildar village in the Melandaha sub-district on March 24, 2007 and 75 grenade bodies, 77 grenade caps and 27 packets of power gel were recovered from them.

January 22

RAB personnel recovered an AK-47 rifle, bullets and two brass statuettes during separate raids at Raozan and Boalkhali sub-district in the Chittagong district. No one was arrested in connection with the recovery.

January 23

A speedy trial tribunal in Rajshahi sentenced ten PBCP cadres to death for killing five people, including four policemen. The accused had killed four policemen and a leaseholder of Chowbaria Hat of Manda sub-district in the Naogaon district on April 16, 2006 while looting firearms and ammunition. The PBCP cadres sentenced to death include regional organising secretary Nurul Islam Shahin, cadres Tahurul Islam, Shafikul Islam, Abu Bakar Siddik, Nurunnabi Hasan, Shafikul Islam-2, Sanjay Kumar Saha, Pintu, Dilip and Tomal. A total 21 PBCP cadres were accused in the charge sheet of the case.

Security measures in the Khulna city were tightened following a threat issued by the Marxist-Leninist (ML) faction of the PBCP. The outfit mailed a hand-written letter to the Khulna Press Club threatening to carry out bomb and grenade attacks to take revenge for the killing of its operation commander Abdur Rashid alias Tapu who was killed in the Fakirhat sub-district of Bagerhat district in 2005.

January 24

Police arrested four members of the banned Harkat-ul-Jihad outfit at Amin hotel in Jessore. The arrestees were identified as Faruque Hossain, Idris Ali, Mosharef Hossain and Abdul Jalil of Chapainawabganj. The policemen raided Amin hotel on Chitra road at about 10:00pm after they were informed that a group of Islamist militants staying in the hotel had been circulating leaflets.

January 26

Second-in-command of the Janajudhdha faction of the PBCP, identified as Mohammad Ali, was killed by the RAB personnel during an encounter at Goaishbari village under Ataikula police station in the Pabna district. Firearms, bullets and bombs were recovered from the incident site. The RAB said that Ali was accused in seven cases for murder, extortion and other crimes, lodged with Ataikula, Santhia and Faridpur police stations.

Anwarul Islam Dablu, a bodyguard of former lawmaker Moshiur Rahman, was injured when unidentified militants hurled a bomb at him in a tea stall at Adarsha Para in the Jhenidah district.

January 27

Police arrested one militant of the PBCP-Janajuddha faction, identified as Ashraf Ali, from Gilatala in Khulna city. He is an accused in an Explosive Substances Act case filed in September 2005 with the Khan Jahan Ali police station.

The Speedy Trial court in Rajshahi sentenced seven JMB cadres to life imprisonment for carrying out bomb blasts in Chapainawabganj on August 17, 2005. The court further fined the convicts identified as Shahidullah Faruk Selim, Abul Kashem Tufan, Shakhawat Hossain Ziad, Abdullah Al Mamun Nasim, Hafez Ali Akbar Riaz, Shafiullah Shahid and Hafijur Rahman Dalim, Taka 10,000 each. Of the seven sentenced, two are still hiding.

One of the founding members of the New Biplobi Communist Party (NBCP), identified as 57 year old Akdil Hossain alias Buro was killed during a shootout between police and his PBCP cadres at Dakshin Mulgram village in the Kushtia district. Police raided the village where the NBCP cadres were holding a secret meeting. A shutter gun and eight rounds of bullet were recovered from the encounter site. Akdil's nephew Matiur Rahman Mati, however, alleged that a team of policemen in plain clothes had arrested Akdil while he was purchasing goods at a shop at Rayerbazar in capital Dhaka on January 27. Akdil reportedly was the acting chief of the outfit following the death of NBCP leader Monoranjan Goshai alias Mrinal who was allegedly killed in India in 2007.

The RAB personnel recovered seven bombs from Bhabanipur Binpara in the Shibganj sub-district of Chapainawabganj district. No one was arrested in connection with the recovery.

In a separate incident, RAB personnel recovered two powerful bombs at Muslimpara in the Chuadanga district.

Police unearthed an arms factory at Sonakhali Bazar in Morrelganj sub-district of Bagerhat district, . Six home-made guns, one revolver, 108 live cartridges and bullets and three sacks of arms making materials were recovered from the factory. Owner of the factory Enayet Khan and his partner Masum Khan were arrested. Officer-in-Charge Babul Akhter of Morrelganj police station said the arrested persons had been supplying arms to extremists and pirates in the Sundarban area and the south-western region of the country.

The Election Commission (EC) at a meeting with Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed asked the interim government to create an environment conducive to holding elections to city corporations and some municipalities in April, either by relaxing or by lifting the state of emergency in respective areas. The EC suggested that the emergency regime gradually allows 'indoor politics' to facilitate electoral reforms including registration of political parties with the commission. The process is supposed to be completed in June according to the announced electoral roadmap. Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain said, "Now it depends on the government whether it will lift or relax the state of emergency to create the environment required for holding the polls."

A PBCP-ML cadre was killed in a shootout between security forces and PBCP cadres at Bijnagar village in the Kushtia district. The dead was identified as Akbar Ali of Naodapara in Mirpur sub-district. A country-made shutter gun and seven rounds of bullet were recovered from the encounter site . Police said Akbar had been accused in 12 cases on different charges including murder.

February 11

A PBCP-Janajuddha cadre, identified as Mohammed Farman Ali was killed by his rivals within the outfit at Sonakandi village in the Santhia sub-district of Pabna district. The slain extremist was accused in several cases including murder and robbery.

Security forces in two separate raids recovered a large number of firearms and ammunition from the Mohalchhari and Dighinala sub-districts of the Khagrachhari district. While a sub-machine gun (SMG), a .303 rifle, a Belgium-made single barrel breech loading gun, a locally-made single barrel breech loading gun, a grenade, SMG magazines and at least 2,000 bullets of different types of firearms were recovered from the remote Bangamura village in Mohalchhari, an army team recovered two foreign-made single barrel breech loading gun, a grenade, 100 bullets and some documents from Kamukkapara. However, no one was arrested in connection with the recovery.

The RAB personnel arrested Mufti Moinuddin, alias Abu Zandal, a key accomplice of the HuJI-B operations commander Mufti Abdul Hannan near a mosque in national capital Dhaka, on charges of carrying out a grenade attack at a rally of former Prime Minister and AL leader Sheikh Hasina Wajed. Based on his confession, RAB forces seized 41 live grenades from a remote village in southwestern district of Satkhira. RAB sources said same type of grenades were also used during the attack on Sheikh Hasina's rally.

February 16

RAB personnel arrested three people and seized 21 explosives from their possession at Bapdanga village in the Chapainawabganj district. The arrested persons were trying to sell the explosives. The area along the international border with India has been used for trading arms and bombs for long, RAB sources said.

Intelligence agencies indicated that a large number of grenades could be kept hidden in places across the country. Hassan Mahmood Khandaker, Director General of RAB, when asked whether grenades are in the hands of militants, said, "Our suspicion points to everywhere". Security force personnel have seized at least 130 hand grenades, mostly of Arges brand, and the rest 36-MHE brand grenades, from different parts of the country. The bulk of the seized grenades were in possession of the HuJI-B, which had 'carried out' the major grenade attacks in the country.

The Speedy Trial Tribunal in Dhaka sentenced three JMB militants to death on charges of killing eight people, including two leaders of the cultural group Udichi, by carrying out suicide bomb attacks at the Udichi and Shata Dal Shilpi Goshthi offices in Netrakona in December 2005. The convicts were identified as Salahuddin alias Saleheen, Asaduzzaman Chowdhury alias Panir and Yunus Ali. Yunus Ali was tried in absentia as he is yet to be arrested. The court acquitted Fahima alias Farzana as her involvement with the killings was not proved.

February 19

A Dhaka court remanded HuJI-B leader Mufti Mainuddin alias Abu Jandal alias Masum Billah in custody for seven days. The investigating officer told the court that Jandal had supplied the grenades that were used in the attack.

RAB personnel recovered 12 bombs from Dhumi Hayatpur village in Ghorapakhia union under Shibgonj sub-district in the Chapainawabgonj district. The explosives were wrapped in a polythene bag and hidden underground. Nobody was arrested in connection with the recovery.

Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed said that Bangladesh should have its own brand of democracy as the Westminster model is not truly followed by any political party in power. Speaking at the launch of his book Nirbachita Sankolon (selected compilation) at Kurmitola Golf Club, General Moeen said "In our democracy, prime minister completely becomes one-man show. What we actually follow here is not the Westminster form." "We should have such model of democracy as will suit us and that's why I stated about our own brand of democracy", he added.

RAB personnel arrested a left-wing extremist belonging to an unspecified outfit and recovered firearms at Degree Char under Iswardi sub-district in the Pabna district. One rifle and eight round bullets were recovered from the extremist, identified as Khairul Alam alias Mollah of Krishnapur village in the Jhenidah district.

Police recovered two firearms in separate raids at Amlapara and Chourhas area in the Kushtia town. No one was arrested in connection with the recovery.

Daily Star reported that the HuJI-B leader Mufti Moinuddin alias Abu Zandal, now on a seven-day remand, during his interrogation has admitted his role in carrying out the August 21 grenade attack on an AL rally in 2004 with an intention of killing its chief Sheikh Hasina. Zandal, a close aide of detained HuJI-B operations commander Mufti Abdul Hannan, is being interrogated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the Taskforce for Interrogation (TFI) cell in Dhaka. According to the report, the CID proposes to bring two more HuJI-B cadres, Moulana Abul Kalam Azad Bulbul and Tamim, who were arrested earlier in connection with the August 21 attack, face to face with Zandal to verify information so far gained from him.

Over 600 rounds of bullets were recovered inside a sack at Piplia area beside the Dhaka-Kalinganj road in Gazipur district.

A grenade was found at Chowdhuripara under Ramgarh sub-district in Khagrachhari district.

Police recovered two India-made revolvers with eight rounds of bullet from a canal at Guard Para village of the Lalmonirhat district.

A suspected JMB cadre was arrested in Tangail by the police in Barisal. The arrested militant, identified as Habibur Rahman Habib, is the son of Shajahan Miah of Habla village. Police claimed that Habib is the second-in-command of JMB's Tangail district unit and also the cousin of absconding JMB commander Younus Miah, who has been sentenced to death in the Netrokona bomb blast case recently. Habib is also an accused in two cases filed with the Paltan police station in Dhaka and Tangail police station in connection with August 17 bomb blasts in 2005.

Police detained a JMB militant, Abdur Rahman, while he was giving money to an accused JMB cadre at a Chittagong Court. The arrested is the son of Rafiqul Islam of Ghuchung Chhara in Rangamati.

The two detained HuJI-B militants who were involved in the August 21, 2004 grenade attacks on the AL rally in capital Dhaka were placed on three days' remand. They were identified as Maulana Abul Kalam Azad alias Bulbul and Hossain Ahmed alias Tamim. The Criminal Investigation Department reportedly plans to interrogate them along with the detained HuJI-B militant Mufti Moinuddin alias Abu Zandal for cross-checking the information provided earlier by Zandal.

Police recovered 11 bombs, three pipe-guns, two bullets and an unspecified quantity of bomb-making material from the district town of Jhenidah and the adjoining Madhugram village.

RAB Personnel arrested six 'bomb throwers' of the Marxist Leninist-Janajuddha faction of the PBCP from Jhenidah town and its outskirts . They were identified as Intaj, Kader alias Zakir, Sohag alias Sagar, Liton, Mitu and Motiar, RAB said, adding that they confessed to their involvement.

Two bombs and two shutter guns were recovered by the RAB personnel from Dudhli village under Kaliganj sub-district in the Satkhira district.

RAB personnel recovered one AK-47 rifle, a magazine and 16 rounds of bullet from Noapara under Raozan sub-district in the Chittagong district.

Home Secretary Abdul Karim said that the Islamist militant groups in the country are home grown as they finance themselves domestically and are patronised by particular political parties. Speaking at the opening session of a day-long conference on militancy in Dhaka, Karim said, "Weapons or types of explosives that they have used may have foreign origins or [come from] neighbouring countries, but their financing is arranged internally - not from external sources." He also said that the caretaker government is focusing on dismantling the network of small 'extremist' groups such as Allahr Dal, Hijbut Tahrir and Hijbut Touhid.

A report by the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) titled, "Trend of Militancy in Bangladesh: August 2007-2008 said that since the August 17, 2005 country-wide explosions the RAB personnel have arrested 104 Islamist militants. The highest number of the arrested is from the Hizbut Touhid, comprising 46 percent. The BEI report also stated that in the past six months, militants have been preparing for grenade attacks, regrouping, strengthening their networks, training, engaging in propaganda warfare and abducting people.

Daily Star reported that the dormitories of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute in the national capital’s Tejgaon area have turned into a safe haven for fugitive criminals and militants. Criminals and militants are taking refuge within the three hostels of the Institute. Unidentified students and law enforcement agencies have confirmed that the criminals are being provided shelter by the Islami Chhatra Shibir. Several teachers with Jamaat background and with alleged links with the HuJI-B are also involved in the incident. Prof Shamshul Alam, principal of the Institute, admitted that some teachers of the institute are assisting the militants to hide in the dormitories, but said that the authorities are unable to take actions against those teachers since the issue is "out of their jurisdiction to deal with".

Police arrested a PBCP ‘regional commander’, identified as Abul Kalam Azad alias Kala, with two firearms, 11 rounds of bullet and one cartridge from Saurail village under Pangsha sub-district in the Rajbari district. He was reportedly wanted in five cases.

Army personnel recovered firearms and ammunition from Pumangpara under Dighinala sub-district of Khagrachhari district. The recovery included one Rifle, one, pipe gun, two magazines and 10 bullets.

During another search operation, troops from Guimara recovered a gun from Barapilak under Guimara police station in the same district.

Daily Star quoting intelligence agencies reports that the left-wing extremist outfits in the country's south-western region are regrouping with a seven-point programme to increase their strength and retaliate against the security forces. In late February 2008, the Marxist-Leninist faction of the PBCP organised a meeting of different outfits in Jhenidah and called for unity of all the groups to launch an "action programme". The programme reportedly includes bomb attack on law enforcers, educational institutions, passenger transport and important places in ten districts of the region, collection of toll from businessmen, distribution of leaflets, recruiting new cadres, removing class enemies and avenging the deaths of their colleagues in fake encounters. According to police sources, the left-wing extremists have killed ten persons and exploded nine bombs during the past one week in the area. They have also extorted a large amount of money from some businessmen in the south-western region.

Pratham Alo reports that the HuJI-B used to supply grenades to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) to carry out attacks in India. An arrested HuJI-B leader Abu Zandal has told the police during his interrogation in Dhaka that the outfit had sent several consignments of grenades to the LeT operating in India until 2004. The last such consignment however, could not be delivered as the LeT representative who was supposed to receive it was killed in an encounter with Border Security Force (BSF) near Bangladesh's Kaliganj frontier. Zandal reportedly told the interrogators that the LeT leader Yazdani, who was killed in 2006 by the Delhi Police, used to maintain links with the detained HuJI-B ‘operations commander’ Mufti Abdul Hannan. Zandal also claimed that the supply of ‘Arges’ grenades were being received from a fugitive, Maulana Tazuddin, believed to be hiding in South Africa.

Police recovered eight bombs from a bathroom attached to the students’ dormitory of Mukta hostel of Rangpur Medical College.

Five teachers and five office clerks of the Rangpur Carmichael College were transferred to different colleges after intelligence agencies and the education department found them responsible for instigating Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) activists to go on rampage on the college campus on February 6.

The United States State Department labelled HuJI-B as a foreign terrorist organisation (FTO). The outfit was previously put on the list of 'Other Terrorist Oragnisations' in 2003 by the US. A press release to this effect by the state department said, “The leader of HuJI-B signed the February 1998 fatwa sponsored by Usama bin Ladin [sic] that declared American civilians to be legitimate targets for attack. Since then, HuJI-B has been implicated in a number of terrorist attacks in Bangladesh and abroad.” Signed by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the Executive Order 13224, criminalises providing material support to HuJI-B by US citizens or people living under US jurisdictions, and freezes all HuJI-B property and interests in the US and in areas under US jurisdiction. The designation also enabled the US to deny visas to HuJI-B representatives, and requires US financial institutions to freeze assets held by HuJI-B.

The Bangladesh Home Ministry said there has been no operation of the HuJI-B in the country and the law enforcers were on alert to check against the resurgence of the outfit. Additional secretary of the home ministry Abdur Rashid said in a briefing at the ministry, “Intelligence agencies and lawmen are keeping watch so that the extremist organisation cannot resume its operation.”

RAB personnel unearthed a firearms-making factory in the national capital Dhaka’s Nayabazar area on March 6 and recovered three firearms and 12 bullets. A 24-year-old youth identified as Mohammad Imran Hossain was arrested in this connection. Firearms-making equipment and spare parts were recovered from his possession, a RAB statement said.

During a separate drive at 35 Shamchhabad Lane, the RAB personnel recovered two revolvers, one shutter gun, ammunition and other materials.

Two JMB cadres, Nashirul Haque Bintu and Hafizur Rahman Raju, were arrested at Bahalguri village under Bhurungamari sub-district in the Kurigram village. Both reportedly are close associates of JMB leader Matin Mehedi and had gone into hiding following the arrest of Matin in April 2007.

A JMB cadre, who was sentenced to death by a court, died while he was undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH). Nasirullah was admitted to the DMCH by the Dhaka Central Jail authority on March 4 as he had been suffering from jaundice. A senior special judge's court of Jhenidah sentenced him to death on February 28, 2006 in an explosive case. The case was pending in the High Court.

RAB personnel recovered 14 bombs at Terorashia village of Islampur union in the Chapainawabganj district. The bombs reportedly were hidden in a bamboo cluster. No one has been arrested in connection with the recovery.

Daily Star reports that leaders of the HuJI-B had formed a new political party called Islami Gono Andolan in 2006 with an objective of carrying out political activities openly. A seven member committee led by Maulana Abdus Salam, founder of the Fatematuz Zohra women's madrassa (seminary) in Sherpur in the Bogra district, carries out the organisational activities of the party. Former deputy commander of HuJI-B and founder of Ommulara Al Islami madrassa of Shajahanpur in Bogra, Abdul Hannan Sabbir, and HuJI-B leader Abdul Aziz are members of the committee.

A PBCP-Red Flag faction regional leader was killed during an encounter with the Rapid Action Battalion personnel at Nandanpur village in the Ataikula sub-district of Pabna district. The killed extremist Md Abdus Samad alias Dhala Samad hailed from Kakilakhali village and was accused in several cases, including four for murder. Eight bombs, two shutter guns and three rounds of bullet were recovered from the encounter site.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) submitted supplementary charge sheets of two cases filed in connection with the grenade attack on the British High Commissioner at the shrine of Hajrat Shahjalal in Sylhet in 2004. The charge sheets accused the HuJI-B leader Abu Zandal alias Mufti Mainuddin and Masum Billah Khaza of delivering the grenades for the attack. The investigation officer told although charge sheets of the cases were submitted earlier, further investigation was carried out on the basis of the confessional statement of HuJI-B ‘operations commander’ Mufti Abdul Hannan, who indicated that the Abu Zandal had provided the grenades through the outfit’s operatives Sharif Shahedul Alam Bipul and Delwar Hossain Ripon.

Nine JMB militants were sentenced to life imprisonment for their involvement in the serial bomb blasts in Barguna on August 17, 2005. They were also fined Taka 5,000 each. They were identified as Asadul Arif, Rezaul Karim, Hafez Mohammad Mostafa Hasan, Hafez Al Amin, Shahidul Islam, Masum Billah, Abdul Haque Abbasi, Hafez Abdur Rahman and Shahid.

Police in Sirajganj district arrested a leader of the PBCP from Char Boyra village. The arrested extremist Abul Hossain is an accused in many cases including murder, killing police personnel, attacking the police camp at Randhunibari and looting of arms and ammunition.

Two persons were injured in a bomb attack on a brick field at Kumrabaria village in the Sadar sub-district of Jhenidah district. Truck driver Alam of Abhoy Nagar sub-district in Jessore and night guard of the brick field Amjad Hossain were injured when unidentified militants hurled two bombs, its owner Sharfaraj Khan Dinu said, adding, the militants also fired shots.

Seven persons were injured in a powerful explosion near a police patrol van at Noapara rail station under Abhoynagar sub-district in the Jessore district. Eyewitnesses told that an unidentified man hurled the bomb on the police van that was patrolling the area. Police sources quoting a Sub Inspector who was inside the police van during the bomb attack said the act was an isolated incident to create panic and it was not targeted at the police van.

Separately, two PBCP-Janajuddha cadres were arrested from an unspecified village in the Chuadanga district while collecting Taka 20,000 as extortion from a doctor.

RAB personnel arrested Mohammed Hares Sarder, a regional leader of the Rad Flag faction of the PBCP, from Joydebpur intersection in the Gazipur district. Following his interrogation, a Chinese revolver, an SBBL gun made in Belgium, two Burmese shutter gun and two locally made shutter guns were recovered from Dhanuaghata village in the Faridpur sub-district of Pabna district.

A BCP extremist who had been arrested in Shailkupa sub-district in Jhenidah district on March 17 was seriously injured while trying to flee from police custody . The extremist, identified as Munna of Kacher Kole village had been arrested with a gun and three bullets.

A Dhaka court sentenced three JMB militants, including the outfit's former second-in-command Siddiqul Islam Bangla Bhai's wife, Fahima alias Farzana, to different terms of punishment for the bombings at Udichi and Shatadal Shilpi Goshthi offices in Netrakona in December 2005. The other convicts are Salahuddin alias Saleheen and Asaduzzaman Chowdhury alias Panir. Salahuddin was sentenced to 31 years in jail while Panir and Fahima were sentenced to 10 and five years respectively. Panir and Fahima were also fined Taka 10,000 and 5,000 each, in default of which they will have to serve six and one months more in jail respectively. The court acquitted a fugitive JMB member Yunus Ali, as his involvement with the bomb blasts was not proved.

The RAB personnel seized a locally-made pipe-gun and one bullet of shutter gun that had been left abandoned at Juspur in the Tanore sub-district of Rajshahi district.

The Court of Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge in Chittagong sentenced four Islami Chhatra Shibir cadres to death and three other Shibir cadres to life imprisonment for killing eight people, including six Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists, in Bahodderhat on July 12, 2000. Each of the convicted cadres was also fined Taka 50,000 each. The three with life terms will have to stay in prison a year more if they fail to pay the fine. Thirteen ICS cadres charge sheeted in the case were acquitted by the court. The ICS cadres had opened fire on a bus carrying BCL cadres, student wing of the Awami League, at Bahodderhat in Chittagong killing six BCL cadres, the driver and an auto-rickshaw driver.

RAB personnel recovered 12 hand bombs from Gopalpur village in the Sujanagar sub-district of Pabna district . RAB authorities suspect that the bombs might have been kept at the village by the left-wing extremists.

A top militant of the Jasad Gono Bahini (JGB), Mahir Uddin, was killed in an encounter by the police at Zagannathpur village in the Alamdanga sub-district of Chuadanga. The police later recovered Mahir's dead body along with three shutter guns and nine bullets from the incident site. Mahir was a hardcore militant of the JGB and a close accomplice of its chief Azibor Rahman, police said. He was accused in some cases, including three for murder, filed with different police stations in Chuadanga and Kushtia districts.

Police recovered arms and ammunition, including an AK-47 assault rifle, one .22- bore rifle, a single-barrel gun and 66 rounds of ammunition from Bongram village in the Khoksha sub-district of Kushtia. Police said the operation was launched at noon on the information that some cadres of Razzaq Bahini are holding a secret meeting at a house at the village.

The Pabna district unit commander of PBCP-Red Flag, identified as Md. Shimul Pramanik, was killed during an encounter with RAB personnel and the outfit's cadres in Salaipur village in Goaishpur union. A point 22 revolver, a pipe gun, a shutter gun and seven bullets were recovered from the site of the encounter. Two RAB personnel were injured in the incident.

April 9

The United Kingdom (UK) Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, said that there was a terrorist linkage between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom. She told reporters at the residence of the British High Commissioner, "There is a potential linkage between terrorists in Britain and terrorists in Bangladesh and we have shared interest and endeavour to tackle it through both short- and long-term measures." She also said that there would be a joint working group in June 2008 on countering terrorism comprising officials of both countries.

A five day India-Bangladesh Border Coordination Conference began at the BSF headquarters in New Delhi where the Indian side handed over a revised list of 117 militant hideouts operating in Bangladesh. A list of 141 hideouts of members of Indian insurgent groups living in Bangladeshi territory was given to Bangladeshi side during the previous round of talks in October 2007.

April 12

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested a person suspected of lobbing grenades at an AL rally in the capital Dhaka on August 21, 2004. CID sources said that Arif Hasan Sumon had also carried bombs used in the Ramna blasts on April 14, 2001. He was arrested from his house at Ali and Noor Real Estate Housing in the capital’s Mohammadpur area.

April 13

A PBCP-Janajuddha ‘regional leader’ was killed during an encounter with the police in Jhenidah. Two policemen were injured in the incident. The slain extremist was identified as Rezaul Islam alias Razu of Chandipur village. He was arrested on April 12 from Lakhmikol village and had been taken to the encounter site for recovery of firearms. Two bombs and a firearm with two bullets were recovered subsequent to the encounter.

Police recovered four bombs and a large quantity of bomb-making materials and a leaflet at Bhadughar Bus Stop in the Brahmanbaria town. Two persons were arrested in connection with the recovery.

April 14

Suspected left-wing extremists belonging to an unidentified outfit killed a relative of a PBCP-Janajuddha leader at Gachha village in the Tala sub-district of Satkhira district. The victim, identified as shrimp farmer Mahadev Kumar Sarkar, was returning home on a motorcycle when the extremists lobbed explosives targeting him. Mahadev is related to the local PBCP-Janajuddha leader Shukdev Sarkar.

Security forces recovered nine locally made grenades, one 9-mm pistol, two locally-made guns and 15 bullets were recovered at Brahmanbaria.

Police recovered five Arges grenades, one sub-machine carbine (SMC), two of its magazines and 68 bullets, including 30 SMC bullets, at North Damuddya in the Shariatpur district.

April 16

The Indian Government confirmed that the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) leaders are carrying out business activities in Bangladesh. The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Radhika V Selvi, informed the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Indian Parliament) that inputs suggest that the ULFA has been using the territory of Bangladesh to procure and smuggle arms and explosives into India. The Minister was replying to a question on whether ULFA commanders have a vast network running seven hotels and six nursing homes, besides procuring weapons through the port city of Cox’s Bazaar in Bangladesh.

A Rajshahi divisional court awarded life terms to all 11 JMB militants in a sedition case filed for taking combat training to fight against the State in July 2005. Judge M. Sajedul Karim also fined the accused TK 20,000 each, in default of which they are to spend two more years in jail. Delivering the judgement, the court said that the militants were engaged in anti-State activities and that they had been receiving exclusive combat training on arms, ammunition and detonators with ulterior motives against the State was proved without any doubt.

April 18

Abu Abbas, a GMF regional leader was killed during an encounter with RAB personnel at Kakiladah graveyard of Mirpur sub district in the Kushtia district. The RAB personnel recovered a Pakistan-made rifle and five rounds of bullet from the incident site. Police said Abbas was accused in 16 cases on different charges, including murder.

The RAB personnel killed Sainul Haq alias Hira, a top cadre of Red Flag faction of the PBCP-ML at Bhatkui village in the Naogaon district. A shutter gun, a pipe gun, a rifle and three bullets were recovered from the incident site. Hira had been accused in several cases on different charges, including murder.

April 19

A close associate of the imprisoned operations commander of the HuJI-B, Mufti Abdul Hannan, was arrested by the RAB personnel from a forest area in the Fatikchhari sub-district of Chittagong. The militant, Maulana Shihabuddin, who runs a madrassa, is suspected of having been involved in several grenade attacks across the country.

RAB personnel recovered an AK-47 rifle, a magazine and 49 rounds of bullet from Noapara of Raozan sub-district in the Chittagong district.

April 20

Police produced 29 arrested JMB militants before a court in Mymensingh. The militants included Salahuddin Salehin and Asaduzzaman Ponir, two cadres who have been awarded death sentence in a case of bomb explosion.

April 23

Daily Star quoting intelligence agencies reported that leaders and cadres of left-wing extremist groups have been active in recent times in the remote areas of Tala, Assassuni, Paikgachha, Keshabpur, Manirampur and Dumuria sub-districts of different districts in south-western region of the country. These extremists had reportedly fled the region following a crackdown by the security forces.

April 26

The BDR personnel recover four firearms and gunpowder following an hour-long exchange of fire with gunrunners in the remote Harirampur area of Baghaichhari sub-district in the Rangamati district. The gun runners, however, manage to escape from the incident site. Subsequently, the BDR personnel demolish an incomplete structure being built there by the smugglers.

The RAB personnel arrest five suspected Islamist militants in connection with the April 13 Brahmanbaria bomb blast. The militants are identified as Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, Mohammed Saiful Islam, Mohammed Shamsul Islam, Mohammed Jamaluddin and Tajul Islam Al Mahmud alias Baba Tajul. An explosive, five electronic detonators and some Islamic books are also recovered from the arrestees. RAB sources say that it is yet to be ascertained whether the arrested, including a retired lance corporal of Bangladesh Army and the prime suspect of the case Mohammed Shamsul Islam, have any connection with any militant outfit.

Police arrest three injured cadres of the Marxist-Leninist faction of the PBCP following an encounter at Azampur in the Mirpur sub-district of Kushtia district. A shutter gun and 18 bullets are recovered from their possession. They are identified as Sumon and Kaber of Kakiladah village in the Mirpur sub-district and Rana of Houspur village in the Alamdanga sub-district in Chuadanga district.

Police in Sirajganj arrest Abul Hossain, a PBCP leader from Char Boyra village in Sirajganj Sadar sub-district. Police sources say that Hossain is an accused in a case for looting arms from Randhunibari police outpost and killing a policeman.

April 29

The Chittagong Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal sentences four JMB militants to 26 years' rigorous imprisonment (RI) each for their involvement in a bomb attack on the court of the then Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate Akram Hossain in October 2005. The four convicts are identified as JMB Chittagong regional commander Jabed Iqbal alias Mohammad, cadres of the outfit’s Tangail branch Shahadat, Abul Malek alias Laltu and bomb expert Jahidul Islam alias Mizan alias Bomb Mizan. Mizan is still at large.

The Jhenidah Special Tribunal sentences two JMB militants to life-term RI under the Explosives Act. The accused Abu Hasan Biswas of Ullapara village under Kaliganj sub-district and Zakir Hossain alias Razu of Kanyadah village under Harinakunda sub-district in the Jhenidah district were arrested on April 21, 2007 and had confessed to have hidden 140-grams aluminium powder, 900-grams potassium chlorite, two-kilograms of explosives, iron used in fishing net, black tape and 30 booklets on Jihad and the Taliban movement, 20 magazines, 20 audio cassettes and two pieces of magnet, which were subsequently recovered.

April 30

A group of ICS cadres manhandle Proctor Prof Dr Jasim Uddin at the CU Railway Station premises.

May 1

Suspected left-wing extremists kill one police man and injure four others during an attack on a police patrol team at Taherpur of Bagmara sub-district in the Rajshahi district. The extremists also manage to escape with five firearms from the police personnel. Police sources say that the attack occurred when a group of 25 extremists raided a weekly cattle market. Didar Ahmed, superintendent of police in Rajshahi says, "The attackers may belong to some Sarbahara outfit (left-wing extremist) since there are no other underground groups in the area."

May 2

An activist of the ICS assaults an assistant proctor of the Chittagong University (CU).

May 6

The PBCP asks eight garment owners of Fatullah in the Nawabganj district to pay extortion amount to the outfit. Four owners have already filed complain with the Police and have asked for security. The report says that the owner of Ruposhi Garments and Director of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) Mohammad Suhrawardy was asked to pay Taka 400,000 by Abir Hasan, regional commander of the PBCP. Another leader of the outfit Ziaul Haque Zia who too spoke to Mohammad Suhrawardy said that the outfit needs the money to free its jailed cadres. Similarly, Taka 600,000 was demanded from garment owner Abdul Based, Taka 650,000 from the owner of Fiber Tex Garment Sohel Nazrul, and Taka 400,000 from SA Textile mills owner Ripon.

One PBCP cadre, Bachchu alias Nishan, is arrested from Haybatpur in the Natore district for his involvement in May 2 attack on the police personnel.

May 7

One PBCP cadre, Bachchu alias Nishan, who was arrested from Haybatpur in the Natore district for his involvement in May 2 attack on the police personnel, is remanded for seven days for further interrogation. His interrogation has led to the recovery of five looted arms from a pond at Naldanga in the Natore district.

One suspected New Biplobi Communist Party (NBCP) cadre, Sahidul Islam, is arrested from Chapra village in the Kumarkhali sub-district of Kushtia district. An LG gun and two bullets are recovered from his possession.

One NBCP cadre Tofazzal Hossain is arrested from Piralipara village in the Rajbari district. Tofazzal is suspected to be an associate of the NBCP chief Akdil Hossain who was killed in an encounter with the police on April 1. A shutter gun and six bullets are recovered from Tofazzal’s possession.

May 8

The RAB personnel arrest two PBCP cadres from Durgapur Bazaar in the Rajshahi district in connection with the May 2 attack on the Taherpur Police outpost and the murder of a police man.

May 12

The Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed announces that the ninth parliamentary election would be held in the third week of December. Addressing the nation, he also says the government would either suspend or relax relevant provisions of the emergency power rules to create an environment congenial to electioneering. Besides, the caretaker government would open a formal dialogue with the political parties on May 22. In the 26-minute speech broadcast on radio and television, Fakhruddin Ahmed also declares withdrawal of the countrywide ban on indoor politics with immediate effect.

May 13

The Chittagong Second Additional Metro Sessions court sentenced ICS cadre Mohammad Nasir alias Shibir Nasir to 17 years rigorous imprisonment in an arms case filed in 1992. The Judge Ekramul Haque Chowdhury gave the same punishment to Mohammed Oli Ullah, a close accomplice of Nasir who is also an accused in the case. This is the first case out of 35 criminal cases against Nasir in which he was convicted. Nasir has been in jail since March 1998.

May 14

A girl, Subarna alias Sumi, was injured in a bomb blast at Kanchon Nagar in the Jhenidah town. The bomb exploded when Sumi and another child Rokon were playing with it unknowingly, police sources said. Police later recovered another bomb from the incident site.

May 15

A Dhaka court sent the detained HuJI-B leader, Arif Hasan Sumon, to jail as he denied his involvement in the bomb attack on a Communist Party of Bangladesh rally on July 20, 2001. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) produced him in the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Waliul Islam at the end of his five-day remand. The CID sources said Sumon had confessed to his involvement during the interrogation in the remand. But in the court, he denied his involvement in the attack. Earlier, Suman gave a confessional statement before a court admitting his involvement in the bomb attack at Ramna Batamul during the celebration of Pahela Baishakh on April 14 in 2001.

A Chittagong court sent two prime accused, Hafizur Rahman alias Hafiz and Din Mohammad, in the Chittagong arms haul case on a four-day remand. In the largest-ever arms haul, the police seized 10 truckloads of arms and ammunition at the Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Ltd jetty on April 2, 2004.

May 16

Army personnel recovered firearms, ammunition, firearms-making equipment mobile phones, medicine and surgical equipment from two hideouts of militants at Ugoichhari in the Rangamati district and Ujirchhara in the Khargachhari district in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region. The recoveries from Ugoichhari included two pistols, bullets, uniforms, nylon belts, firearms-making equipment, a drill machine, a dice and a toy pistol. At Ujirchhara, one pistol, one rifle, 20 bullets, two mobile phones, medicine and surgical equipment were recovered.

May 17

Police recovered arms and bomb-making materials and arrested a woman at Bihoroil-Kalitala village in the Tanore sub-district of Rajshahi district. Explosions had occurred inside the house of the arrested woman on May 15 injuring her two children. Police suspect that the woman is a member of an unidentified left-wing extremist outfit. The recovered items include a knife, gunpowder, grinding stone and other bomb-making materials.

The Council of Advisers approved the Anti-Terrorism Ordinance 2008 which provides for death sentence as the maximum penalty or life imprisonment of an offender along with his patron and shelter-giver in an act of terrorism. Earlier, the council had approved the law in principle. As per the new ordinance, "If any person commits terrorist activity, he or she will be awarded death sentence or life imprisonment or maximum 20 years and minimum 3 years rigorous imprisonment." In addition, there is a provision for imposing monetary fine on the offender. The Ordinance gives the Bangladesh Bank the authority to identify monetary transactions through banking channel for terror funding. All crimes under the Ordinance will be cognizable and non-bailable offences.

May 18

RAB personnel arrested a JMB cadre, identified as Dudu Mia alias Member from Uttar Moheshpur village in the Khetlal sub-district in the Joypurhat district. The arrested militant is one among the 61 JMB cadres charge sheeted in an arms loot case on August 14, 2003.

May 20

Hasan Mahmood Khandaker, Director General of the RAB said that the militant group HuJI-B had been marginalised following a crackdown. "Bangladesh banned the HuJI group years ago after it was banned in the United States and other countries as a top militant organisation," he said. He further said, "Dozens of HuJI activists in Bangladesh including their chief Mufti Abdul Hannan have been detained over the years. While we don’t rule out the existence of HuJI in Bangladesh, we can say their activity has been drastically controlled by the security agencies here."

May 21

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) showed two operatives of the HuJI-B, Maulana Idris Ali and Maulana Monir Hossain, as arrested in the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) rally bomb attack case and filed a petition with a Dhaka court seeking their 10-day remand. Idris and Monir are also accused in a number of grenade and bomb attack cases, including those filed in connection with the August 21, 2001 grenade attack on an Awami League rally in Dhaka and the April 14, 2001 bombing of the Pahela Baishakh celebrations at Ramna Batamul.

RAB carried out a raid targeting a secret camp of the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) in the forest areas of Kalachara - a border point between Fatikchari and Mirsari sub-districts in Chittagong district. The report further said that no one was arrested since the camp inmates had fled sensing the arrival of the RAB personnel. However, at least 50 rounds of firing were exchanged between both sides following the raid. Two locally made guns and booklets were recovered from the camp.

May 24

Police arrested 13 militants belonging to Allahr Dal at Nayansukh village in the Sundarganj sub-district in Gaibandha. Raid was conducted following a tip off at the Allahr Dal activist Mainuddin's house. The arrestees were identified as Liton Mia, regional leader of the outfit, Mozammel, Rabinoor, Ayub Ali, Hazarat Ali, Hossain Ali, Mahbubur Rahman, Abdul Khaleque, Hafizur Rahman, Raju Mia, Angur Ali, Kawsar Ali and Mainuddin. All the13 arrestees confessed to the Police that they are activists of Allahr Dal led by Matin Mehdi. During the raid the police seized donation receipts of the banned organisation and various other documents corroborating militant activities from Liton Mia's possession.

A GMF regional leader was arrested at Berbari village under Shailkupa sub-district in the Jhenidah district. The extremist, identified as Asaduzzaman alias Samrat, later led the police to recover two firearms from his house. In an attempt to escape, he reportedly opened fire on the police and was injured in the retaliatory action.

May 26

Hamidul Islam Samrat alias Monirul, a PBCP-ML regional leader was killed in a shootout between Police and the outfit’s cadres at Bhalaipur village in the Alamdanga sub-district of Chuadanga district. Police also arrested a woman accomplice of the slain extremist, identified as Rahima Khatun, after the shootout and recovered a shutter gun and eight bullets from the encounter site.

Police arrested Kubbat Ali, a top NBCP cadre from Kaloa bazaar in the Kushtia district. Hailing from Radhanagar village, Kubbat was an accused in several cases, including murder.

Police arrested Seken Malitha, a GMF cadre from a Rajbari-bound passenger bus at Kumarkhali bus stand in the Kushtia district. Seken, a resident of Muragacha village in Khoksa sub-district, was an accused in several cases, including extortion and abduction.

RAB personnel arrested a suspected HuJI-B cadre from his Sonatundi village house in the Sreepur sub-district of Magura. The arrested militant, identified as Farhad Hossain, was a health-worker of the Magura-based Islamic NGO 'Ehsan S Bangladesh', RAB sources said. Earlier, another HuJI-B cadre, Abul Kalam Azad alias Bulbul of Jhenidah, who too worked in the same NGO had been arrested in connection with a grenade attack on former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka.

May 27

RAB personnel arrested a militant of the Allahr Dal from Shams village under Sundarganj sub-district in the Gaibandha district. The arrested militant, identified as Kutubuddin, was the Sundarganj sub-district leader of the outfit. During interrogation, Kutubuddin confessed to his involvement with the activities of the outfit and said that he was entrusted with the responsibility of regrouping the militants by the outfit.

The District and Sessions court in Chuadanga sentenced four top cadres of the Laltu faction of the Banglar Communist Party (BCP) to life imprisonment for killing a farmer in 1999. The convicts were also fined Taka 10,000 each. The BCP cadres had demanded Taka 500,000 from the farmer Dekhe Ali of Ukta village and killed him on May 21, 1999 after he declined to give in to the demands. Three of the convicts have been arrested and another identified as Sayeed Hossain is still absconding. The BCP chief Laltu alias Nuruzzaman is currently lodged in the Kushtia prison and is an accused in at least 20 cases.

May 28

The District and Sessions Judge's Court in Satkhira framed charges against two HuJI-B cadres, identified as Moinuddin alias Abu Zandal and Nazrul Islam Gharami, for possession of 44 grenades. Zandal, a close aide to the arrested HuJI-B ‘operations commander’ Mufti Hannan, was arrested from Gazipur on February 14, 2008. Following information provided by Zandal, the RAB on February 15 arrested Gharami from Nalta bazaar in the Kaliganj sub-district. On the same day, after receiving a confessional statement from Gharami, the RAB personnel recovered 44 grenades from a pond at Shimulia village.

May 30

RAB personnel arrested two suspected HuJI-B cadres who were part of the team that lobbed grenades on an Awami League rally in the capital Dhaka on August 21, 2004. RAB sources said that Rafiqul Islam alias Sabuj was arrested from Baliakandi of Rajbari and Uzzal Hossain alias Ratan was arrested from Noahata in the Magura district on May 30. Both were present during a press conference the RAB held in Dhaka on May 31 where both admitted to their crimes. RAB officials further said that five other persons with suspected links to the HuJI-B were also arrested during a raid in the Kurshi village of Rajbari district and have been handed over to the Police. Some documents and two books on jihad were recovered from the arrested militants.

June 1

The Metropolitan Special Tribunal-6 in Dhaka sentenced three JMB cadres to 20 years' rigorous imprisonment for possessing bomb making materials. The convicts Wahidul Islam alias Habib, Shafiqul Islam alias Russell and Hafez Ibrahim, were also fined Tk 10,000 each. A team of RAB personnel had arrested the three JMB cades in January 2006 and had recovered 71 items including ammonium nitrate, detonators, iron rods, iron sheets, batteries, gunpowder, 27 wrist watches, electric circuits, electronic metres, time devices and different other bomb making materials from their possession.

Abdur Rashid alias Sagor, a PBCP extremist was killed during an encounter between RAB personnel and PBCP cadres at Namkan village of Bagmara sub-district in the Rajshahi district. A shutter gun, a bullet, an empty cartridge, two machetes and two knives were recovered from the encounter site.

HuJI-B leader Rafiqul Islam Sabuj was arrested by RAB personnel at Baliakandi under Rajbari district.

Abdus Sattar Malita, a regional leader of the PBCP-Janajuddha, was killed in an encounter with Police at Dhopabila village under the Sadar sub-district of Jhenidah district. A gun, three bombs and two bullets were recovered from the encounter site. The slain militant was arrested on June 2 at Garaganj bazaar under the Shailkupa sub-district and was accompanying the Police on the day of the encounter for the recovery of hidden firearms.

Harun-ur-Rashid alias Khoka, a regional leader of the PBCP-Janajuddha, was killed during an encounter at Durgapur village under Jhenidah Sadar sub-district. The extremist, an accused in Gana Union Parishad Chairman Sharaf murder case, had been arrested at Abdullahpur in Dhaka on June 5 and had been taken to Durgapur for recovery of firearms. A gun, two bullets and a bomb were recovered from the encounter site.

Two PBCP-Janajuddha cadres, identified as Thandu and Fazar, were arrested during separate raids conducted in various places of the Jhenidah district Three light guns, three bombs and six bullets were recovered during the raids.

HuJI-B leader Rafiqul Islam Sabuj confessed to his involvement in the grenade attack on the Awami League rally in the capital Dhaka on August 21, 2004. His statement was recorded in the court of Magistrate Abdullah Al Mamun where he had been produced on the expiry of his five-day remand under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). A total of 14 people have so far been arrested in connection with the grenade attack. Of them, eight gave statements before the court, admitting their involvement in the attack.

June 8

Three powerful bombs were recovered at Mathpara village in the Shailakupa sub-district of Jhenidah. Acting on a tip-off, a RAB team recovered the bombs and two knives wrapped in a polythene bag.

June 9

Police arrested a BCP cadre from his house at Paigram village under Phultala sub-district in the Khulna district. Police sources said that the arrested extremist Arif Molla was wanted in several criminal cases for arson, murder and extortion. A pipe-gun and a live gun cartridge were also seized from the house of the extremist.

June 10

Anisur Rahman alies Anis, a regional leader of the Sarbahara Bahini was killed during an encounter near Sargram Dakhil Madrassa at Sargram village in the Ataikula sub-district of Pabna district. The extremists were holding a secret meeting when the security forces carried out a raid on the site. A single-barrel gun and three bullets were recovered from the encounter site. Official sources said that the extremist was wanted in nine murder cases filed with Santhia, Faridpur and Ataikula Police stations.

Special Tribunal Court No 3 in Magura on June 10 sentenced four HuJI-B cadres to 20 years rigorous imprisonment (RI) each for possessing arms and explosives. The court also fined them Taka 5,000 each. The HuJI-B cadres sentenced have been identified as Mokaddes Ali, Bakibillah, Khalil and Rafikul, of whom the first two are in custody and the latter two are absconding. Both Mokaddes Ali and Bakibillah, ameer (chief) and general secretary of the Magura district Khelafat Majlish (KM), had been arrested on October 29, 2007 following a statement by operations commander of the outfit, Mufti Abdul Hannan. The Security force personnel had also recovered two Chinese rifles, 86 rounds of bullet, two bombs, two pairs of army uniform and a huge quantity of explosives from the grounds of Kharabila field in Nohata area under Mohammadpur sub-district following their interrogation.

Raiding Nirala residential area in Khulna city, RAB personnel recovered ten live bombs, six firearms, 15 bullets and a lot of arms making materials. None were arrested in connection with the recovery.

June 11

RAB personnel recovered five bombs, two firearms and bullets from Teltopi village of Harinakundo sub-district in the Jhenidah district.

The Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) released its "2007-2008 Trends in Militancy in Bangladesh" report. It said that the right-wing militants have regrouped across the country over the past year, putting together their networks and strengthening training and indoctrination operations despite a lull in terrorist attacks in the same period. The report said that the reports of bomb explosions and bomb-making cells indicate that militant groups are once again organising themselves for terrorist attacks. According to the report, the JMB militants have regrouped and launched recruitment drives. They are reportedly holding public meetings, raising funds and running recruitment drives in Gaibandha while the Allahr Dal, a JMB offshoot, is active in the south-west, especially in Kushtia, Meherpur and Chuadanga.

The President promulgated the Anti-Terrorism Ordinance 2008 which provides death penalty for offences like terror financing and staging murder to create panic and jeopardise country's sovereignty, reports Daily Star. The Ordinance came into effect through a gazette notification. The Ordinance provides for the constitution of Special Tribunals to deal with such offences, which are non-bailable. The Ordinance also empowers Bangladesh Bank to freeze account of a suspected terror and give directions to banks concerned to take preventive measures against monetary transactions for financing terrorist acts. The timeframe for resolving a case in anti-terrorist offence has been fixed for six months after charge framing.

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) filed charge sheets in the August 21, 2004 grenade attack on the AL rally in Dhaka case. Among the accused were 22 persons including HuJI-B operations commander Mufti Abdul Hannan and the BNP leader and former deputy minister Abdus Salam Pintu. The CID, in the chargesheet said that the attack was intended to kill AL leader Sheikh Hasina as she was perceived to be "harmful" for Islam.

June 12

Daily Star, quoting law enforcing agencies, reported that after a respite for months since promulgation of emergency, the Islamist militant organisations are regrouping again in 12 south-western districts. According to the report, at least 12,000 cadres of four militant organisations, Allahr Dal, JMB, HuJI-B and Hizb-ut Towhid, have become active again in the districts of Kushtia, Meherpur, Jhenidah, Magura, Chuadanga, Jessore, Khulna, Narail, Bagerhat, Rajbari, Faridpur and Satkhira.

June 13

Police arrested three extremists and recovered arms and ammunition during separate raids conducted in the Kushtia district. Kumarkhali police arrested Bashar, an absconding cadre of the Gono Bahini, from Gorai shoal and recovered a country-made pistol with four bullets from his possession. A Kushtia court had sentenced Bashar in absentia to 14 years rigorous imprisonment (RI) in an arms case in 2002. In another raid, Daulatpur police arrested two extremists belonging to unspecified outfits from their house at Farakur and recovered a pistol with three bullets. The arrested persons were identified as Safiqul Islam alias Tengor and Rafiqul Islam alias Ghungur.

June 14

Daily Star reported that the cadres of the PBCP have started regrouping and committing various crimes in remote areas including Chalan Beel in the Sirajganj, Natore and Pabna districts. Many of the mosques, temples, madrassas, market places in outlying char areas in the three districts have turned into safe havens for the extremists. Some 15 sub-districts including Belkuchi, Chowhali, Ullapara, Shahzadpur and Tarash in the Sirajganj district, Singra and Gurudashpur in Natore district and Santhia, Bera, Ataikula, Sujanagar, Bhangura, Atghoria and Chatmohor in Pabna district have witnessed activities by the PBCP cadres.

A left-wing extremist belonging to an unspecified outfit was killed by unknown persons at Mirzapur village in Sadar sub-district of Jhenidah. The extremist was identified as Fazlur Rahman of the same village. Fazlur was reportedly returning home from a village market when the assailants shot him dead.

June 15

A court in Satkhira sentenced two HuJI-B cadres to 20 years rigorous imprisonment (RI) each for possession of 44 Arges grenades. The court also fined both the militants Taka 20,000 each. The militants were identified as Moin Uddin alias Abu Zandal, a close aide to the outfit’s operations commander Mufti Abdul Hannan and Nazrul Islam Gharami, son of Mujibur Rahman Gharami from Shimulia village in Debhata sub-district. Based on the statement by Abu Zandal, RAB personnel had arrested Nazrul Islam Gharami and recovered 44 grenades of Arges brand hidden in a pond in Shimulia village under Debhata sub-district on February 15.

June 16

Four PBCP extremists were arrested from the remote Boroichora village in Chalon Beel area of Tarash sub-district in the Sirajganj district. They have been identified as Abdul Kayum, Abdul Jalil, Hossain Mandal, and Mozibar Rahman, all haling from Boroichora village. Police sources said that the extremists are wanted in several cases for killing, robbery and abduction.

A PBCP extremist, identified as Md Khurjan, was killed allegedly by rivals within his own outfit at Satgasa village in the Atghoria sub-district of Pabna. Police said the extremist was probably abducted from Kodomtoli market and later killed at Satgasa.

June 17

Four HuJI-B cadres were sentenced to 20 years' rigorous imprisonment (RI) in an explosives case in Magura. The special tribunal also fined them Taka 5,000 each. The militants were identified as Mokaddes Ali, ameer (chief) of Magura district unit Khelafat Majlish, its general secretary Bakibillah, Khalilur Rahman and Rafikul Islam Sabuj. Earlier on June 10, they were sentenced to 20 years' RI for possessing illegal arms.

Police produced 29 JMB cadres, including Salahuddin alias Salehin and Asaduzzaman Ponir, who have been awarded death sentence and the wife of executed JMB second-in-command Siddiqul Islam Bangla Bhai before the Court of Fourth Additional Judge in Mymensingh. They are accused in 11 different cases, including Netrokona bomb blast case, Jibontala Madrassa case with Bhaluka Police Station and another case filed with Muktagachha Police Station.

An extremist belonging to the Sarbahara Bahini was killed by rivals within the same organisation at Mongolgram village in Faridpur sub-district in Pabna. The slain extremist was identified as Abu Sayed.

June 18

Abdur Rashid Malitha alias Tapan alias Dada Tapan, founder of the Janajuddha faction of the PBCP, was killed in a 'shootout' with Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel, in the Baradi village at the outskirts of Kushtia town. A woman, identified as Rikta alias Maksuda, suspected to belong to the 'women wing' of the outfit was also killed during the 'shootout', which followed as RAB personnel cordoned of the house in which the extremist leader was staying for the last couple of years. An AK-47 rifle was recovered from Tapan. Tapan’s brother Akash too was arrested from the nearby Udibari village along with one 9mm pistol, 800 bullets, 5,000 books or booklets and 5,000 leaflets of the outfit.

The Chittagong Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal sentenced two JMB militants to life imprisonment in an explosives case filed in connection with the explosions carried out on the Chittagong court premises in November, 2005. The convicts are identified as JMB Chittagong region commander Jabed Iqbal alias Mohammad and Jahidul Islam Sumon alias Boma Mizan. Sumon is still absconding. JMB cadre Abul Hossain had carried out a suicide bomb attack on the Chittagong court premises killing police constable Rajib Barua and local footballer Shahbuddin on the spot. Abul Hossain, who was seriously injured in the blast, later succumbed to his injuries.

June 19

A left-wing extremist was killed during an encounter between his accomplices and the police personnel at Alampur village in Jhenidah district. The killed extremist was identified as Zahidul Islam, who the police said was accused of killing local politicians Sharafat and Kabir. The report said that Police conducted a raid over a secret meeting of the extremists and the ensuing encounter led to the killing. Two constables also received injuries during the encounter. One pipe gun with five bullets was recovered from the spot.

Daily Star reported that around 40 top tier leaders of different left-wing extremists from 10 southwestern districts are still at large despite efforts by the security forces to arrest them in last several years. These leaders are reportedly still active and involved in various crimes, mostly extortion and killings in the 10 districts. Intelligence sources indicate that these leaders are also trying to reorganise their outfits before the local government and national elections.

The Rajshahi speedy trial tribunal sentenced six JMB militants to life terms in jail for the murder of a rickshaw-puller during the serial blasts of August 17, 2005 in the Chapainawabganj district. The militants identified as Shahidullah Faruk Selim, Abul Kashem Tufan, Shakhawat Hossain Ziad, Hafez Ali Akbor Riaz, Shafiullah Shahid and Hafijur Rahman Dalim were convicted for murder and sedition charges under Sections 302 and 120 (B) of Bangladesh Penal Code. They were also fined Taka 10,000 each. Of the six convicts Shafiullah Shahid and Hafijur Rahman Dalim are still absconding.

June 20

RAB personnel carried out a raid on the house of the killed PBCP-Janajuddha founder, Abdur Rashid Malitha alias Dada Tapan at Mushuriapara village in Ishwardi sub-district of Pabna district. Leaflets, posters, letters, books, other documents of the outfit, a pair of comrade boot and belt were recovered from the house, which the RAB described as regional office of the outfit.

The Election Commission announced polls to four city corporations (Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet) and nine municipalities (Manikganj Sadar, Chuadanga Sadar, Shariatpur Sadar, Naohata of Rajshahi, Dupchanchiya of Bogra, Sripur of Gazipur, Fulbaria of Mymensingh, Golapganj of Sylhet and Sitakunda of Chittagong) to be held on August 4. The caretaker government, earlier on the day, had relaxed the Emergency Powers Rules (EPR) in respective areas allowing campaign processions and rallies. The EPR had banned on holding rallies and processions during the state of emergency.

June 23

A Dhaka court issued arrest warrants against eight absconding HuJI-B militants, including Maulana Tajuddin, brother of detained former BNP lawmaker Abdus Salam Pintu, in the August 21 grenade attack case. The court fixed July 24 for returning the arrest warrants to the court.

June 26

Four women, including three of a family, were injured when a bomb went off at village Krishna Nagar under Tala sub-district in Satkhira. The injured were identified as Etika Rani Sarker, Sabita Rani Sarkar, Bijoli Rani Sarkar and Amita Rani Sarkar. Quoting local people police said Etika Rani got a small box with lid while fishing in a canal. The box when opened exploded causing injuries.

June 27

Two top leaders of the PBCP-Janajuddha were killed during a shootout between their cohorts and RAB at Ganeshpur village under Khoksa sub-district of Kushtia district. They slain militants were identified as Golam Hossain Akash, younger brother of recently slain Janajuddha chief Abdur Rashid Malitha alias Dada Tapan, and Abdur Rashid Tikka, regional leader of the outfit. Tikka, who was a leader of the GMF had joined PBCP-Janajuddha three months ago as its regional leader.

June 28

A regional leader of the BCP was killed during an encounter between police and BCP cadres at Houspur village in the Kushtia district. The killed extremist was identified as Anwar Hossain Selim of Katdah area. Two policemen were also injured in the encounter. A shutter gun and 22 rounds of bullet were recovered from the encounter site. Police sources said that the killed extremist is an accused in at least 15 cases including murder.

June 29

Three PBCP cadres were arrested from Bagmara in the Rajshahi district and were sent to jail. The extremists were identified as Kanai Chandra Das alias Kanu, Protul Kumar Sarker, and Shaymol Kumar Jamadar, all hailing from Taherpur bazaar in Bagmara.

June 30

Two senior leaders of the ‘Alam-Swapan Bahini’ faction of the left-wing extremist Sarbahara Party were killed during a shootout between the security force personnel and extremists at Sargram village in the Pabna district. The killed extremists were identified as Mohmmed Swapan of Sargram village and chief of the 'Alam-Swapan Bahini' and Mohammed Zohurul of Bauikhola village, a regional commander of the outfit. The shootout followed a raid by the RAB personnel at a place near the Sargram Dakhil Madrassa at Sargram village where the extremists were holding a meeting. A single-barrel gun, a .32 bore rifle and five rounds of bullet were recovered from the encounter site.

The Additional District and Sessions court in Panchagarh sentenced three JMB cadres to 20 years rigorous imprisonment for possession of bomb making materials. The convicts, Tanviruzzaman alias Murad from Sultanpur village under Debiganj sub-district in Panchagarh, Ashjad Hossain alias Awakat from Panditpara village under Dimla sub-district in Nilphamari and Shafiqul Islam from Joyrampur village under Kaharol sub-district in Dinajpur district, were also fined Taka 10,000 each. The convicts had been arrested on November 19, 2005 from a rental house at Notun Bosti in Panchagarh with bomb making materials and explosives.

July 5

Two persons, including a minor boy, were injured in an explosion at Hajapur graveyard in the Awaliapur union of Dinajpur sub-district. The bomb was hidden in a jute bag. No one has been arrested in connection with the explosion.

July 8

A senior leader of the PBCP-Janajuddha was killed during an encounter with the police personnel at Taherhuda village in the Jhenidah district. The slain extremist, Absal Hossain, was a close aide of slain PBCP chief Dada Tapan, police sources said. Absal Hossain had been arrested earlier on that day from Taherhuda village and was accompanying the police for recovery of arms when the encounter occurred. Two police constables were also injured in the incident. A revolver, a light gun and eight rounds of bullets were recovered from the encounter site.

July 11

Police arrested a BCP cadre, identified as Ishaque. Following his confessional statement, police recovered a shutter gun, two bullets and a bomb from his village home at Bazar Gopalpur in the Jhenidah district. The extremist is an accused in the killing of a police informer.

July 12

A GMF extremist was arrested at Borobari village in the Shailkupa sub-district of Jhenidah district. The extremist, Shuklal, was holding a meeting at the village with other GMF cadres who fled the place following a police raid. Police sources said that the extremist who was earlier arrested had been released on July 8.

July 13

A court in Panchagarh sentenced four JMB cadres to life imprisonment in a case filed in connection with the August 17, 2005 serial bomb blasts in Panchagarh. The Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Amulla Kumar Sarker acquitted six other accused in the case. The convicts were also fined Taka 10,000 each. The prosecution submitted that militants, Tanviruzzaman alias Murad, Azizul Islam alias Majnu, Hafizur Rahman and Abdul Matin alias Ismail exploded bombs at eight places including the Judge Court compound and the entrance to the Collectorate Building in Panchagarh on August 17, 2005.

July 24

A ‘regional commander’ of the Red-Flag faction of the PBCP-Red Flag, identified as Abdul Hakim alias Kalu, was killed during a shootout between extremists and the Police at Malsan village under Raninagar sub-district of the Naogaon district.

The wife of a lone witness to the August 17, 2005 serial bomb blasts in Satkhira was found dead at Bakal check post under Sadar sub-district. Raushan, who witnessed the August 17 bomb blasts, alleged that the outlawed JMB militants strangled his wife and hanged the body from the tree.

July 26

The RAB personnel arrested five members of the outlawed Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in Gopalganj.

July 27

Chief of the Red-Flag faction of the PBCP-Red Flag, Tutul a.k.a. Dr Mizanur Rahman a.k.a. Rafikul Islam, was killed in an encounter between Police and extremists in Naogaon. Earlier on July 26-night, hours before Dr Tutul was killed, his 80-year-old mother Novera Khatun through a press conference at Jhenidah Press Club had pleaded with the Government to save her son from "crossfire".

Ansar Ali, an activist of an outlawed party and a suspect in the Bamihal police killing and arms looting case, was killed in a shootout between police and his accomplices at Kankian village.

The Sherpur District and Sessions Judge's Court framed charges against seven militants of the outlawed JMB in connection with the serial bomb blasts in the district town on August 17, 2005

July 28

The Satkhira Additional District and Sessions Judge's Court sentenced three cadres of the outlawed PBCP to rigorous imprisonment (RI) for life for killing their rival on March 18, 2003.

July 30

A PBCP ‘regional commander’, identified as Tofazzal Hossain Tufan alias Shimul, was killed during a shootout between his associates and the police at Mohishshahi Chandpur village under Pangsha sub-district in the Rajbari district. He had been arrested in Suryanagar area on July 28-night and subsequently was taken to Suryanagar to recover firearms where the encounter occurred.

A Barisal court sentenced seven JMB activists to life imprisonment in a case filed for the series bomb blasts on August 17, 2005 in front of the Barisal Central Jail. The seven were also fined Tk 10,000 each, in default of which they will have to serve an additional year in prison. The court also acquitted seven other accused and ordered to release them unless there are separate cases pending against them.

August 1

Two militants were killed during an encounter with the RAB personnel at Mirzapur village under Atrai sub-district of Naogaon district. The slain militants were identified as Naser Ali of Atgram village and Saiful Islam Palowan alias Kajol of Jamgram village. While one RAB trooper was wounded, the RAB personnel recovered two revolvers, one pipe gun, 12 bullets, a sword, a 25-inch dagger, books, leaflets and other documents of the outfit from the incident site.

August 4

The Communications Adviser Ghulam Quader rejected reports published in the Indian media indicating links between the recent terrorist attacks in India with the HuJI-B. He said, ""HuJI is not active in Bangladesh now and the allegations of the Indian media don't have any foundation". "Whenever India faces such problems, they try to find a scapegoat, which we must protest strongly and from all spheres… Bangladesh will officially protest such malicious reports by the Indian media", he added.

August 5

Intelligence officials detained eight activists of an organisation named 'Islami Samaj' on suspicion of militancy, from the Sessions Judge's Court premises in Bandarban. The suspected militants were distributing leaflets denouncing the democratic electoral system in Bandarban district and the Sessions Judge's Court premises. Around 3000 leaflets were recovered from them. Hailing from Comilla, Sherpur, Noakhali, Shariatpur, Jamalpur and Tangail districts, the suspected militants aged between 18 and 50 years said they joined Islami Samaj a few months ago. They also claimed that they have no connection with the JMB militants.

Police arrested seven more activists of the Islami Samaj when the latter were distributing leaflets in Jamalpur town. The arrested were identified as Yusuf Ali, Ansar Ali, Mohammad Ali, Abdul Karim, Aiyub Ali Prodhan, Mobarak Ali and Saiful Islam. Of them, Ansar Ali was earlier arrested on September 15, 2003, from Jhinaigati in Sherpur for links with the JMB and was released from jail after serving 11 months' imprisonment.

August 6

A cadre of the left-wing extremist outfit, the Nakshal Bahini, was killed by cadres of his own organisation at a remote village in the Chatmohar sub-district of Pabna district. Police sources said that Joynal Abedin was chopped to death by his rivals at Kuchia village.

August 7

Police arrested a suspected JMB cadre at Palashbari in the Gaibandha district. The militant, identified as Kazal, is a student of the Bogra Polytechnic Institute.

August 10

The Metropolitan Sessions court in Dhaka rejected the bail petitions of two HuJI-B cadres, Rafiqul Islam and Arif Hassan Sumo, in a case filed for exploding grenades at an Awami League (AL) rally on Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka on August 21, 2004.

August 18

RAB personnel arrested three cadres of the Allhar Dal from different areas of Sunderganj sub-district in the Gaibandha district. They were identified as Afzal Hossain of Chicha village, Delwer Hossain of Uttar Shams village and Raju Mia of the Pachim Dulal village.

August 19

RAB personnel arrested three BCP cadres at Ibrahimpur village of Shailkupa sub-district in Jhenidah district. Two arms and 11 bullets were recovered from their possession. The extremists identified as Wazed Ali Fakir, Mozaffar Hossain and Mohidul Islam were holding a secret meeting when the raid occurred.

August 22

A regional leader of the PBCP-Red Flag faction was killed during an encounter at Vulbaria village in Ataikula sub-district of Pabna. The killed extremist was identified as Mohammad Johurul Islam alias Mithu. During the time of the raid the extremists were holding a secret meeting. One rifle, a foreign made revolver and 20 bullets were recovered from the spot.

August 28

Asadullah Al Galib, chief of the Islamist militant outfit Ahle Hadith Andolan Bangladesh (AHAB), was freed on bail by the High Court from Bogra jail, reports Daily Star. It granted him bail in two cases as the trials could not be held within the time set by the court six months ago. Since his arrest on February 23, 2005, a total of ten cases were filed against Galib. During the then BNP-led coalition Government, he was relieved of charges in six of the cases and was granted bail in another case. On July 26, during the term of the caretaker Government, a Gaibandha court declared him not guilty in an explosives case. Six months back, the High Court had ordered that Galib would be awarded bail in two other cases unless the trial is not held within six months.

August 31

The Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court in Dhaka asked eight absconding HuJI-B cadres to appear before the court by September 21 in connection with the August 21 grenade attack on an AL rally case. The absconding cadres were identified as Maulana Tajuddin, Maulana Liton, Anisul Mursalin, Mahibul Muttakin, Iqbal, Maulana Abu Bakar alias Selim Howlader, Jahangir Alam Badar and Khalilur Rahman. Maulana Tajuddin is the brother of former BNP parliamentarian Abdus Salam Pintu. The court directed the authorities concerned to give advertisement in two national Bangla dailies asking the absconding accused to appear before the court on the scheduled date.

September 1

A Special Tribunal in Gazipur sentenced a JMB regional commander identified as Abdullah Al Suhail to 34 years rigorous imprisonment in arms and explosive cases. The militant was also fined Taka 20,000. Abdullah had been arrested from Ashulia bus stand in Dhaka on January 30, 2006 and three guns and some explosives were recovered from his possession.

September 6

In a fax to RAB headquarters the JMB threatened to bomb the headquarters and offices of all the 12 RAB battalions within the month of September. The fax sent from Rajshahi said bomb attacks would also be made on the offices of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Chittagong Metropolitan Police and Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, and that of all the Superintendents of Police. The fax informed that the outfit is now head by Obaidur Rahman Giashi of Rambhadrapur of Chanpainawabganj after the death of Bangla Bhai.

September 8

Daily Star reported that the left-wing extremist outfits have regrouped in several south-western districts including Meherpur, Chuadanga, Jhenidah and Kushtia ahead of the upcoming upazila and parliamentary elections. These extremists, who had fled to evade arrest following security force operations, have returned to their respective areas and are regrouping their cadres and mid-level leaders on the instructions of their top leaders who are still in their hideouts. They are also recruiting new cadres to increase their strength. Large-scale extortion collection mainly from businessmen, government and non-government officials and contractors has also been reported from these districts.

The report further said that the extremist outfits have formulated a seven- point 'programme' following a series of meetings in the Jhenidah district and have called for unity of all outfits to launch the 'action programme' immediately. The programme includes bomb attack on law enforcers, educational institutions, passenger transports and important places in ten districts of the region, toll collection form businessmen, and distribution of leaflets, recruiting new cadres and avenging killing of the outfit’s cadres in fake encounters.

September 10

A regional leader of the PBCP-Lal Pataka was sent to jail after his appearance before Meherpur judicial magistrate court. The extremist Rois Uddin was arrested from his house at Jalshuka village in Gangni sub-district of Meherpur. On his confessional statement, police recovered a shutter gun from his house. Police sources said that the extremist was involved in several crimes including robbery, abduction and extortion.

September 11

Two cadres of Gono Bahini were killed in Kushtia in an encounter with the security forces. The killed were identified as Mantu, a regional leader of the outfit and Sayeed, a cadre. The encounter occurred after Police personnel raided the Nandir Beel area after receiving information about a secret meeting by the Gono Bahini cadres. A pistol, an LG and 12 rounds of bullet were recovered from encounter site.

RAB personnel arrested a JMB cadre, identified as Md Delwar Hossain at Battali Bazar under Khetlal sub-district of Joypurhat. The arrested militant haling from Baniapara village was wanted in a case filed for looting firearms from police at Mohespur village under Khetlal sub-district in 2003. He had earlier been arrested and had gone into hiding after being released on bail.

September 15

A wanted criminal and member of the Sarbahara Party was killed in a crossfire between police and his accomplices at Birkutsa Sahapur area in Bagmara sub-district of Rajshahi. The dead extremist was identified as Abul Hasen alias Kana Abul of Aloknagar village in Hamirkutsa union. Police had arrested Abul from his home and had taken to the encounter site for recovery of arms. Police sources said that Abul was a listed terrorist and was absconding since a murder case in which he had been sentenced to life-term imprisonment.

A court in Chuadanga sentenced a regional leader of the PBCP-Janajuddha to death for killing a BNP leader Nur Ali at Dingedaha village on June 22, 2005. The convicted extremist was identified as Yusuful Goni alias Khairul, of Sonadanga village of Khulna district.

September 17

A bomb exploded at Faridpur Medical College Hospital at about 7:30 pm. However, there was no report of casualties in the blast.

September 18

The coordinator of Hizb ut-Tahrir for Bangladesh and Dhaka University teacher Syed Golam Mowla and nine other activists of the outfit including senior member Ahmed Jamal were arrested by the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) at Rajshahi City Press Club on suspicion of promoting militancy in the country. Police sources said that the Hizb ut-Tahrir cadres were distributing leaflets calling for establishing rule of Khilafat by dethroning the present government in this holy month of Ramadan. RMP Commissioner Mahbub Mohsin said, "We arrested them on suspicion of encouraging militancy in the country...We are investigating their activities."

Police produced the arrested cadres before the court of Metropolitan Judicial Magistrate BM Tariqul Kabir accusing them of engaging in a conspiracy to topple the government. The court sent the arrested to jail.

A cadre of an unidentified left-wing extremist outfit was killed by rivals within his own organisation at Bongram village under Chatmohar sub-district of Pabna. The slain extremist was identified as Arman Ali. Police sources said that a group of 10 to 12 extremists attacked Arman while he was sitting at a tea stall at Bongram bazaar. They took him to a place nearby, slit his throat and fled from the scene. Subsequently, Police recovered his body.

September 19

The Hizb ut-Tahrir Bangladesh threatened to oust the Caretaker Government by launching a movement if its 10 leaders and activists arrested in Rajshahi on September 18 are not released within 48 hours. The threat was issued at a meeting of the organisation in capital Dhaka. Addressing the meeting at the city's Engineers' Institute of Bangladesh, the organisation's Chief Coordinator Mahiuddin Ahmed said, "The Hizb ut-Tahrir will stomp the city streets and no one will be able to live in peace on the soil of Bangladesh if our leaders are not released in 48 hours." Responding to the threat by the outfit, Home Secretary Md Abdul Karim told that the law would take its own course.

Akramul Hossain, assistant commissioner of Special Branch of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, said, "We may seek necessary government approval for filing a sedition case against the arrested persons."

September 20

The JMB threatened to carry out bomb attacks on police stations and check-points in Rajshahi city. In a fax sent to the RMP headquarters at around 6:00pm, the banned outfit said it would launch attacks in retaliation for arrest and harassment of its cadres. Assistant commissioner of RMP Detective Branch (DB), told reporters that the Police have beefed up security at police stations and other installations in the city.

September 21

The CID filed charge sheet against the HuJI-B operations commander Mufti Abdul Hannan and five other cadres of the outfit in the 2004 grenade attack in front of Gulshan Centre in Sylhet city case. The incident had claimed the life of an AL leader and injured 40 others. Investigation officer Inspector Zubayer told, "Charges against eight people in connection with the case have been established. We submitted charge sheet against six people while one is dead and the other’s whereabouts could not be known". Mufti Abdul Hannan and his accomplice Sharif Shahedul Alam Bipul had already given confessional statement in this regard, he said.

September 22

The Chittagong Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal sentenced JMB Chittagong Divisional Commander Javed Iqbal alias Mohammad to 10 years imprisonment in a case filed in connection with serial bomb blast across the country on August 17, 2005. Javed Iqbal was involved in the explosion that occurred at Badamtali intersection in the city. The court also fined him Taka 5,000. Another accused JMB cadre Arshadul Alam was acquitted of the charge. Javed has so far been awarded in different terms in nine cases. He is also an accused in eight other cases, which are now under trial at different courts in Chittagong.

September 24

Detective police arrested a cadre of the JMB from a house at Zahidur Rahman road under Khulna Sadar police station. A photocopy of his passport, licence of a motorcycle and a bank cheque book was recovered from the JMB cadre, identified as Tanvir Ahmed (26). He was staying in a rented accommodation after providing a false name and address. His mother, sister-in-law and daughter were also taken into custody.

September 26

A regional commander of the PBCP-ML was killed in an encounter between PBCP cadres and Police personnel at Fulbari of Damurhuda sub-district in the Chuadanga district. The extremist was identified as Farid Hossain. A locally-made gun and five cartridges were recovered from the site of the encounter. Police claimed Farid was accused in a dozen cases involving murder, extortion and robbery.

Unidentified callers, introducing them as cadres of the Sarbahara Party, are demanding money from government officials and bank managers in Moulvibazar Sadar and Srimongal sub-districts in Moulvibazar district. People are being threatened with death if they fail to comply with the threats.

September 30

Ten Hizb ut-Tahrir leaders, including four university teachers, who were arrested in Rajshahi on September 18 on suspicion of inciting anti-government activities and involvement in militancy were released after being granted bail by the Rajshahi District and Sessions Judge’s Court.

October 5

A BCP cadre was killed in an encounter between Police and BCP cadres at Bisoykhali bazaar in the Jhenidah district. The killed extremist was identified as Mohidul Islam of Kanchan Nagar village. He was arrested by the Detective Branch of police from Damodarpur village on October 5 afternoon and was taken to the Bisoykhali village for recovery of illegal arms. The security forces were fired upon by the BCP cadres and in the ensuing encounter Mohidul was killed. Two shutter guns, a light gun, two bombs and 10 rounds of bullets were recovered from the encounter site.

October 7

Media reports indicate that the cadres PBCP-ML are regrouping in the Rupsha, Terokhada and Phultala sub-districts of Khulna ahead of the parliamentary election in December. The extremists have reportedly held several secret meetings to plan their operations in the district including Khulna city. Extremists who had fled the area after the security force operations as well as extremists who have been released on bail from the prisons are taking part in these meetings. Several cases of demands for extortion have been reported to the Police. People are being threatened with death if they do not abide by the demands of the extremists. The PBCP is also reportedly recruiting cadres by luring youths from families of jobless workers of different jute mills in Khulna industrial belt. Police sources said that Harun-ar-Rashid hailing from Moishaguni village in Rupsha sub-district is the acting 'operations commander' of the Khulna division PBCP-ML.

October 11

Two handmade 'bottle bombs' were recovered in the residence of Supreme Court Justice Sharif Uddin Chaklader at Judges' Complex at Park Avenue in Kakrail in the capital Dhaka. Doulat Akbar, officer-in-charge of Ramna police station told, "Justice Sharif Uddin found the bombs lying on the lawn of his house as he was about to go out at around 4:00pm." "At his directive, one of his domestic servants threw one the bombs against a wall and the bomb exploded", he added. Police personnel subsequently recovered the other unexploded bomb. It was found to be hand made, comprising of explosive filled bottles sealed with red tape.

October 14

RAB personnel arrested four cadres of banned Islamist outfit HuJI-B in Khalishpur area of Khulna district. The arrested have been identified as Mizanur Rahman Tushar, Mujahidul Islam, Omar and Yusuf Al Helal. While Tushar, Mujahid and Omar were arrested near Darus Salam mosque, Yusuf was held near Khalishpur SA Paribahan office. A press release by the RAB said Tushar joined HuJI-B in 2003 and took training at Kodala forest in Chittagong. He was arrested in Chittagong in 2004 and went into hiding after getting bail from the court. The militants also told the interrogators that they had a plan to free HuJI-B operations commander Mufti Abdul Hannan from prison.

October 16

A regional leader of the GMF was killed in a shootout between police and GMF cadres at Alampur village in the Kushtia district. The killed extremist was identified as Abul Kasem alias Saddam (42) of Alampur village. Police sources said that the raid occurred when the GMF cadres were holding a secret meeting at the Satmile area at Alampur. A pistol, a shutter gun and four rounds of bullet were recovered from the encounter site. Kasem was accused in a number of cases including six on charges of murder, police said.

October 17

Nobin Hossain, a regional leader of GMF was killed at Alampur village in Sadar upazilla of Kushtia district during a raid carried out by the Police. Police sources said that the raid followed an input that the GMF cadres are holding a meeting at the place. Nobin was killed while his colleagues managed to escape. Nobin was wanted in three murder cases filed with Kushtia Sadar Police Station. Police recovered a shutter gun and four bullets from the spot.

Separately, 'Murgi' Masud alias Akash, a cadre PBCP- Red Flag was killed at Pabnapara under Taherpur Municipality of Bagmara sub-district in Rajshahi. Members of the RAB had arrested Masud on October 15 and handed him over to the police on the next day. Police had taken Masud to Pabnapara to arrest his accomplices and recover the hidden firearms where they were fired upon by the PBCP cadres. Masud was shot during the encounter. Masud was convicted in two murder cases and was awarded life term in absentia, police sources said. Police recovered a pistol, two knives, two machetes and some drugs from the spot

October 20

The IDP, a political party floated by leaders of the HuJI-B submitted an application to the EC to register themselves for the upcoming parliamentary polls. Kazi Azizul Huq, an adviser to the IDP said that the party was floated on May 18 this year and it consists of 200 to 300 Afghan War veterans. He further said that the party's ultimate objective is to establish Sharia law in the country but they would follow the civil code. Sheikh Abdus Salam heads the convening committee of IDP. It was also under his leadership that a group of Afghan war veterans launched HuJI-B through a press conference at the National Press Club on April 30, 1992. The government had banned the outfit in 2005 for its militant activities.

A regional leader of the GMF was killed in 'crossfire' between GMF cadres and Police at Alampur village under Sadar sub-district of Kushtia. The slain extremist was identified as Abdul Mazid of the same village. Police sources said that they received information regarding a secret meeting of the GMF cadres at Baliapara Bazar at Alampur and a raid was conducted accordingly. During the shootout Mazid was killed while other GMF cadres managed to escape. Police recovered a rifle and six bullets from the spot. Police sources said that Mazid had surrendered to the government under an amnesty programme declared by the Awami League-led government in 1999. However, after being released from the jail on bail in 2001, he started his extremist activities.

PBCP cadres killed a trader at a market in Tarash of Sirajganj district. The victim was identified as Abul Kalam Azad of Paikora village. Police and eyewitnesses said that a group of 20 or 25 armed extremists entered the shop of Azad at Katagari Bazar and shot him with a pistol. The group left the scene chanting slogans of PBCP.

Police arrested two 'most wanted extremists' from a shrimp enclosure at Shalue village under Dumuria sub-district of Khulna district. The arrested were identified as Rupchand Biswas (42) and Pratap Biswas (36), younger brothers of Shailen Biswas, 'operation commander' of the BCP. Both were charged with extortion, illegal occupation of shrimp enclosures and planning criminal operations in south western districts. Police recovered a pipe gun and seven live cartridges from their possession.

Two JMB cadres were arrested at Abbas Bazar village at Shibganj in the Chapainawabganj district. They were identified as Rafiqul Islam (27) and Hajrat Ali (22). Police recovered documents of the JMB from their possession.

RAB personnel arrested a PBCP cadre, identified as Hafiz Uddin Sheikh, at Paikora village in Tarash sub-district of Sirajganj district, for his involvement in killing a trader at Katagari Bazar on October 25 night. On interrogation, the extremist confessed to his involvement in the killing.

Anwarul alias Joy (39), a PBCP-ML regional leader was killed in a mob beating at Bhalaipur village in the Chuadanga district. Police sources said that the incident took place when the extremist leader was trying to collect extortion amount of Taka 300,000 from two local businessmen. Joy was accused in nine different cases, including three for murder.

A Bogra court sentenced two leaders of the JMB, Ashraful and Abu Taher, to 10 years' imprisonment for possessing explosives and bomb-making materials. Special Tribunal Judge, Khalilur Rahman also fined the militants Taka 5,000 each. Both militants had been arrested on January 21, 2006 and acting on their statement, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel had seized a huge quantity of bomb-making materials at Bamunia village in Shahjahanpur sub-district.

The EC rejected registration applications of around 40 political parties including that of the Islamic Democratic Party (IDP) formed by leaders of HuJI-B as they neither comply with the country's constitution or the registration conditions. A letter to this effect was issued to the IDP. As many as 107 organisations have applied for registration, now mandatory for seeking election to parliament. Of these, 22 are religion-based parties. According to the registration criteria laid down in the electoral laws, a party must have won a seat, or polled five percent of the votes in a constituency in any of the parliamentary polls since independence. It must have headquarters and offices in at least 10 districts or 50 sub-districts. Besides, it must disclose its sources of funds etc, and its constitution must not contradict the national constitution.

The Additional District and Sessions Judge court in Chuadanga sentenced three cadres of the Marxist Leninist faction of the PBCP to death for killing four people at Jodupur village in Sadar sub-district in the Chuadanga district in 1996. The convicts were also fined Taka 10,000 each. While two of the convicts, Alam of Bahndadah in Kaliganj in Jhenidah district and Alam of Bhabanipur in Chuadanga, are behind bars, the third convict Sohag is yet to be arrested. According to prosecution the PBCP had cadres demanded Taka 300,000 from one Abdul Aziz of Jodupur village and subsequently shot dead four people at the house of Aziz on the night of June 27, 1996 as Aziz refused to pay the extortion amount.

The Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 in Dhaka framed charges against detained former BNP parliamentarian Abdus Salam Pintu, HuJI-B operations commander Mufti Abdul Hannan and 20 others in two cases filed for grenade attacks on an AL rally in August 2004. The court fixed November 5 for trial of the cases--one for murder and another for bomb blast--and summoned the complainant to appear before it on that date. The grenade attacks on the AL rally on Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka on August 21, 2004 left 24 people including Ivy Rahman, wife of acting AL President Zillur Rahman, killed and 200 others including AL chief Sheikh Hasina injured. The court charged Pintu with approving the plan of the grenade attack prepared by Hannan and his accomplices. The former BNP lawmaker was also charged with assisting the HuJI-B cadres with finances and administrative help and abetting them for killing and injuring the victims.

Police seized 15 bombs, two firearms and three cartridges in separate drives at two villages Kashibati and Noapara, under Kaliganj sub-district of Satkhira district. A person, identified as Lutfor Rahman of village Kashibati was arrested in connection with the recovery.

The Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal (STT) in Barisal on sentenced four JMB cadres to life imprisonment in a case filed in connection with the August 17, 2005 bomb blast in front of Barisal Government BM College. The convicted were identified as Zahid Babu, Sarwar Hossain, Abdur Rahim and Ziaur Rahman Zia. They were also fined Taka 10,000 each. Nine others were acquitted of all charges. All four convicted are absconding at present.

Three extremists belonging to an unidentified left-wing extremist outfit were injured as bombs they were assembling at remote Jagannathpur village in Daulatpur sub-district in the Kushtia district. The extremists were identified as Mirza (30), Mirazul (25), and Jahangir (30) of Jagannathpur village in the Daulatpur sub-district. The injured, however, managed to escape as local people rushed to the explosion site. Police subsequently recovered splinters and some bomb making materials from the house and arrested Mirza's wife Anjuara Khatun for interrogation.

GMF cadres threw leaflets at several spots including Alampur, Bhadalia and Baromile in Kushtia Sadar sub-district from passenger buses on Kushtia-Khulna highway. Local people collected around a thousand leaflets from the areas. Subsequently, the law enforcement agencies including RAB recovered a large number of computer-composed leaflets from the same area. Addressing 'struggling people of the areas', the leaflets said, "Police is a corrupt institution. It oppresses innocent people and commits inhumane killings in the name of 'crossfire'. The force has failed to achieve confidence of people during the 37 years of independence. Don't believe them or depend on them."

Daily Star reported that the PBCP is regrouping in the Chalan Beel in Sirajganj, Natore and Pabna districts before the December elections to the national assembly. Extortions, robberies, abductions and murders by PBCP extremists have been reported from Tarash, Raiganj, Belkuchi, Shahzadpur, Chowhali and Ullapara sub-districts of Sirajganj, Gurudashpur, Natore sadar and Singra sub-districts of Natore and Bera, Sathia, Ataikula, Sujanagar, Bhangura, Atghoria and Chatmohor sub-districts of Pabna. PBCP activities have also been noticed in the remote places of Sherpur sub-district in Bogra. The activities of the outfit had came down significantly after 105 of its cadres surrendered to police at Katagari Bazar of Tarash in November last year. However, extremist leaders like Nurjahan Begum, Abu Sayeed, Shahjahan Ali, Bablu, Paresh, Kana Rasheed and Huzur Ali have reorganised the activities of the outfit and have targeted businessmen, affluent farmers, contractors and teachers.

Police arrested Zafar Babu, an ICS cadre from Milik Bagha village in Bagha sub-district of Rajshahi. The extremist was trying to abduct a girl before her marriage when the local people caught him and handed him over to police. Zafar is a resident under Motihar police station in Rajshahi city and is one of the accused in the murder of Rajshahi University teacher Prof Muhammad Yunus in 2005. He is also an accused in a number of cases relating to arms, explosives, murder, extortion and terrorism with different police stations in Rajshahi.

ICS activists of RU staged a demonstration on the campus and threatened to burn to death cultural activists of RU on the campus. After the Juma (Friday) prayers, ICS cadres organised a rally and paraded different streets on the campus. Earlier on November 6 night, ICS cadres under the banner of 'Sacheton Chhatra Samaj' went to rooms of boys' dormitories and forced them to join a 'protest rally' against the cultural activists who they said staged a play against the Prophet.

A PBCP regional commander was killed in 'crossfire' between his accomplices and the police at Nakhopara in Bagmara sub-district of Rajshahi. The arrested extremist Monakka had been arrested on the previous night and had been taken to Nakhopara for recovery of arms. Officer-in-Charge of Bagmara Police Station Sahabuddin Khalipha and Sub-Inspector Imdadul Bashar were also injured during the encounter. A gun, five bullets, two machetes and a knife were recovered from the encounter site.

A Barisal speedy trial tribunal acquitted 13 JMB cadres of charges in the serial bomb blasts in front of Barisal Bangla Bazar mosque in the city on August 17, 2005. Seven other JMB cadres were sentenced to lifetime imprisonment in another case filed in connection with the same incident on August 17, 2005. Police had filed 12 cases in connection with the August 17 serial blasts at 12 places in Barisal city. Of these, judgments have been passed on 11 cases.

The ICS enforced a day-long strike on RU campus. Earlier on November 11, ICS cadres under the banner of Sacheton Chhatra Samaj of RU called for a general shutdown on the campus demanding punishment of cultural activists for staging a 'drama against' Prophet Mohammad. Hundreds of ICS cadres under the banner of 'Sacheton Chhatra Samaj' went to science, arts, commerce faculty buildings, central library, dean offices and administrative building and forcibly closed the main gates in presence of police. They took position at different points including the administrative building and asked officers, employees and students to leave the campus. The university officials and employees could not enter the administrative building while classes and scheduled examinations could not be held. The ICS cadres moved around the campus on motorbikes, creating panic among the teachers and students.

Police arrested two women cadres of Hijbut Tawhid when they were going to the residence of a person, Shahidul Islam, to give the books and CDs at Muncefpara in Patuakhali town. They were identified as Jeunnahar alias Poli, an assistant teacher of Kalikapur Saleha Khatun Girls High School in Mirzaganj sub-district, and her sister Meherunnesa Mili. Police sent them to the local court under Section 54 and the court later sent them to jail. Family sources said both Poli and Mili were divorced by their husbands for their alleged involvement in militancy.

A Dhaka court acquitted two JMB cadres in a case filed against them for possessing 21 grenade shells. They were identified as Saiful Islam and Mahbub Hossain. According to the prosecution, RAB personnel recovered 21 grenade shells during a search operation at Hafezia madrassa in Forzakanda of Narayanganj district on January 7, 2007.

Police, in a pre-dawn combing operation, seized a cache of arms and ammunition at village Tekpara in Moheshkhali island of the coastal Cox's Bazar district and arrested seven persons in connection with the recovery. The seized arms and explosives include a one-shooter gun, five shotguns, three local-made guns, two bullets, five cartridges, two bombs, two cocktails and a huge amount of gunpowder. The arrested persons have been identified as Ali Reza, Mohammad Hossain, Noor Hossain (1), Amjad, Ansar, Ramzan and Noor Hossain (2).

RAB personnel recovered 70 kilograms of explosives following the confession of a JMB ehsar, identified as Mohammad Hanif alias Kamal, who was arrested from his residence at Kalshi in the capital Dhaka. The RAB personnel also recovered 40 kilograms of nitric acid, 150 cases of improvised grenades, a large quantity of bomb-making materials and equipment, and over 2,000 books on jihad from two houses in Mirpur and Shanir Akhra in the capital. The RAB Additional Director General Colonel Gulzar Uddin Ahmed said, "The JMB stockpiled the explosives and the books as they were preparing for fresh attacks and recruitment."

Police arrested three suspected cadres of Allahr Dal at Domar bazar in the Nilphamari district. The arrested were identified as Ketabul Islam (20), and Ainul Islam (16) both of Chhoto Routa village in Domar sub-district and Mahbubur Rahman (24) of Kolaroa sub-district in the Satkhira district. Police claimed to have recovered important documents from their possession.

The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge in Naokhali sentenced JMB cadres to life imprisonment in a case filed in connection with the serial bomb blasts in the district on August 17, 2005. The convicts were identified as Mokhlesur Rahman Masum (25), Aminul Islam Mahmud (26) and Arman Hossain Komol (39). The court also fined them Taka 10,000 each. According to the prosecution, the JMB cadres exploded bombs at the District Judge Court, District Collectorate Building, Noakhali Press Club and near Maijdee bus stand on August 17, 2005.

The RAB launched a search operation for the present JMB chief, Maulana Saidur Rahman, who managed to escape from a rented house in Mirpur on November 16. RAB personnel had arrested JMB ehsar Mohammad Hanif alias Kamal from Kalshi area in Pallabi locality of capital Dhaka on the same day and then raided the house at Mirpur but did not find the JMB chief.

A businessman was killed by GMF cadres at Ratulpara village of Sirajganj district. The victim was identified as Ashraf Ali Bokul (56), a Chittagong-based businessman. The report said that a group of 10-12 armed extremists led by Sabdul, Siddik and Sakram stormed into the house of Bokul at about 9:00pm and killed him at the spot after asking the people present there to go away. Police later arrested five persons, including Ziarakhi Union Parishad (UP) chairman Sahin Mohammad Salauddin and former chairman Sawkat Ali alias Sako, for their alleged link with the murder. Victim's family sources said that the extremists had long been demanding extortion money from Bokul and had also threatened him.

Police arrested two PBCP cadres at Jhotibari village in Kamarkhanda sub-district of Sirajganj. The arrested were identified as Abdul Quddus (28) and Mohammad Mostafa (34). They are accused in several criminal cases including one for murder.

RAB personnel recovered 47 bombs from the residence of a person, Ranju, at Devpur village in the Chapainawabganj district. Two arms traders, Nasir Uddin and Lalu Mia, were also arrested from the incident site.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) charge sheeted 14 HuJI-B operatives including the outfit's 'operations commander' Mufti Abdul Hannan, in two cases filed in connection with the Ramna Batamul blast on April 14, 2001. At a press briefing, CID chief Additional Inspector General Mohammad Javed Patwari said some 22 HuJI-B cadres were directly involved in the blast. However, charges have been pressed against 14 as addresses of the remaining eight were not found. Of the 14, only six, including Hannan, have been arrested.

The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate court in Habiganj granted seven-day remand for JMB cadre Badrul Alam Mizan in connection with the case for killing Awami League leader SAMS Kibria and four others at Baidyer bazaar on January 27, 2005.

RAB personnel arrested a JMB cadre, identified as Mohammed Shahidul Alam (55), from Sonapara village in Dinajpur district. Explosives including detonators, a time bomb, nine other bombs and four revolvers were recovered from his possession.

JMB sent a leaflet and a CD to two addresses in Pabna by registered mail. Office of the Bengali newspaper Prothom Alo in Pabna received a parcel containing the two items. The office of the president of Pabna Chamber of Commerce and Industry also received a similar parcel on the same day. In the leaflet, JMB called for destroying anti-Islamic forces. "The Jehadi Kafela is committed to establishing Islamic rule by destroying oppressors, exploiters and dishonest leaders", the leaflet reads. It also blamed the media for publishing "wrong information" about the outfit. The CD reportedly contains footage of activities of JMB cadres.

Two PBCP-Lal Pataka cadres were killed in an encounter with the RAB and Police personnel at Seujbari in the Bagmara sub-district of Rajshahi district. The extremists, identified as Mustafizur Rahman alias Suruj alias Feroj and Abdul Jalil alias Asim alias Swapan of Uttar Koalipara village, were holding a secret meeting when the raid occurred. Two policemen were also injured in the encounter. Two shutter guns, five bullets, two knives and PBCP booklets were recovered from the encounter site.

Three JMB cadres were arrested at Shoulmari village in the Nilphamari district. They were identified as Noor Alam (23), Mamun-ur-Rashid (40) and Golzar Rahman (22). Police recovered some important documents from their possession.

The JMB sent a letter and a CD to Comilla District Krishak League president Alhaj Omar Farooq. The letter and the CD contained pictures of the bodies of JMB's executed leaders Shaikh Abdur Rahman, Bangla Bhai and military commander Ata-ur Rahman Sunny.

Police arrested a JMB cadre, Abdul Quddus from his residence at Joyram Singh at Pirgachha sub-district in Rangpur on December 10 and seized a number of books on Islamic revolution from his possession. Police sources said Abdul Quddus is a listed JMB member and his arrest followed information provided by another JMB cadre who was arrested from Jaldhaka in Nilphamari on December 8. Both were reportedly were trying to reorganise the outfit in the area.

RAB personnel arrested two PBCP cadres, Saiful Islam (35) and Aslam Sheikh (30) from Belkuchi area in Sirajganj district. A pipe gun, a revolver and nine rounds of bullets were recovered from the arrested extremists.

A senior PBCP-Lal Pataka leader, Shahjahan alias Tiger (42) was killed in an encounter at Baruipara area in the Rajshahi District. He had been arrested from Baruihati Bazar area in the same district on December 9. Police had taken him to the Baruipara area for recovery of small arms when PBCP cadres opened fire on the Police party. Shahjahan sustained critical injuries during the ensuing encounter and succumbed to his injuries in the Bagmara Health Complex. Police recovered a shutter gun, four bullets, a machete, a Chinese axe and some other sharp weapons from the encounter site.

Police arrested Kamal Bakhsh (27), a PBCP cadre at Boroberakharua village in Belkuchi sub-district of Sirajganj District. The arrested was described as an accused in a case filed in connection with the attack on Randhunibari police camp, looting of arms and killing of four policemen.

RAB personnel arrested Kapal Kata Shahid, a cadre of the left-wing extremist outfit, Sramajibi Mukti Andolon (Revolution for Workers' Liberation) from Garaganj Bazar in Jhenidah. A shutter gun, a pistol and six rounds of bullets were recovered following his confessional statement. RAB sources said that the arrested extremist is an accused of five cases, including murder and extortion.

Leaflets and a CD sent by the JMB reached the Thakurgaon District Krishak League leader Advocate Mojibar Rahman by mail. In the leaflet, JMB criticised concepts of democracy, secularism, nationalism, socialism and capitalism and the judicial system and called on the people to participate in Jihad to establish Islamic rule. The leaflets and the CD were handed over to the Police.

Police arrested a PBCP cadre, Mozam Sheikh (35) from Bollahvengur village at Raiganj in the Sirajganj district. The arrested extremist was an accused in robbery and abduction cases and was absconding since long.

An ordinance promulgated by the President repealed the Emergency Powers Ordinance 2007 and Emergency Powers Rules 2007, thereby ending the state of emergency and restoring fundamental rights. The state of emergency had been enforced on January 11, 2007 amid political turmoil over the ninth parliamentary polls. Political parties and candidates are now free to participate in electioneering for the December 29 general election without having to face any restrictions.

RAB personnel recovered eight bombs, three shutter guns at Asam Colony in the Rajshahi city. In a separate drive at Harisangkarpur village under Godagari sub-district under Rajshahi district, two shutter guns and 14 rounds of bullets were recovered. None were arrested in connection with the recovery.

Md Moniruzzaman Sajib, a leader of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), student wing of the Awami League (AL) was injured in an attack by ICS cadres at Peerpur village in the Pabna district.

RAB personnel arrested five Hizbut Tawhid cadres at Shimulia in Kaliakoir of Gazipur district. The arrested were identified as Chan Mia, Hazrat Ali, Abu Hanif, Parul Akhter and Salma Akhter. Several audio cassettes and books were recovered from their possession.

Barisal Metropolitan Police (BMP) in a pre-dawn drive arrested a fugitive JMB cadre from Savar in national capital Dhaka. The arrested militant Abdur Rahim (45), a native of Nayakanda area in Barisal district, has earlier been sentenced to 64 years imprisonment for his involvement in 12 cases, including the serial bombings on August 17, 2005.

Police recovered some explosive gels from the classroom of a madrassa (seminary) at Ashkarpur union in the Dinajpur district. Quoting Monsur Ali, headmaster of Ashkarpur Monsur Chowdhury Dakhil madrassa, Police said that a student noticed the explosives wrapped in a paper packet inside the classroom and informed the authorities.

December 21

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel recovered approximately 10 kilograms of explosives consisting of Potash and Sulphur from a village under Sharsha sub-district in Jessore District.

December 21 and 22

SFs arrested five UPDF activists in charge of conducting campaigning for casting 'no vote' from two separate places in the Rangamati District of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) area. They were, identified as Lotaram Chakma, Subhas Chakma and Smritibindu Chakma from Jurachhari upazila (sub-District) headquarters, Kajolmoy Tangchangya, and Jyoti Bikash Chakma from Rangamati District town.

December 22

Police recovered nine live bombs from a bamboo yard at Katenga village in the Khulna District.

December 23

Police arrested 13 PBCP cadres from different villages of remote Chalan Beel area under Tarash upazila (sub-district) in the Sirajganj District. The arrested cadres included the ‘regional second in command’ of the outfit, identified as Huzur Ali.

Police recovered a motorbike which was reportedly used by the killers of former Finance Minister Shah A.M.S. Kibria in the grenade attack on him, from a shop beside Pourashava road in Habiganj town.

Three HuJI-B militants, including its chief Mufti Abdul Hannan, were sentenced to death in a murder case filed in connection with the grenade attack on the then British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury in May 2004. The two others sentenced to death were identified as Sharif Shahedul Alam Bipul and Mohazmmed Delwar Hossain alias Ripon. The Sylhet Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal also awarded life terms to two other accused in the case - Mufti Hannan's brother Muhibullah alias Muhibur Rahman alias Ovi and Mufti Main Uddin alias Abu Zandal.

December 25

Eight JMB militants were arrested along with a large cache of explosives in the northern Gaibandha area, about 300km north of capital Dhaka. Officials seized grenades, explosives, batteries and books on jihad, district Police chief S. M. Muniruzzaman as saying. The raids come ahead of national elections due to take place on December 29.

December 26

37 bombs were recovered from various places in the Rajshahi, Naogaon, Jessore and Meherpur Districts.

Benapole Police in a search operation recovered three bombs from a house at Lautara village.

Three suspected JMB militants were arrested in Panchagarh.

Jhenidah District Police arrested a PBCP cadre, identified as Mahbubur Rahman alias Thandu, of Parbatttipur village in the Harinakunda sub-district of Jhenidah District.

The RAB personnel arrested two cadres of the Islamist organisation, Allahar Dal (Allah’s Group), identified as Rostam Ali of Nilkantha village under Kurigram Sadar upazila (Sub-District) and Akhtaruzzaman Swit of Jamuna village under Ulipur upazila in the Kurigram District. Police have thus far reportedly arrested 45 cadres of the Allahar Dal, including Rostam and Akhtaruzzaman.

December 29

Police arrested four suspected Islamist militants, identified as Helal Uddin, Ramiz Uddin, Ramzan Ali and Iqbal, from a house in the Nilphamari-2 constituency of Nilphamari District. Officer-in-charge of the Nilphamari Police Station, Nural Islam, said that during primary interrogation the suspects said they were members of Kalema Jamaat who invite people to follow Islamic ideals.

Security was tight and voting for the ninth general elections was peaceful across the country, barring few minor incidents. Voter turnout was high, with about 70 percent of the 81 million eligible voters casting ballots, said election official Humayun Kabir. More than 650,000 police officers and soldiers had been deployed across the country in a bid to prevent voter fraud and violence. Fakhruddin Ahmed, head of the military-backed caretaker Government who led the country for the last two years, termed the parliamentary election "most peaceful, free and fair" describing the turn out of voters as "heavy".

December 30

Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed’s Awami League-led alliance won a landslide victory in the ninth general elections held under a caretaker Government after nearly two years of emergency rule. The Election Commission in Dhaka said the alliance bagged 258 seats while former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led four-party grouping bagged only 38 seats, in the 300-seat Parliament for which elections were held on December 29. Five seats went to other small parties and independent candidates and results of the four other seats were yet to reach the commission from the returning officers at the field level.