Bangladesh Timeline Year 2012

Date

Incidents

January 1

Members of RAB-5 recovered a revolver, one pistol and eight bullets from Rajshahi-bound Titumir Express train at Natore (Natore District) Railway Station.

Former JeI Chief Ghulam Azam and its assistant secretary general Muhammad Kamaruzzaman appealed to the ICT to exempt them from the crimes against humanity charges. The prosecution has to submit the rearranged charges against Azam by January 5 and against Kamaruzzaman by January 12 as per the court order.

The 'operational commander' of Gonomukti Fauj, identified as Motaled Hossain (45), was killed during a gunfight between cohorts and the RAB in Mokhlurchar area of Kushtia District. He was accused in a number of cases, including five for murder. RAB recovered five light guns, a pistol, a revolver, 12 bullets, two hand bombs and two swords from the spot.

RAB personnel arrested a son of detained JMB chief Maulana Saidur Rahman, identified as Abu Talha Mohammad Fahim alias Bashar (21) and one of his accomplices, Mohammad Abdul Alim (23), from Achintola Bahrampur village in Rajshahi District.

Abu Talha Mohammad Fahim is the finance wing chief and also a Majlish-e-Sura member of the JMB, and his accomplice is an Ehsar member of the outfit, According to RAB officials, Bashar is a fugitive accused in an explosives case with Dhaka's Sabujbagh Police Station in 2009 while Alim is a fugitive convict in another explosives case with Manikganj Police in 2005.

RAB's Legal Wing Director Commander M. Sohail said they were are also verifying whether the JMB militants were linked to the bombing on December 18 in Dhaka when BNP and JeI activists went on the rampage and charged bombs resulting in the death of a youth and injuries to several others.

The Police arrested one person, identified as Dobir Uddin (52) along with some fake Bangladeshi and Indian currency notes from Kathaldangi Bazar in Horipur sub-district of Thakurgaon District. The law enforcers recovered 12 FICN and 16 Bangladeshi notes of Bangladeshi Taka 1000.

A close aide of executed JMB leader Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai was arrested at Uttara area of Dhaka City. He has been identified as Emadadul Haque Uzzal (40).

It has been reported that leaders and activists of banned JMB are trying to reorganise giving priority to collecting funds from their wellwishers and building communication with grassroots activists. Quoting detained Abu Talha Mohammad Fahim alias Bashar, a son of detained JMB chief Saidur Rahman, officials of RAB said the reorganisation attempt was taken at the directives of JMB acting 'chief' Sohel Mahfuz who is reportedly in hiding.

Police seized 75 fake notes of Bangladeshi currency of 1,000 denomination and equipments for producing those, and arrested one person at a local hotel (Sagorika) in Narayanganj District.

The ICT accepted formal charges against former JeI chief Ghulam Azam and its present chief Motiur Rahman Nizami for their alleged involvement in crimes against humanity during the Liberation War of 1971.

ICT further directed Ghulam's chief counsel barrister Abdur Razzaq to produce the ex-JeI chief before it by 10:30am (January 10), or it will issue an arrest warrant against him. It also fixed February 12 for the hearing on charge framing against Nizami. The two JeI leaders have been charged with involvement in genocide, rape and arson during the Liberation War, the prosecutors said.

The tribunal said it had examined the formal charges, probe reports and documents submitted by the prosecution, and primarily found proof that Ghulam and Nizami committed crimes against humanity in 1971.

Forty years after liberation, former JeI chief Ghulam Azam was sent to jail by the ICT, on charges of committing crimes against humanity and peace, genocide and war crimes in 1971. ICT rejecting his petition for bail, ordered sending Azam to Dhaka Central Jail.

The prosecution earlier on January 5 brought 62 specific charges against the former JeI chief. On January 9, the ICT accepted the charges and asked his counsel Abdur Razzaq, also a top JeI leader, to produce the ex-chief before the court by 10:30am on January 11. Otherwise, it warned, it would issue a warrant of arrest against Azam. Many considered the arrest to be a big challenge for the government given that JeI activists could let chaos loose over the issue.

Police recovered a 3.3-rifle, 277 bullets and 16 magazines from Miapara village of Phulbari sub-district in Kurigram District. Police said a labourer, Abdur Rashid, while digging earth in a bamboo garden found a wooden box containing the arm and ammunition. However, no one was arrested, said Mohammad Abdul Monayem, officer in-charge of Phulbari Police Station.

RAB-8 personnel arrested seven cadres of HuT in Barisal District. On information, the team of Rab-8 raided the house of one Al Amin at Rupatali in the city and arrested him along with two other cadres - Sumon Mollik and Khushi Akter.

The Police arrested 20 activists of ICS, student wing of JeI, from different areas in Sylhet District. The Police conducted a drive and arrested them from the Alia Madrsasa students' hostel, Madina Market and Balaura area near SUST.

The Police arrested two other ICS activists, identified as Mirajul Islam (21) and Kabir Hossain (22), activists of Patuakhali District unit Shibir, in Patuakhali District.

The Police arrested two other ICS activists in Patuakhali District. Shahnur Rahman Sujon, secretary of Patuakhali District unit BCL said, some ICS activists were holding a secret meeting at Jubilee School playground at about 7:00 pm when a group of BCL men went there and held the two activists while others managed to flee. Later both were handed over to Patuakhali Police.

The Police in separate raids arrested four ICS, activists in connection with SUST incident in Sylhet District. The arrestees, identified as Farhadul Islam, Azizur Rahman, Humayun Kabir Badrul and Abul Mansur Fahim of Sheikhghat area in the city, were involved in the case filed by SUST unit BCL on charges of attacking its activists and vandalising vehicles.

The Police arrested two JeI activists from their houses in Dakkhin Surma sub district in Sylhet District. The arrestees are identified as M Sadek Khan, 25, of Kaistarail village, and Billal Hossain, 30, of Barkhala village of the sub district. Jalalabad Police said they arrested the two in connection with a case filed by SUST unit BCL on charges of attacking BCL men and vandalising vehicles on the campus on January 11.

Rab-6 arrested a JGB leader from Uttar Mirzapur village under Shailkupa sub district in Jhenaidah District. The arrestee, identified as Saheb Joarder (21), is son of Shah Alam Joarder of the village and a leader of the underground party in the area. According to Rab-6 commanding officer M Ashraf Ali of Jhenidah, the force recovered a light gun, a shutter gun, a pistol, seven bullets, a billhook, a Chinese axe and some arms making equipment from his possession.

The Bangladesh Army claimed to have foiled an attempt by some of its officers, apparently driven by religious considerations, to overthrow Sheikh Hasina's Government.

RAB-1 personnel arrested five cadres belonging to HuT when they brought out a procession in Uttara in Dhaka. The arrested five cadres were identified as Minhaj Yiamim alias Zibran (35), Mohammad Mosaddeq, Mohammad Mosabbir (22), Ibrahim Khalil (18), and Fahim Afsar Bhuiyan (20).

Fifteen leader and activists of JeI were taken on a seven-day remand after their arrest from the Uttara Khan area of Dhaka.

The Police arrested an alleged leader of HuT from his residence in the city's Sabujbagh in Dhaka District. The arrestee, identified as Mohamamd Anisuzzaman (39), hailed from Faridpur village under Titas sub-District in Comilla, is a former teacher of two colleges in the city.