Bangla Bhai, Rahman not arrested
Posted by: Eastwestdirectory.com on Jan 20, 06 | 7:41 pm
The law enforcers comprising RAB, Police, BDR and Ansar Thursday launched the biggest-ever operation in the country’s history in search of the JMB’s top leaders in Kushtia, reports BDNews.
However, the operation in Sadar and Mirpur upazilas did not yield any fruitful result in the first phase that continued till 5 pm. The law-enforcers started their second phase of drive at 8pm and it was continuing till writing of this report at 9:30 pm.
Acting on a tip off that Shaekh Abdur Rahman or Bangla Bhai were staying in the area, over 1,300 law enforcers launched the combing operation in the morning to nab the two through house-to-house search.
Over 600 policemen from Meherpur, Kushtia, Jhenidah and Chuadanga, and 450 members of RAB and 250 BDR took part the in first spell of the combing drive.
Five helicopters from Dhaka joined the law enforcers and hovered over the sky of the two upazilas so that the JMB leaders could not go out of their security net.
The helicopters returned back Dhaka in the afternoon. With joining more 700 forces from Khulna range, the law enforcers started their second spell of operation using 300 searchlights at about 8pm.
The police administration Thursday night imposed curfew in Poradah and Ailchara areas and was announcing the decision through megaphones. People were asked to remain in their homes till 7am Friday.
A highly placed official of RAB, wishing not to be named, told BDNEWS that on receipt of information about the hideout of one of the top members of Majlish-e-Shura (the policy making body of JMB) they were conducting the drive.
Witnesses said that the law enforcers dividing into 50 groups cordoned off 10 square kilometre area and conducted house-to-house search in all villages, including Poradaha, Ballavpur and Battal of Sadar and Katdaha, Sarupdaha and Chitholia of Mirpur.
At the time of the operation, the normal life of the two upazilas came to a halt. The law enforcers also suspended vehicular movement on Kushtia-Chuadanga road.
During the operation, thousands of people thronged at Poradah Football ground to see the JMB supremo. But they went back in much despair when the empty helicopters returned Dhaka in the afternoon.
Later, in the evening, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abdul Qaiyum, hurriedly called a briefing at the police headquarters in the afternoon, and said neither JMB chief Shaekh Abdur Rahman nor JMJB supremo Bangla Bhai could be captured during the day-long drive by police and RAB in Kushtia.
The police chief, however, said 10 people suspected to be linked with JMB were arrested during the drive at Poradah. But identity of those could not be confirmed, he added.
“The law enforcers conducted the drive to nab Rahman and Bangla Bhai following a tip-off from sources,” the IGP said adding: “Despite having information, we could not confirm whether Rahman or Bangla Bhai or both the top leaders were hiding in five square kilometres that was surrounded by RAB and police since the morning.”
The IGP also said, “we had reliable information that some persons linked with the JMB were holding meeting at a rice mill near Poradah village under sadar thana.”
“The law enforcers cordoned off the Poradah and Khwaja Nagar areas in search of top JMB leaders”, the IGP said adding: the drive would continue for an indefinite period and another 1,000 personnel were also sent to reinforce their strength.
The IGP along with DG RAB Abdul Aziz Sarkar and Additional IGP Anwarul Iqbal was present in the briefing.
“We are hopeful that the drive would bring a positive result,” he said adding that both the police and RAB are very much serious to arrest the top notches of the Islamic outfit.
Replying to a question, he said none of the locals were allowed to leave the area or get out without proper verification of their identities. He, however, admitted that the people who are not the inhabitants of those areas were being obstructed, but the locals are not being affected.
To another question the IGP replied that some five helicopters were used to transport the officials who were monitoring and conducting the drive. The police chief also said that all the mills, factories and suspected areas would be searched. The IGP hoped that the suspected militants could be arrested as the drive is still continuing.
Courtesy: bangladesh-web
