DHAKA, 5 September 2005 — Bangladesh’s security minister yesterday said two militant outfits were responsible for Aug. 17 serial blasts in which 2 people were killed and 100 others were injured, sources said. State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar disclosed that militants of outlawed Islamist outfit Jamatul Mujahedeen Bangladesh (JMB) and ultra-left Maoist group Jana Juddha were responsible for the bombings.
“Two evil forces of JMB and Jana Juddha have joined hands and primary investigations suggest that they were behind the Aug. 17 bomb blasts,” he told reporters in Dhaka.
In reply to a question, Babar said since there is still apprehension of threat, law enforcers had been asked to remain on high alert to foil any such incident in future.
He said militants at the grass-root and secondary levels were arrested for their links with the blasts. Security forces have arrested about 200 people over the wave of bombings and have tightened security amid concerns of more attacks, the minister said.
“We don’t rule out chances of more attacks and so have been taking further measures to avert it,” Babar told reporters after meeting senior police and intelligence officials.
Police said many of those arrested confessed to being members of Jamatul Mujahedeen and of being involved in the bombing attacks.
“They have given information suggesting that not only Islamic militants but other terror groups were also involved in the bombings,” Babar said. “We are updating security everywhere, including plans to install close-circuit cameras at street corners.”
Meanwhile, the ruling coalition government in Bangladesh plans to shut down madrasas, which they claim were being used as militant training camps, a report said yesterday.
The Home Ministry was preparing a list of madrasas which reportedly served as camps to train cadres of the Jamatul Mujahedeen militant group how to use weapons.
The Bangladesh Observer daily said the government was also seeking detailed information on the alleged training facilities offered by the madrasas, including the arms used and whether special skills on making explosives were also taught.
Plot to Assassinate Khaleda
Several intelligence reports, considered classified information, published in a Bangla language daily on Saturday, have created sensation in the country. The Daily Manavzamin published the report — titled “An Intelligence Report and…” — giving details of intelligence findings. The heads of intelligence agencies remained tight-lipped.
The report highlighted an intelligence report of 2002 that had warned of a possible assassination plot against former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. The report said 12 people had taken commando training at a secret location on the India-China border to carry out the assassination.
