Dhaka, Thursday, February 24 (NSS): Bangladesh government has banned two ‘Islamist militant’ organisations, Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) and Jama’atual Mujahedeen Bangladesh (JMB) Wednesday accusing them of a series of bomb attacks and killings to create anarchy.
“The government is determined to take legal action against any those involved in destroying peace and discipline, and terrorist activities in the name of any organisation,” the Home Ministry said in its press note, issued on Wednesday.
These two organsations, JMJB and Jamaatul Mujahedin, have been engaged in killing, dacoity, bomb attack, threat and other terrorist activities at different areas of the country and disturbing lives of peace-loving people and destroying their wealth," it said expressing grave concern.
Meanwhile, Police in Bangladesh have arrested a university teacher for allegedly leading a militant Islamic movement blamed for recent bomb attacks.
Muhammad Asadullah al-Ghalib, professor of Arabic at Rajshahi University in the country's north-west, was arrested on Wednesday with three of his associates.
Muslim shrines, political rallies, cultural functions and aid agencies have been attacked in recent months.
On the other hand, opposition leader Sheikh Hasina's Political Secretary Saber Hossain Chowdhury said the government's step to ban two extremist outfits is 'too little and too late to bring about any meaningful change in arresting the frightening escalation in extremism and fanaticism'.
"Had the government been really sincere and not complacent about the rise of fanaticism and extremism, it would have acted long before instead of issuing a press note banning the extremist outfits Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh and Jamaatul Mujaheedin hours before the Washington meeting," Saber told a local news agency Wednesday. (End/si)
