Are the PM's words empty?

Not three days have passed since Bangla Nation implored Bangladeshi voters and the international community to hold Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to her alleged commitment to "building up a non-communal, democratic Bangladesh where people of all faiths will live in peace and plenty" (see...). Prime Minister Hasina needs to show her support for Bangladesh's minorities, not just because they voted for her party, by ordering an investigation into the circumstances and situations of the minorities in Bangladesh. Moreover, security personnel should be in place to protect the Hindu community. Most importantly, the police need to bring the criminals and hate activists, especially their leaders and political patrons (if they are acting under Opposition orders), to book and make a stern example of them.

Three days ago, just before PM Hasina's speech, a gang (from a neighboring village) beat up two youths of Dighalkandi Sahapara village (Puthia). In response, 10 Hindu families filed a general diary with the local police. Later that night, 30 suspected BNP-Jamaat "cadres" attacked three of the families, injuring 12. During the assault, the attackers hurled abuses at the families for supporting the Awami League during the December elections. The Awami League President of Baneswar union indicated that "criminals" had been after the land of the Hindu families in the village for a long time (Daily Star).

Disturbing and inexcusable are the only words to describe the situation that the Hindu community continues to find itself in. Bangla Nation believes that if Prime Minister Hasina intends on being more than an empty politician expelling hot air, addressing the grievances of Puthia's Hindu community would be a good place to take action.

Sarbaharas... Islamists... Jihad?

Daily Star reported a bomb attack in Pabna Sadar which left two dead.

Police suspect that 'Janajuddho' (of the Purbo Banglar Communist Party) was responsible and that an 'internal feud' might be part of the dynamic.

News invovling the Sarbaharas has seemed to be picking up in the last few weeks (at least from the Daily Star's perspective). Earlier this week, two members of the 'Red Flag' (PBCP) died from bullet injuries sustained during a gun fight with police and RAB in Atrai upazila (Naogaon).

The police and RAB seemed to have managed to not only clamp down on Islamist militants but the leftist thuggery as well. As long as the security forces keep the groups off-balance they can avoid a situation similar to 2004, when Siddiqul Islam (Bangla Bhai) of the JM(J)B rose to infamy.

The Islamist militancy front has been somewhat more quiet of late (the last week or so), following the sensational arrests of three Lashkar-e-Taiyeba members. First was Mufti Obaidullah (New Nation) who provided a wealth of information. Obaidullah evidently said that while there were similarities (and probably links) between LT and Harakatul Jihad, they did not "work like" JMB. In addition, he claimed (truthfully as it turned out) that there were other LT leaders in Bangladesh working as madrassa teachers (Daily Star). His information contributed to the arrest of Mufti Habibullah in Dhaka.

Mufti Habibullah revealed that he and Obaidullah entered Bangladesh in 1995 after bribing Indian border guards. Obaidullah bounced around the country teaching at madrassas in Moulvibazar (Sylhet), Madaripur (Dhaka), Munshiganj (Dhaka), Jessore (Khulna), as well as Dhaka (New Nation). For his part, Habibullah taught at madrassas in Jessore, Dhaka, and Habiganj (Sylhet) (Daily Star). What is interesting is the complete absence of any links to Rajshahi.

The Daily Star article also noted additional tidbits: Daud Merchant (associated with crime boss Daud Ibrahim), detained about two months ago, are evidently the sources of the leads for the arrest of the LT members. Moreover, on the first day of remand Habibullah admitted that LT was planning for an 'armed-jihad' in Bangladesh (Daily Star). Finally, a third LT member was arrested in Shyamnagar sub-district (Satkhira, Khulna) in the Sundarbans. Like his colleagues, Muhaddis Obaidullah was teaching at a Kawmi madrassa (New Nation).

This LT episode begs some interesting questions. First, what is the extent of the dialogue and networking between Daud Ibrahim and LT? Second, does LT really not have any presence whatsoever in Rajshahi division? Finally, this seems to cast some doubt on the general Western (and Chinese) conception that the Bangladeshis are "inept." This entire operation was carried out by Bangladeshi security forces based on Bangladeshi-derived information from a suspect that they previously arrested.

The Awami League government has certainly started raising expectations that subsequent governments (whether BNP or otherwise) will have to maintain. The first half of 2009 has certainly been a far cry from the five years of BNP-Jamaat rule, when action was only taken following 500 explosions in over 60 districts.

As the Daily Star points out some of these LT cadres are wanted by the US and India as well. The Bangladeshi government is continually demonstrating its resolve in dealing, not only with Bangladeshi Islamist militancy, but in transnational militancy. The next steps should be to engage the Bangladeshi government on multiple levels and either extradite the arrested or ensure that they are given a proper trial.

This episode also points out to additional problems that should be addressed bilaterally between Bangladesh and India. First is the issue of border control, India and Bangladesh must cooperate at the local level to catch militants as they are crossing the border. The US and UK (to say nothing of Australia) should provide reommendation and equipment to enable the border forces to effectively police their areas. Bangladesh must also rein in the rogue madrassas. While not all madrassas are harboring Islamist militants, it would be a mistake to think that none of them do.

Effective control of the country's education would not only cut-down on incidences of harboring but on improving the administration and overall educational quality of the madrassas. In an effort to rein them in the government will be attempting to enforce regulations to have madrassas hang potraits of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Earlier regulations also made it compulsory for madrassas to raise the national flag and sing the anthem (though some are still resisting).

In this regard, the government and the people should expect resistance to continue for some time, until all accept the necessity for the government to promote the idea of Bangladesh as democratic and secular. There is no problem with madrassa education (as evidenced by the fact that it is not outlawed) but there is a problem when a teacher espouses the removal of the democratic system of government. Hopefully the hanging of the picture of PM Hasina is meant to be the portrait of whoever is the sitting PM...

Finally, though this goes without saying it is worth repeating. Bangladesh (as well as the US, India, and UK) should be on watch for Habibullah's warning of an "armed-jihad." While this could simply bean attempt at disturbing the peace, LT (as well as HUJI, JMB or any other armed Islamist militant group) could easily find a foothold in the less governed, less patrolled, more locally corrupt, and less developed portions of the country. Regarding Obaidullah's remarks that LT and HUJI don't "work like" JMB, this is interesting and should be explored.

It may simply refer to the fact that LT and HUJI have not really done much in Bangladesh (aside from possible links to some high profile attacks a few years ago, British High Commissioner, Sheikh Hasina, NGOs), unlike JMB. Or it could be referring to JMB's alienating the local population, such as through displays of force, riding into Rajshahi aboard motorcycles and minibus (under police escort) and other more grotesque displays.

Another Head for the Hydra

Since July 3, Bangladesh police forces (including Rapid Action Battalion-RAB) have been dismantling another “offshoot” of the JMB, Islam O Muslim (Islam and Muslim), according to the Daily Star (Source 1, 2, 3) and the New Nation.

Law enforcement has detained the chief organizer, the second-in-command, and a number of full-time members and other associates over the past weekend.

The arrest of the chief organizer led to some valuable information, first was the founding of IOM, evidently it stemmed from a disagreement over financial and other matters with some other “influential JMB leaders.” It has not been reported what, if any, links the IOM has with earlier reported networks Ahle Sunnah al Jamaat or Kalema-e-Jamaat (see The Hydra's Many Heads).

Second were the links to the now-executed leader of JMJB, Bangla Bhai, the IOM chief organizer “actively took part” in the JMJB’s anti-Leftist operations in 2004.

Third was the claim that he fled to India (specifically, West Bengal) after the arrests in 2005 of Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai (the two supremos of JMB/JMJB) who were eventually executed. During his stay in West Bengal (where he married a second time according to the Daily Star) he “played a key role in strengthening the JMB’s wing in India during his two-and-a-half years stay in Murshidabad, Nadia, and Maldah districts.”

Finally, the IOM allegedly planned to “dominate” a number of sub-districts in the north comprising C’nawabganj, Bagmara, and Naogaon.

The other significant arrestee was the “military affairs commander” who “used to go to India frequently” and provided arms to the JMB/IOM. A RAB officially stated that the various leaders, who parted ways after the execution of Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai, formed new organizations and were actively recruiting. From his confessions, additional members were picked up.

Notably, the second-in-command was detained, following an intelligence tip-off, at his father-in-law’s house in Belpara Johorpur village of C’nawabganj town. Another Daily Star article revealed that he came into contact with the JMB through another associate, whom later married his sister after he persuaded his mother. His mother and sister are now living “amid poverty and anxiety.”

These arrests continue to suggest that Bangladesh’s security forces have a solid grasp of the JMB threat and are working effectively to neutralize it. That the second-in-command was arrested following a tip-off from a Bangladeshi intelligence agency is also encouraging. Moreover, the wealth of information gained from the chief organizer, particularly the IOM’s plans to expand throughout the northern areas (which were once ample recruiting ground for the JMB/JMJB) presents the Government a rare opportunity to deal with the IOM-JMB branch decisively.

However, in addition to rooting out the remaining IOM cadres and leadership, the local governments must also take steps in ensuring proper governance in their areas. One way to ensure proper governance is for the national government to implement some of the points made by the vice chairmen of the Upazila Parishads, for instance eliminating provisions undermining their authority, and granting them greater autonomy (as reported by the Daily Star). The other way is for all levels of government to eliminate corruption.

The story of the second-in-command continues to bear some light on the JMB’s recruiting. Whether his future brother-in-law was involved in an extremist mosque or madrassa, or was simply a new acquaintance has not been reported. However, the importance of human connections, particularly family ones, are highlighted by this and previous stories. The idea of joining the organization due to another’s influence and the phenomena of entire families sympathizing with a group’s actions are evident. The significance of realities should be explored, not only by the Bangladeshi government but by the civil society, NGOs, and the international community.

Additionally, it seems that the second-in-command’s story is a bit more of the “usual narrative” than the JMB’s detained IT chief. One could not “come out successful in the SSC examinations” while the other attended the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. One worked as a mason in India before returning to Bangladesh, the other worked as an engineer for BUET.

The Bangladeshi government (and society) should take careful note of these stories and devise ways to not only apprehend cadres but also address their men’s grievances or their shared problems.

The recent press reports are discussing the ease with which extremists can flow across the border between India and Bangladesh. While the UK and Bangladesh have agreed, in principle, to share information and work towards effective “border management” any further discussion is pointless without involving India.

In addition to the border, India should be involved for the simple reason that it is clear that the JMB has become a transnational extremist organization. By involving India, Bangladesh could provide information that would help to shut down the JMB’s supply lines and financing.

If Bangladesh aims to keep JMB, or whatever offshoots it spawns, at bay then effective policing of the border should also be a priority. However, it the first priority of the government should be to address the lack of governance and development in these areas; by doing so, it will establish a friendly environment, where the locals trust the government, to police.

As for the spawning, the security forces should explore ways in which to exacerbate the fractures. Are there ways to promote infighting among the groups? Is one group willing to snitch on the other? Better still, is one group willing to abandon an armed struggle? This latter case would need to be approached cautiously to avoid another Islamic Democratic Party fiasco. At the very least, the news that the higher JMB leadership cannot agree on such things as financing and ideological issues is good, the JMB movement may be rotting from the top.

Weekend Cadre Tells All!

A part-time member (gayeri ehsar) of JMB told the Daily Star that the group had briefly joined the Kansat movement in April 2006 because the group felt betrayed that the ruling BNP-Jamaat coalition at the time reneged on a pledge “to protect the organization and annihilate the Sarbaharas.” According to the Daily Star, the Kansat movement began in January 2006 after locals brought allegations of irregularities against Rural Electricity Board officials. During the movement, 500 JMB full-time and part-time cadres destroyed government property and torched government vehicles.

More importantly, the JMB is using different cross-border routes in Chapainawabganj (Rajshahi) and Jessore (Khulna) to smuggle in bomb-making materials and small arms from India and to traffic them to different “offices” located in cadres’ homes. In addition, the member also revealed that Majlish-e-Shura members are attempting to reconstitute the organization in Dhaka and other divisional towns.

He listed a few of the Shura members noting that they hail from Gaibandha, Pabna, and C’nawabganj. Though recruitment has been stalled, the JMB is focusing on recruiting family members (both blood and through marriage). Finally, the group is planning attacks “in several important districts” to embarrass the government.

This revelation has a number of important points – firstly is the confirmation that at least some elements of the BNP were aware of the JMB’s existence and actively collaborated with them. More disturbingly, these elements may have been involved in the countrywide bomb blasts of 2005, since the physical manifestation of the falling out evidently occurred in the Kansar movement in April 2006.

Secondly, though the information regarding the arms trafficking routes is probably known to the security and law enforcement forces, it gives the public and international community a much clearer picture of JMB’s current activities. The JMB is regrouping, setting up trafficking routes, and safe havens in the border areas. Moreover, the fact that the Majlish-e-Shura members are also from these districts indicates that militant Islamist tendencies are both well-developed and tolerated in these areas.

One of the Shura members “Bhaigna” Shahid is reviving operations in Bogra, the same district that Bangla Bhai was from. It would be worthwhile to know which sub-districts Shahid is conducting operations.

These revelations will certainly assist the local police and RAB forces in tracking down and apprehending the JMB groups. From the reports over the last couple of days it seems that the authorities are dealing with the JMB effectively. The law enforcers should continue to explore the trafficking routes from India and actively engage Indian local police and Border Security Forces in order to shut down these routes. This is a great opportunity to build confidence between the two governments’ security and law enforcement organizations while also dealing with a mutual threat.

However, apprehending JMB cadres and dismantling trafficking routes does not address some deeper issues. All levels of Bangladeshi government, but the local level in particular, must learn the reasons that the JMB has continually been able to reassert itself in certain districts of Rajshahi division. If these reasons are due to the local population’s grievances or advocacy by certain mullahs, local government can take proactive steps in addressing these issues. If the government doesn’t explore the deeper causes of militant Islamism and only deals with its current manifestation, the authorities will simple drive militant organizations further underground.

The danger is that the next time the JMB resurfaces it may be too late.

The Hydra's Many Heads

Rajshahi Metropolitan Police arrested 18 persons on suspicion of links to JMB, according to the Daily Star on June 20. Three were later released. The detainees ranged in age from 44 to an 18-month old and included teenagers and pre-teens. All were arrested in the Tikapara area of the RCC.

A RMP official told the Daily Star that the 15 detainees were initially arrested for involvement in a new outfit ‘Ahle Sunnah al Jamaat.’ Detainee interrogation, however, revealed a new network “Kalema-e Jamaat” that allegedly has 600 adherents across the country. It’s probable that these adherents are unrepentant JMB cadres that have been in hiding since 2005 and are now regrouping under a new name to avoid detection.

A new network isn’t terribly concerning, as long as law enforcement services remain alert and proactive by tracking down financiers, suppliers, and sympathizers. The possibility of “600 adherents” spread “across the country” is good news. This would suggest that there is a traveling savant or two spreading the message, with diligence on the parts of the security and law enforcement forces they could be apprehended. More importantly this is a far cry from three years ago when the JMB claimed to have thousands of trained fighters.

Bangladesh should provide any worthwhile details to the Indian government as the arrests over the last few days have all occurred very close to the West Bengal-Bangladesh border. Having a keen set of eyes on both sides of the border will assist in detaining militants and would also go a long way in keeping the Kalema-e Jamaat/Ahle Sunnah al Jamaat/Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) on the run.

JMB Regrouping in Western Borderlands

JMB continues to rear its head in Rajshahi division. According to the Daily Star, police arrested four cadres in the last few days and learned of the JMB’s regrouping in four sub-districts of Chapainawabganj – far to the west on the border with India (see graphic). According to the police, the four fled following the crack down after the August 17, 2005 country-wide bombings.

The detainees had been busy: they’ve attempted to recruit women and “youths” and they’ve also turned to making their own weapons and ammunition. Perhaps most importantly, the detainees revealed that Shahadat and Selim, based in Gomostapur subdistrict, are attempting to revive the JMB. The four detainees were apprehended in: Shibganj and Bholahat sub-districts. Aside from these two areas, police named Gomostapur and C’nawabganj Town sub-districts as part of the regrouping campaign.

The article is a positive sign for a couple of reasons – firstly, it’s the local police who have been making the arrests of late, not RAB. This may indicate that the local police are getting more cooperation from the locals, the local police are getting more professional, and/or the JMB is simply unable to bribe the local police or is no longer a welcome guest.

Secondly, the issue of homemade weapons and ammunition may indicate that JMB is unable to find suppliers of modern weapons or, more likely, the organization is so disorganized financially that they are unable to procure arms. On the other hand, somebody must have trained the detainees, one doesn't just figure out how to make a gun and bullets from insecticide sprayers.

With this victory, one is left with the impression that Bangladesh has “figured out” the JMB question. In other words the government is able to find, arrest, and extract information from the militants with relative ease, keeping the group off balance, and with minimal bloodletting. One also hopes that the government is also aware of emerging threats to the Constitution and to the region.

India and the U.S. are natural partners as their interests will coincide with the Bangladeshi government. India has the rare opportunity to cooperate with a friendly Awami League government in an area of mutual concern – extremist violence in the borderlands. While the Bangladeshi government will have lingering concerns over Indian dominance, a responsible India, conscious of the views of its neighbors should be able to allay these apprehensions. The U.S. could also provide much needed training, equipment, and confidence to the Bangladeshi police forces thereby enhancing governance in the areas outside of Dhaka.