Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh

Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh[1] ("Awakened Muslim Masses of Bangladesh", abbreviated: JMJB), is an Islamist extremist group operating in and around northwestern Bangladesh.[2][3] The Government of Bangladesh has banned the JMJB, classifying it as a terrorist organization.[4] It is described by Bangladeshi police as an offshoot of the related Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh outfit.[5][6]

Early history

Formed between 2003 and 2004 in Rajshahi District's Bagmara Upazila,[7] the organization initially received support from some government officials, in hopes they would target other insurgents operating in the country.[8] The group also attacked Awami League politicians with the support of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leadership.[9] According to US diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks, the Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's son, Tarique Rahman, requested the release of the group's leader to their own government.[10] Despite this, the JMJB was banned on 23 February 2005.[11]

Leadership

The organization's leaders included its commander Siddique ul-Islam (better known as Bangla Bhai),[12] and Shaykh Abdur Rahman. After the Government of Bangladesh offered a large reward for the capture of Bangla Bhai, he was detained by the elite Rapid Action Battalion in Mymensingh District on 6 March 2006.[13] Both he and Shaykh Abdur Rahman were executed on 30 March 2007.[14]

Ideology

The JMJB is extremely critical of the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh party, which it deems as heretical due to its participation in the Bangladeshi political establishment, patronisation of secularism, and sacrilege of Islamic values and principles. The group's ideology is inspired by that of the Afghan Taliban, and it is a proponent of Sharia law in Bangladesh.[15] The JMJB was urged by some of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party to attack members of the militant Purbo Banglar Communist Party.[8]

References
  1. "37 militants among 3,192 arrested on first day of anti-terror crackdown: Police". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  2. "A Rule of Law Meltdown Is Behind the Murder of Bloggers in Bangladesh". www.worldpoliticsreview.com. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  3. (Direct), Nestle – Corporate Campaign. "The inspiring projects that are changing girls' education in India today". Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  4. "Govt to keep watch on pro-Jamaat Peace schools". The Daily Star. 23 May 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  5. "Salafi ideology behind JMB's rise". Prothom Alo. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  6. "Is Bangladesh winning against extremism?". BBC News. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  7. "'Suicide bombing' in Rajshahi mosque during Juma prayers kills 1". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  8. "Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB), South Asia Terrorism Portal". www.satp.org. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  9. "Bangla Bhai's deputy Khamaru arrested again". Dhaka Tribune. 26 September 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  10. "Khamaru held again". The Daily Star. 26 September 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  11. "Ansarullah sixth outlawed militant group". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 2 October 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  12. "43 detained as drive against militants on". The Daily Star. 28 July 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  13. Top Bangladesh militant captured: police Archived 31 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Reuters news report, 6 March 2006.
  14. "Six JMB militants hanged". The Daily Star. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  15. Manik, Julfikar Ali; Islam, Shariful. "Six JMB militants hanged". The Daily Star. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
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