Photo: Messenger
Public representatives are being targeted and assassinated one after another by extremist groups. These killings of elected representatives are driven by various motives, such as refusal to pay extortion demands or provide favours to the extremists. Additionally, some of these extremist organisations are carrying out contract killings, acting as hired assassins.
Recently, an extremist group assassinated MP Anwarul Azim Anar of Jhenaidah as part of a contract killing worth nearly 5 crore taka, carried out on behalf of unknown parties in India. Following the arrest of the extremist leader known as Shimul alias Amanullah alias Jabbar in connection with this incident, alarming information about the current operations of these extremists has come to light. Based on the intelligence provided by Shimul, law enforcement agencies have launched efforts to apprehend at least 50 other suspected extremists.
Currently, the extremist leader Shimul is in remand in the custody of the detective police in the MP Anar murder case. The authorities are continuing to interrogate him.
Tareq Siddique , Additional Police Superintendent of Jashore district police, told The Daily Messenger, “We are working with a list of around 50 people. Currently, members of the detective unit of district police and the special branch are working on this. We have increased surveillance on this issue more than any other time.”
It is learned that since 1990, about 66 chairmen have been killed by extremists in the districts of the southwestern region. Many chairmen have fled their villages out of fear of extremists. Among them, some unions of Kushtia Sadar are known as the safe havens of extremists. These are Patikabari Union of Sadar Upazila, Gosami Durgapur Union, Jhaudia Union and Abdulpur Union.
Sources said that four consecutive chairmen of Jhaudia Union Parishad have been killed by extremists. However, these four chairmen were also leaders of the extremist organisation. The current chairman of Jhaudia Union Parishad, Ajibor Bishwas, was recently killed by his opponents in India. He was the secretary of the banned Jasad Ganabahini. The same fate befell his three previous chairmen.
In addition, extremists have a strong presence in Dumuria, Terokhada, Rupsa, Dighalia, Phultala, Paikgachha of Khulna, Chougachha of Jashore, Shailkupa of Jhenaidah, Doulotpur, Mirpur of Kushtia Sadar, Gangni and Sadar area of Meherpur, Chuadanga Sadar and Alamdanga. However, after the top extremist leaders of the southwestern region were killed in crossfire or by their opponents in recent years, the activities of the extremists in these areas had decreased for some time. Now they are raising their heads again. Despite the law enforcement agencies repeatedly claiming that extremists’ network has been broken, the criminals and patronisers of the banned organization still remain a real threat in remote villages and unions.
Through investigation, it has been found that 66 public representatives have been killed in the southwestern region since 1990. Notable among them are Sadu Khan of Teligati in Bagerhat, Rashid Khan of Ramchandpur, Chairman Pintu of Buridanga, Aktar Hossain of Dema Union, Atiar Rahman of Kalubaria, Atar Ali of Mansa Bahirdia Union, Habibur Rahman of Baintali, , chairman Bagbul Islam Bablu of Mohajanpur Union of Mujibnagar Upazila in Meherpur, chairman Amirul Islam of Gangni Paurashava, Abdul Baki of Kazipur Union of Gangni Upazila, chairman of Saharbati Union Bajlur Rahman, Kalidaspur Union chairman Meher Ali of Chuadanga district, chairman of Jehala Union Kochi, chairman of Hardi Union Manu, Andulbaria Union chairmen Baharul Islam, Jamil and Ali Hossain, Khadimpur Union chairman Atiar Rahman and chairman Nur Ali of Sarojganj in Chuadanga.
In addition, Chan Mia Sikdar of Satiyadah Union of Terokhada Upazila in Khulna, Abdul Majid and Kabirul of Dumuria Sadar, Atul Saha of Magurkhali Union, Sardar Abul Kashem of Damudar, Sheikh Sirajul Islam and Sheikh Abdur Rouf of Atrar, Intaj Ali of Koilaghat Union, Ruhul Amin of Phulbari, Golam Faruk and Abul Hossain of Naikhati, Mostafa Jahan Ali of Surkhaali, Abu Gazi and Habibur Rahman of Doulotpur were killed by the extremists.
On the other hand, Ashraf Hossain of Singhajhuli Union of Chougachha in Jashore, Wazed Hossain and Kawsar Hossain of Raipur Union, Jamil Master of Narikelberia, Anshar Ali of Bidyananda Kathi, Sheikh Safiuddin of Jamdia, Majed Sheikh of Basundia Union, Abdul Jalil of Gangananda Union, Nuruddin of Sharsha in Putiakhali, Abdul Karim of Benapole, and others were killed by extremists.
After the murder of MP Anar in India, the activities of extremists have again come under discussion. They killed him in exchange for nearly 5 crore taka. After the arrest of the extremist leader Shimul alias Amanullah alias Jabbar in this incident, the mystery behind this murder was revealed. The extremists committed such a horrific murder of MP Anar that his body could not be found even after 15 days.
Officers from the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police said that important information about the activities of the extremists was obtained from the arrested Amanullah. Based on the information provided by him, steps have been taken to arrest at least 50 extremists who were staying in disguise.
Sources informed that some extremist members are also across the border. The law enforcement agencies have sought assistance in gathering information about them for arrests.
Messenger/Disha
