By IANS,
Dhaka : A court in Rajshahi, western Bangladesh, awarded life terms to all 11 militants of the outlawed Jama’aul Mujahidin, Bangladesh (JMB), in a sedition case filed for taking combat training to fight against the state in 2005.
“Local and foreign nationals” provided them the training, according to the prosecution.
The nationality of the foreigners was not indicated.
The training included making simple and sophisticated bombs, including time bombs and remote control bombs, and operating rifles.
Those tried and convicted were followers of Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai, the JMB’s second-in-command, who targeted religious minorities and political opponents.
The JMB’s top brass was convicted for killing two judges, and six of them were hanged in March last year.
Delivering the verdict, Judge M. Sajedul Karim of the first court of Rajshahi divisional special judge said prosecution allegations that the militants were engaged in anti-state activities and that they had been receiving “exclusive combat training on arms, ammunition and detonators” with ulterior motives against the state were proved without any doubt.
The police recovered from them diaries and notes, including details on “restricted military training, ammunition and detonators”, guerrilla warfare and revolutionary Islamic slogans and songs for Jihad.
One of the sentenced militants, Mozammel, hurled abuses at the police and journalists after the sentence was read out, the Daily Star said Friday.
The JMB and Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami (HUJI) were among the organisations banned by the Khaleda Zia government (2001-06) after protests at home and criticism in the West. The US threatened sanctions if these groups were not outlawed.