Radicals seek recruits

Radical outfits like Jama’tul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), linked to the serial explosions across the country nine years ago, are tactfully recruiting again, security officials say. JMB activists on the run have either infiltrated other new groups to carry forward their radical agenda but in some cases reports about their recruiting under cover have also been received over the past two years. A RAB official said that JMB’s underground activists are regrouping.They are also seeking out fresh recruits under cover. ‘They are in touch with their leaders who tactfully instruct them from prison.’ He said the fresh clandestine recruitments are mostly reported from the northern districts. Another official said these new groups may not be capable of large scale violence or acts of sabotage but they can surely carry out localised acts of subversion. RAB spokesperson Mufti Mahmud Khan says 587 JMB activists have been arrested since the 2005 serial explosions. Police has filed 161 cases over the serial bombings in 63 districts across the country the same day. Verdicts have been delivered in 102 of these cases but in 59 of them, judgments are awaited. Fifteen radicals have been given death sentence, 118 got life in prison and 99 others were given prison sentence of various durations. 118 of the accused have been let off, 35 are on bail and 53 are absconding. Public Prosecutor Abdullah Abu said that most of the cases related to the 2005 bomb attacks have been concluded successfully. ‘Only 59 cases are still on. We hope if the witnesses come forward and testify on schedule, these cases won’t take long,’ he said, according to bdnews24.com.