When we think of militant organizations in Bangladesh, the names that immediately come to mind are JMB, Harkat-ul-Jihad, and Bangla Bhai—symbols of brutality. Let’s take a closer look at the political background and affiliations of the individuals behind these organizations.
Based on investigations during the caretaker government and reports from journalists, it was revealed that the families of JMB leaders had acted as Razakars during the Liberation War, later holding key positions in Jamaat-Shibir politics. With BNP’s support, they created multiple militant organizations under different names, aimed at eliminating the pro-Liberation political forces. Among these, JMB, Harkat-ul-Jihad, and Bangla Bhai were the most involved in killings and atrocities.
According to a Janakantha report from April 30, 2006, all seven members of JMB’s Shura (council) had their political initiation through Shibir. The father of JMB chief Shaykh Abdur Rahman was Abul Fazal, the Al-Badr commander in Jamalpur during 1971. Shaykh Abdur Rahman himself had been a central committee member of the Shibir’s student wing. His family maintained close ties with top Jamaat leaders.
Abdur Rahman’s younger brother, Ataur Rahman Sunny, was a Shibir member while in madrasa and later became one of Shibir’s top organizational leaders at Kushtia Islamic University. After a gun battle with police in 2000, he went into hiding and later took charge of JMB’s military wing, building nationwide Shibir-JMB networks.
Another JMB commander, Bangla Bhai (real name Siddiqur Rahman), was from Bogura’s Gabtali upazila. His family was known as Razakars during 1971 for aiding Pakistanis. He became a key Shibir leader at Azizul Haque College in Bogura, running a Shibir-controlled coaching center. Later, under the advice of Jamaat Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami, he joined JMB. Because of his Shibir background, he developed strong ties with Tarique Rahman, which helped JMB coordinate closely with BNP-Jamaat.
Although media reports frequently exposed Bangla Bhai’s torture and killings, Nizami dismissed them as “a creation of the media.” In fact, when villagers captured Bangla Bhai in Bagerhat on August 17, 2002 during an attempted killing of an Awami League leader and handed him to police, he was released on the orders of State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar, following Tarique Rahman’s instructions.
On December 7, 2002, JMB carried out simultaneous bombings at four cinemas in Mymensingh, killing 19 innocents. On August 14, 2003, Bangla Bhai and others were caught with weapons in Joypurhat, but again released on recommendation of the Hawa Bhaban syndicate.
In 2005, after JMB leader Khamaru was arrested, he was released through Babar’s intervention, again at Bangla Bhai’s request to Tarique Rahman.
Another JMB Shura member, Nurul Huda Abed, was also a powerful Shibir leader who later joined forces with Shaykh Abdur Rahman to form JMB.
[The Political Identity of Militant Leaders Behind the Nationwide Bomb Attacks of August 17, 2005]
Reports from October 4, 2005 show that Mufti Hannan, one of the masterminds of the grenade attack on Sheikh Hasina, the Ramna Batamul, Udichi, and other nationwide bombings, came from Kotalipara, Gopalganj. His brother, Matiar Rahman Mati, was a BNP leader of Kotalipara thana. Through his BNP leader brother, Hannan maintained ties with Tarique Rahman and Khaleda Zia, reporting to them after operations.
Another JMB Shura member, Hafez Mahmud, revealed after being arrested for the August 17 blasts that JMB cadres had worked tirelessly to ensure Jamaat’s victory in the 2001 elections, while BNP also sought their cadre-based help. In return, Hawa Bhaban promised them privileges and protection once BNP-Jamaat came to power.
A report from August 23, 2005 indicated that during BNP-Jamaat’s rule, at least 14 extremist organizations, under various disguises, carried out repression of opposition politicians nationwide. Militants conducted armed operations across the country under BNP-Jamaat’s shelter.
According to October 4, 2005 reports, Bangla Bhai’s house in Bogura was the hub of northern Bangladesh’s militant network. Villages in Gabtali became training centers for bomb squads, female cadres, and militant activities. Arrested JMB member Razzak alias Hasan revealed that he and others disguised as rickshaw pullers had participated in the August 17 Bogura bomb blasts.
