US embassy cable - 05DHAKA500

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000500 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2015 
TAGS: PTER, KISL, PGOV, PREL, BG, BG Terrorism 
SUBJECT: BYE BYE BANGLA BHAI? 
 
REF: A. 04 DHAKA 01697 
     B. 04 DHAKA 1618 
 
Classified By: P/E  Counselor D.C. McCullough, Reason: 1.5 d 
 
1. (C) Summary: After a six-month hiatus, self-styled 
Islamist vigilante Bangla Bhai is back in the news.  An 
embarrassed BDG has reiterated orders for his arrest, but it 
is unclear if this embarrassment is enough to bring to heel 
the politically-connected mystery man.  End Summary. 
 
2. (C) In May 2004, Bangla Bhai (BB), a self-styled vigilante 
appeared in Rajshahi division proclaiming his protection for 
average Bangladeshis against violent criminals, drug 
trafficking, and other "social evils."  He and his armed 
followers dispensed "justice," killing mostly members of the 
Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP/East Bengal Communist 
Party), who are the enemies of BB's alleged political 
supporter, Deputy Law Minister Q.T. Dulu.  In May 2004, State 
Minister for Home Affairs Babar told Rajshahi police 
superintendent Masud Miah to tell journalist that there was 
an arrest order out for BB.   Miah reportedly replied: "We 
will arrest him if he comes open" (ref A).  PM Zia personally 
affirmed an arrest order two weeks later in a meeting with SA 
A/S Rocca, predicting that the arrest was imminent (ref B). 
 
3. (SBU) Bangla Bhai, however, remained at large, albeit 
underground, and reports of his actions largely disappeared 
from media reports.  At the same time, his group, the Jagrata 
Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB/Awakened Muslim People of 
Bangladesh), continued to operate, although at a lower level 
of activity. 
 
4. (SBU) Recently, JMJB activity appeared to rebound.  In mid 
January, a folk theater (viewed by extremists as un-Islamic) 
at Laxikola village in Shahjahanpur Upazilla was bombed, 
killing two persons and wounding 70.  An alleged member of 
the Islamist militant organization Jamatul Mujahidin, which 
has reputed ties to JMJB, was arrested and reportedly took 
credit for this attack. In late January, there were reports 
JMJB members attempted to kill Mokbul Hossain Mridha, in 
Sripur Union Parishad, for refusing to quit the Awami League. 
 On January 25, in Bhabaniganj in Bagmara, Rajshahi police 
allegedly clashed with JMJB as they organized a procession to 
protest a January 22 lynching of three JMJB members. 
According to press reports, police used rubber bullets and 
tear gas to disperse JMJB members.  After this first clash 
with police, who in the past have often helped the JMJB, JMJB 
leaders reportedly vowed retaliation against the police. 
 
5. (SBU) Shortly after the New York Times Sunday magazine 
published an article on January 23 prominently featuring 
Bangla Bhai, State Minister for Home Affairs Babar reiterated 
the arrest order for BB, saying, "We have made a clear and 
clean order to arrest him." When asked about JMJB, he denied 
its existence: "We don't officially know about the existence 
the JMJB."  Newspapers reported that police have orders also 
to arrest BB followers. 
 
6. (SBU) According to several civil society contacts, BB and 
his followers retain a level of local popularity because of 
their actions against the PBCP, a violent group infamous for 
extortion and other criminal acts.  Moreover,  in this deeply 
devout rural area, there is an audience for self-proclaimed 
defenders of traditional Islamic values. 
 
7. (SBU) BB has entered the folklore as a fearsome bearded 
avenger, inspiring shake-down attempts or threats from people 
claiming to act in his name.  In late January, for example, 
the chief of a USAID sponsored NGO received a death threat 
from someone who signed it "Bangla Bhai." The chief, noting 
the threatening letter's Dhaka postmark, eventually 
determined that it was a hoax, perhaps from a rival NGO. 
 
8. (C) Comment: Jamaat Islami initially denied any connection 
with Bangla Bhai, and then, along with some BDG officials 
like Home Minister of State Babar, began maintaining there 
was no such person as Bangla Bhai, despite numerous BB 
sightings to the contrary.  After a six-month hiatus, reports 
of new activities by BB's group returned to the media just as 
the NYT magazine article appeared.  To underscore his resolve 
about finding BB, Babar told Ambassador he would send RAB to 
do the job; Ambassador urged that BB be brought to justice 
and not become another victim of RAB "crossfire" killings. 
The BDG is embarrassed by the new focus on BB, but it is 
unclear if that embarrassment is enough to bring BB to heel. 
THOMAS