Bangla Bhai

Siddique ul-Islam ( _bn. সিদ্দিকুল ইসলাম "Siddikul Islam"), known popularly as Bangla Bhai (বাংলা ভাই "Bengali Brother") ( 1970 – 30 March, 2007), also known as Aziz ur-Rahman আজিজুর রহমান "Azizur Rôhman", was a Bangladeshi Islamic terrorist [ [http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/bangladesh/terroristoutfits/JMB.htm Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB)] - SATP Article] and the military commander of the Al Qaeda affiliated [ cite news|title=Dismantling JMB in Bangladesh|url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2006/03/dismantling_jmb_in_b_1.php|author=Bill Roggio|publisher=Long War Journal|date=2006-03-16|accessdate=2007-12-27] radical pseudo-Islamist organization Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (Awakened Muslim Masses of Bangladesh), known in popular usage as the JMJB. Most active in the north-western section of Bangladesh around the Rajshahi region, Bangla Bhai gained a nationwide and worldwide notoriety for bombings and other terrorist activities.

Siddique ul-Islam fought in Afghanistan in the 1980s as a Mujahedin fighter, some believe directly reporting to Osama Bin Laden. Upon his return to Bangladesh, he taught Bengali language for some time. Islam joined the ranks of the JMJB and became the commander of military affairs and an acting member of the Majlis-e-Sura, its decision-making committee. Bangla bhai became infamous for the torture and intimidation of the opponents of JMJB and the minorities. On August 17, 2005, JMJB, under Islam's leadership, launched a nation-wide attack by exploding 500 makeshift bombs. Along with Shaykh Abdur Rahman, Islam is alleged to have masterminded the bombing. In late 2005, a series of suicide bomb attacks rocked Bangladesh. JMJB and Jamaat-al-Mujahedin Bangladesh have claimed responsibility of these attacks.

The Government of Bangladesh proclaimed a large prize for the capture of Bangla bhai. On 6 March, 2006, Bangla bhai was captured by police and Rapid Action Battalion in Mymensingh District [http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldNews&storyid=2006-03-06T033152Z_01_SP286968_RTRUKOC_0_US-SECURITY-BANGLADESH.xml Top Bangladesh militant captured: police] , Reuters news report, 6 March, 2006.] and was sentenced to death on 29 May.

Along with 5 other militants, Siddique ul-Islam was executed by hanging on 30 March, 2007. [ [http://bdnews24.com/details.php?cid=2&id=2595#tp2595 Six JMB militants walk gallows] , BDNews24 March 30, 2007.]

References

External links

* [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/23/magazine/23BANG.html?ex=1107463938&ei=1&en=40a2becb0f7ba9ca New York Times article on Bangla Bhai] Alternative link - [http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/bangla_bhai/islamic_rev_NYTimes.htm] .
* [http://www.bangladeshinfo.com/news/feature16.php Reuters article on Bangla Bhai] .
* [http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/bangla_bhai/ Mukto-Mona features on Bangla Bhai] .
* [http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/05/30/d6053001011.htm Daily Star on the trial]