An Islamic Miltiant Galib Released

The army backed Caretaker Government in Bangladesh suddenly chose to extend leniency to an Islamic militant Asadullah al Galib. Do you remember how many times it carefully enforced emergency rules to rearrest the political leaders from the jail gate after their court ordered release? The same rule does not apply to a militant like Galib as he tacitly enjoys immunity from the government. Nor the Government even considered to reinvestigate and charge Galib for his known alliance with the militants. It let this notorious militant go free. Daily Star reports on August 29, 2008:

Asadullah Al Galib, chief of Islamist militant outfit Ahle Hadith Andolan Bangladesh (Ahab), was freed on bail yesterday from Bogra Jail.

The High Court (HC) granted him bail in two cases as the trials could not be held within the time set by the HC six months ago.

Since his arrest on February 23, 2005, a total of ten cases were filed against the militant kingpin and a close ally of executed Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) chief Shayekh Abdur Rahman.

However, during the then BNP-Jamaat alliance government, Galib was relieved of charges in six of the cases and was granted bail in another case.

On July 26, during the term of the present government, a Gaibandha court declared him not guilty in an explosives case.

Six months back, the HC ordered that Galib would be awarded bail in two other cases (one for explosions in Shahjahanpur and the other for murdering a person in the explosions) unless the trial of the murder case is completed within three months and the trial of the explosion case in six months.

Galib was released on bail at around 5:30pm yesterday following the HC order as both the trials could not be held in time.

GALIB'S MILITANT TIES
In 1978, Galib formed Ahab's youth wing Ahle Hadith Jubo Shangha (AHJS), said AHJS workers.

While forming the AHJS, Galib argued that they needed to engage in Jihad against Islamic fallacies including the mazar culture to bring an Islamic rule in the country.

Galib received funds from the Middle East through an Indian Islamist leader named Moulana Abdul Matin Salafi. In 1988 the Ershad government expelled Salafi, who had been working as a Muballig (religious preacher), for anti-state activities. Abdul Matin Salafi sent huge funds to Galib from Saudi Arabia, sources said.

The mainstream organisation Ahab was formed in late 1994.

With Galib's help and funds from Revival of Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS), the JMB militants used 700 mosques across the country. The bank accounts of RIHS in Pakistan were seized after the 9/11 incident.

Galib toured Afghanistan, India and Pakistan with fake travel documents. He had close relations with Islamist militants in Kashmir. He visited India in 1998 with a business passport.

Police and intelligence sources said Ahab is just a cover-up of the JMB and most of the Ahab members are involved in JMB activities.

Militants arrested in Thakurgaon, Joypurhat, Bogra and Natore told police that Galib was their leader and he used to meet with them at Ahle Hadith mosques.

JMB chief Rahman and Ahab Amir Galib were well-known to each other. Rahman studied at Madina University in Saudi Arabia on Galib's recommendation and after completing his course, he joined with Galib.