BYE BYE BANGLA BHAI?

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
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