Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh

Jāgrātā Muslim Jānātā Bānglādesh (Awakened Muslim Masses of Bangladesh), also known by the acronym JMJB, is an Islamist organisation based in Bangladesh, especially around the country's north-western region. The Government of Bangladesh has classified JMJB as a terrorist organisation. It is reported to be affiliated with al-Qaeda though there have never been any proof or confirmations of this claim. The organisation was the feature of a January 2005 New York Times article based upon the rise of Islamic radicalism in Bangladesh. It was also responsible for a series of suicide bombings in Bangladesh.

The group is led by Siddiqur Rahman, also known as "Bangla Bhai", and Shaykh Abdur Rahman. Both of them were wanted by the Bangladesh Government for terrorism. Several lesser leaders, for example, the head of the military branch, have been captured.

Formed in the late 1990s, JMJB came into spotlight through its murder spree in the North-western region of Bangladesh. Soon after, in 2004 the organization was banned by the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led government and measures were taken to eradicate its missions and presence. Its captured activists have stated that they were trained and hoped to join their Jihadist comrades in Afghanistan and Iraq in fighting against the U.S.-led coalition and the democratic political establishments in place within those countries.

Their leaders include Bangla Bhai and Shaykh Abdur Rahman. The JMJB is extremely critical of the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, which it deems as heretical due to the latter's participation in the Bangladeshi political establishment and patronization of secularism and sacrilege of Islamic values and principles. After the Government of Bangladesh proclaimed a large reward for the capture of Bangla Bhai, he was captured by police and Rapid Action Battalion in Mymensingh District on 6 March 2006.^[1]

References

1. Top Bangladesh militant captured: police, Reuters news report, 6 March 2006.

External links

• New York Times article on the JMJB Alternative link - .
• South Asia Terrorism Portal Profile