Photo : Messenger
Banned militant group Hizb ut-Tahrir has established a strong presence in the universities.
Their organisational activities are very active in broad daylight whether it is a public or a private university.
Although the operation of the law enforcement agencies is going on from time to time, due to the lack of supervision, the banned organisation is putting up posters simultaneously in different places of the country, including the capital. The poster shows anti-state and objectionable information about the army.
Recently, due to the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) movement, the scenario has been widely discussed about the students associated with the banned organisation. It is said that Hizb ut-Tahrir has voluntary units not only at BUET but also at various public and private universities for their promotion and propaganda.
Security analyst Brig Gen Abdur Rashid said that some militant organizations in the country try to raise their heads from time to time, law enforcement forces bring them under the law through strict surveillance. Although not eliminated, many of the top leaders are now in jail. However, this organization of Hizb ut-Tahrir is still running in one direction. Their posters are seen occasionally.
He said, that in the present situation, if the monitoring of this organization is not increased, it may become violent in the future.
In response to a question, he said, that Hizb ut-Tahrir is not violent like other organizations, but that does not mean that they will not be violent. Maybe they are in such a state due to a lack of organizational strength. Once they accumulate energy, they can become violent. But if a strong resistance is built now, they will not get that chance.
According to the investigation, the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir has not been able to carry out any sabotage so far. But they belong to Al Qaeda's ideals. JMB, New JMB, Ansar Al Islam, Harkatul Jihad Bangladesh, Hindal Sharikiya and other organizations participated in some sabotage. Ansar al-Islam has also carried out targeted killings. Hizb ut-Tahrir has repeatedly posted posters and made seditious anti-state statements and even threats. However, they could not carry out any sabotage or failed in the face of resistance from the law and order forces.
It is known that sometimes posters of Hizb ut-Tahrir are displayed in the capital. They even distributed leaflets in front of the mosque at different times. Their posters and leaflets were used to call for Jihad. Before and after September 30, the organization carried out extensive online and offline campaigns. They also put up posters in different places in the capital. After that, even before the national elections, their posters were seen in the capital Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet.
According to the investigation, Hizb ut-Tahrir activities are currently conducted in Uttara, Azampur, Khilkhet and Airport areas of the capital. Hizb ut-Tahrir workers distribute leaflets in various mosques in these areas especially on Fridays after Jumma prayers. Sometimes they distribute these leaflets themselves and sometimes with hired people. Also, they have free roaming in some private universities named in the country including Bangladesh University of Engineering, Dhaka University, Sher-E-Bangla Agricultural University, etc.
Superintendent of Police Barrister Mahfuzul Alam Russel, an officer of the Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU), a specialized unit of the police, said that our surveillance is not low. We are always monitoring in all areas. Our investigation is going on. When we have concrete information, we conduct operations.
In response to a question, he said, they are also active online. We have increased monitoring through our cyber patrolling.
CTTC officials told The Daily Messenger that Hizb ut-Tahrir is feared to have accumulated strength within. We also arrested some people red-handed while putting up posters in some places of the capital. But their cutout system is very powerful. No one knows one group from another. Before putting up the poster they identify the places. Then put up posters in places outside the coverage of CCTV.
Additional Commissioner of CTTC Asaduzzaman said we have managed to arrest several leaders of the top ranks of the organization including Sifat and Tauhid. Sifat was one of the organizers of Hizb ut-Tahrir's online conference held on September 30. In that conference, speeches were given for the overthrow of the government. We are currently monitoring other members.
CTTC officials also said that the arrested Towhid completed his MBA from the Marketing Department of the University of Dhaka and is currently freelancing.
RAB spokesman Commander Khandaker Al Moin said that all banned organizations are under the surveillance of intelligence police. In that case, Hizb ut-Tahrir and JMB are also there.
He also said that the activities of these two organizations are under our supervision. Whenever they try to emerge, they are arrested.
Incidentally, from 2007 to 2009 until getting banned in Bangladesh, Hizb ut-Tahrir expanded the activities in various colleges and universities of the country. Later, on September 24, 2009, the Ministry of Home Affairs banned this organization due to various anti-government activities. The top leader of Hizb ut-Tahrir and Dhaka University teacher Mohiuddin and several others were arrested.
Messenger/Fameema
