Bangla Bhai
Encyclopedia
Siddique ul-Islam known popularly as Bangla Bhai (বাংলা ভাই "Bengali Brother") ( 1970 – 30 March 2007), also known as Aziz ur-Rahman Azizur Rôhman, was a Bangladesh
i terrorist
and the military commander of the Al Qaeda affiliated 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 against the USSR during the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, where he was presumed to directly report 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
and was sentenced to death on 29 May.
Along with 5 other militants, Siddique ul-Islam was executed by hanging on 30 March 2007.
Quick reference to hangings of both terrorists.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
i terrorist
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
and the military commander of the Al Qaeda affiliated radical pseudo-Islamist organization Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh
Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh
Jāgrātā Muslim Jānātā Bānglādesh , 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...
(Awakened Muslim Masses of Bangladesh), known in popular usage as the JMJB. Most active in the north-western section of Bangladesh around the Rajshahi
Rajshahi
The city of Rajshahi is the divisional headquarters of Rajshahi division as well as the administrative district that bears its name and is one of the six metropolitan cities of Bangladesh. Often referred to as Silk City and Education City, Rajshahi is located in the north-west of the country and...
region, Bangla Bhai gained a nationwide and worldwide notoriety for bombings and other terrorist activities.
Siddique ul-Islam fought in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
in the 1980s as a Mujahedin fighter against the USSR during the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, where he was presumed to directly report to Osama Bin Laden
Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden was the founder of the militant Islamist organization Al-Qaeda, the jihadist organization responsible for the September 11 attacks on the United States and numerous other mass-casualty attacks against civilian and military targets...
. Upon his return to Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, he taught Bengali language
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
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
Shaykh Abdur Rahman
Shaykh Abdur Rahman, also known as Abdur Rahman Shaykh, was the spiritual leader and the administrative head of the banned terrorist organization Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh ....
, 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
Rapid Action Battalion
Rapid Action Battalion or RAB is an elite anti-crime and anti-terrorism unit of Bangladesh Police constituted amending the Armed Police Battalion Ordinance, 1979. Under the command of Inspector General of Police it consists of members of Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy,...
in Mymensingh District
Mymensingh District
Mymensingh is one of the districts of Dhaka division, Bangladesh, and is bordered on the north by Meghalaya state of India and Garo Hills, on the south by Gazipur district, on the east by districts of Netrokona and Kishoreganj, and on the west by districts of Sherpur, Jamalpur and Tangail...
and was sentenced to death on 29 May.
Along with 5 other militants, Siddique ul-Islam was executed by hanging on 30 March 2007.
External links
- New York Times article on Bangla Bhai Alternative link - http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/bangla_bhai/islamic_rev_NYTimes.htm.
- Reuters article on Bangla Bhai.
- Mukto-Mona features on Bangla Bhai.
- Daily Star on the trial
Quick reference to hangings of both terrorists.