The Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Rab) (JSD-Rab, National Socialist Party) is led by ASM Abdur Rab (President) and Hasanul Haque Inu (General Secretary) (Europa 1999 1999, 570; Political Handbook of the World 1999, 77). It is not clear whether the faction led by Shajahan Siraj, the JSD(S), which had about 5,000 members, is still in existence-sometime after the June 1996 elections Siraj joined the opposition BNP (Europa 1999 1999, 570; Political Handbook of the World 1999, 77).

The JSD(Rab) supports the current Awami League (AL) government, in which Rab is a member of Cabinet in charge of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (CIRCA 10 Feb. 2000; The Daily Star 17 Jan. 1999; Political Handbook of the World 1999, 77). The JSD, which one source describes as "extreme left" (Elections Around the World 9 Jan. 2000), originally split from the Awami League in 1972 (Political Handbook of the World 1999, 77).

On 16 February 1999 a JSD leader, Kazi Aref Ahmed, and four other prominent JSD leaders were shot dead by "at least" 15 masked gunmen at a party rally in Kushtia District in western Bangladesh (AFP 17 Feb. 1999; AFP 2 Mar. 1999; AFP 20 Feb. 1999; The Daily Star 18 Feb. 1999). In the wake of the killings, which sparked nation-wide protests and the condemnation of government ministers (AFP 17 Feb. 1999; AFP 20 Feb. 1999), the Bangladesh police arrested more than 70 Maoist extremists (ibid.; The Daily Star 18 Feb. 1999). Various reports identified the gunmen as belonging to either the Purba-Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) or the Biplobi Communist Party (PCP), both outlawed by the government (AFP 17 Feb. 1999; ibid. 2 Mar. 1999; The Daily Star 18 Feb. 1999). One report states that 10 months earlier a top JSD leader had visited Kushtia, following which some PBCP and PCP members were killed (ibid.). These killings were reportedly followed by large-scale killings of JSD members in the southwestern region, particularly in Kushtia, Chuadanga, Meherpur and Jhenidah districts (ibid.). Other observers speculated that the murders may have been the result of an intra-party conflict (ibid.; AFP 20 Feb. 1999; AFP 2 Mar. 1999).

Reports indicate that more than 600 people were killed in left-wing political violence in Bangladesh in 1998 (AFP 2 Mar. 1999; ibid. 20 Feb. 1999), 93 in Kushtia District alone (ibid. 17 Feb. 1999; The Daily Star 18 Feb. 1999). The southwestern region of Bangladesh reportedly is "infested with [underground] leftist splinter groups" (JEN 8 Mar. 1999). According to a report in the 28 February 1999 issue of The Daily Star, 35 JSD leaders and workers, including five central leaders, were killed in Kushtia District in the 14-month period between January 1998 and February 1999. Sixteen of the 35 killings occurred in the four-month period between October 1998 and February 1999 (ibid.). Among those killed were local JSD leader and union parishad chairman Akbar Ali, who was killed in broad daylight in the thana council premises on 17 January 1999 (ibid.). Another JSD leader, Rafiqul Islam, was killed on the same day at Ziaraki, also in Kushtia District (ibid.). JSD members Sukur, Matiur Rahman and Robel were murdered on 13 January 1999, JSD leader Moniruzzaman, alias Badal, on 31 November 1998, Sirajul and Asad on 25 November 1998, and Adv Nur Hossain Babu on 21 November 1998 (ibid.). On 20 October 1998 Bheramara JSD president Ranjit Singh Roy was killed in his residence by "terrorists" (ibid.). JSD workers Shariful and Mamun were murdered on 17 September 1998, while Hiron, Nazrul and Azibar of Kumarkhali thana were killed on 28 September 1998 (ibid.). On 24 February 1999 JSD activist Manwar Hossain was killed in a gunbattle between PCP and JSD militants at Jhoudia, Sadar thana of Kushtia District (ibid 25 Feb. 1999; ibid. 5 Mar. 1999).

On 11 November 1998 in Noakhali, under Ramgati thana, police arrested 25 JSD activists, including Chargazi union parishad chairman Mir Akhtar Hossin Bachhu, along with a quantity of guns and ammunition, in what local JSD leaders described as a "false case" (The Daily Star 17 Jan. 1999).

June and July 1999 media reports indicated that cadres belonging to the Gono Bahini (People's Force), the JSD's militant wing, had surrendered to police under the terms of a government amnesty (The Independent 25 June 1999; The Daily Star 18 July 1999; ibid. 31 July 1999).

As of 16 February 2000, the Bangladesh government still had not charged or brought to trial the persons responsible for the murder one year earlier of Kazi Aref Ahmed and his four colleagues (The Daily Star 17 Feb. 2000).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 2 March 1999. "Police Arrest Key Suspect in Politician's Murder." (FBIS-NES-1999-0302 3 Mar. 1999/NEXIS)

_____. 20 February 1999. "Bangladesh Police Arrest over 70 Suspected Left Wing Extremists." (NEXIS)

_____. 17 February 1999. "Killing Puts Bangladesh Government under Pressure." (NEXIS)

Cambridge International Reference on Current Affairs (CIRCA). 10 February 2000. "Bangladesh" (NEXIS)

The Daily Star [Dhaka]. 17 February 2000. "Punishment to Killers of Kazi Aref Demanded." http://www.dailystarnews.com/ [Accessed 18 Feb. 2000]

_____. 31 July 1999. "Deadline Expires: 220 Terrorists Surrender in Khulna, Magura." http://www.dailystarnews.com/ [Accessed 3 Aug. 1999]

_____. 18 July 1999. "250 More Outlaws to Surrender at Kushtia July 23." http://www.dailystarnews.com/ [Accessed 19 July 1999]

_____. 5 March 1999. Shaikh Nazrul Islam. "Incidents of Murder on Rise in the City.?" http://www.dailystarnews.com/ [Accessed 8 Mar. 1999]

_____. 28 February 1999. "35 Kushtia JSD Men Killed by Outlaws in 14 Months." http://www.dailystarnews.com/ [Accessed 2 Mar. 1999]

_____. 25 February 1999. "One Killed in Kushtia Gunbattle." http://www.dailystarnews.com/ [Accessed 1 Mar. 1999]

_____. 18 February 1999. "Who Killed Kazi Aref?" http://www.dailystarnews.com/ [Accessed 18 Feb. 1999]

_____. 17 January 1999. "JSD(Rab) Calls 48-Hr Hartal in Ramgati." http://www.dailystarnews.com/ [Accessed 18 Jan. 1999]

Elections Around the World. 9 January 2000 (last update). "Elections in Bangladesh." http://www.agora.stm.it/elections/election/bangladesh.htm [Accessed 28 Mar. 2000]

The Europa World Year Book 1999. 1999. 40th ed. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications.

The Independent [Dhaka]. 25 June 1999. "The Truth Behind Terrorists' Surrender Drama." (NEXIS)

Japan Economic Newswire (JEN). 8 March 1999. "5 Suspects Arrested in Bangladesh Bomb Attack." (NEXIS)

Political Handbook of the World: 1999. 1999. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Europa 1999. 1999.

IRB databases.

LEXIS-NEXIS.

State of Human Rights: Bangladesh in 1998. 1999. (Odhikar)

World News Connection (WNC).

Internet sites including:

Amnesty International.

Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad.

Coordinating Council for Human Rights in Bangladesh (CCHRB).

Derechos Human Rights.

Elections Around the World.

Human Rights Watch (HRW).

The Independent [Dhaka].

Political Parties and Youth Organizations in Asia.

Political Parties, Interest Groups and Other Movements.

Social Science Information Gateway (SOSIG).

South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre (SAHRDC).

Virtual Bangladesh.