Background

On 17 August 2005, between 200 and 500 bombs exploded (BBC 21 Mar. 2006; Hindustan Times 10 Nov. 2005; UNB 17 Oct. 2005) in 63 of Bangladesh's 64 districts (ibid.; BBC 21 Mar. 2006). The bombs were detonated across the country within hours of each other (Hindustan Times 10 Nov. 2005; see also BBC 21 Mar. 2006). According to a 17 October 2005 news report by United News of Bangladesh (UNB), a Bangladesh news service, police also recovered approximately 50 unexploded bombs. The coordinated bomb blasts reportedly killed three people and injured one hundred others (UNB 17 Oct. 2005; BBC 21 Mar. 2006).

Printed leaflets of the Islamic militant group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) were reportedly found at the sites of the bombings (Hindustan Times 10 Nov. 2005; see also BBC 26 Apr. 2006). According to Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2005, the leaflets indicated that the JMB was responsible for the attack (8 Mar. 2006, Sec. 1.a).

A 10 November 2005 Hindustan Times article indicates that analysts believed the bombings were a warning to the government of Bangladesh, rather than a lethal attack, in an effort to "demonstrate exactly what [Bangladesh's] Islamic extremists are capable of."

Government action taken against militants

Sources from 2005 and 2006 indicate that the police and the Rapid Action Batallion (RAB) (UNB 17 Oct. 2005), a Bangladesh paramilitary group whose members come from various law enforcement agencies (Country Reports 2005 8 Mar. 2006, Sec.1.a), arrested several JMB suspects following the August 2005 bombings (ibid.; BBC 15 Mar. 2006; Hindustan Times 10 Nov. 2005; UNB 18 Apr. 2006; ibid. 30 Mar. 2006). By mid-October 2005, as many as 400 suspects had reportedly been arrested across the country (UNB 17 Oct. 2005). According to the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), in October 2005, the authorities also arrested 25 Rohingyas in the Chittagong region who reportedly admitted to being involved with the Islamic militant groups responsible for the bombings (2006). Rohingyas are Muslims from Arakan state in Myanmar (formerly Burma), many of whom live in refugee camps in southern Bangladesh (Refugees International 15 Mar. 2003).

As of April 2006, the authorities had arrested approximately 1,000 "suspected Islamic militants" (BBC 26 Apr. 2006).

Several of the JMB members arrested in connection with the bombings were sentenced to life in prison (UNB 3 July 2006; ibid. 6 Mar. 2006). In February 2006, 21 suspects, all in their early twenties (ibid. 28 Feb. 2006), were sentenced to death for their involvement (ibid.; BBC 14 May 2006).

In 2006, the government of Bangladesh offered a reward of US$70,000 for any information that would lead to the arrest of two top JMB militants (ibid. 6 Mar. 2006), Siddiqul Islam [also known as "Bangla Bhai" (ibid. 29 May 2006; ibid. 21 Mar. 2006)] and Abdur Rahman (BBC 21 Mar. 2006). The two men were captured within a few days of each other in early March (ibid.; ibid. 6 Mar. 2006).

By April 2006, the Bangladesh authorities had arrested all seven members of the council of the JMB (BBC 26 Apr. 2006). The seven leaders, including Siddiqul Islam and Abdur Rahman, were sentenced to death for their involvement in the murder of two judges in the town of Jhalakati in southern Bangladesh (ibid. 29 May 2006). No information on when the death sentences would be carried out could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

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 for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 29 May 2006. "Death for Bangladeshi Militants." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5026382.stm [Accessed 27 July 2006]

_____. 14 May 2006. "Militants Sentenced in Bangladesh." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4770265.stm [Accessed 27 July 2006]

_____. 26 April 2006. "Bangladesh 'Militants' Arrested." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4948144.stm [Accessed 26 July 2006]

_____. 21 March 2006. "Top Bangladeshi Militant Remanded." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4829268.stm [Accessed 27 June 2006]

_____. 15 March 2006. "US Peace Corps Leaves Bangladesh." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4810100.stm [Accessed 25 July 2006]

_____. 6 March 2006. Waliur Rahman. "Is Bangladesh Winning Against Extremism?" http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4779544.stm [Accessed 27 July 2006]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2005. 8 March 2006. "Bangladesh." United States Department of State. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/61705.htm [Accessed 25 July 2006]

Hindustan Times. 10 November 2005. Patricia Nunan. "Bangladesh Faces Homegrown Terrror Groups." (US Fed News/Factiva)

Refugees International. 15 March 2003. "Forgotten People: The Rohingyas of Burma." http://www.refugeesinternational.org/content/article/detail/870 [Accessed 28 July 2006]

United News of Bangladesh (UNB). 3 July 2006. "Six JMB Men Get Life Term for Aug. 17 Bombing in Feni." (Factiva)

_____. 18 April 2006. "Two JMB Leaders Chargesheeted for August 17 Bombings in Bagerhat." (Factiva)

_____. 30 March 2006. "Five Men Charge Sheeted for August 17 Bombings." (Factiva)

_____. 6 March 2006. "A Top Leader of JMB Awarded Life Imprisonment for August 17 Bombings." (Factiva)

_____. 28 February 2006. "21 Young Men Are to Walk to Gallows for August 17 Bombings in Jhenidah." (Factiva)

_____. 17 October 2005. "Government Bans Islamist Outfit Harkat Ul Jihad Al-Islami." (Factiva)

U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI). 2006. "Bangladesh." World Refugee Survey 2006. http://www.refugees.org/countryreports.aspx?subm=&ssm=&cid=1570 [Accessed 10 July 2006]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International (AI), Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS), Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR), European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI.net), Freedom House, Institute for Conflict Management, United Kingdom (UK) Home Office, United States Department of State.