Former Bangladeshi minister booked for abetting militants

Law Adviser of the interim government Moinul Hosein said the authorities prepared a list of the patrons of the outlawed extremist groups and gathering evidence to capture them. “The patrons are still inside the country. We have their names but we are heading slowly since we lack enough evidence,” he told reporters on Saturday.

The case against Haque was the first against any senior leader of Khaleda Zia’s four-party alliance government since the execution of six JMB top brass on Friday for a string of deadly explosions leaving at least 28 people dead.

Haque and several other leaders of the past government were alleged to have backed Jamaatul Mujaheedin Bangladesh with police assistance.

After initial denial of existence of any Islamist militant outfit, the Zia government ordered a massive campaign against militants after the JMB staged a countrywide simultaneous explosion to make visible their strong presence in Bangladesh.

Authorities have ordered intensified security vigil across the country to prevent possible revenge attacks from the militant outfit.