Galib, leader of Ahle Hadith Andolon Bangladesh, as well as Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) chief Maolana Abdur Rahman and militant trainer Khabbab Hossain were mentioned in the case, but were not treated as accused.

Galib, meanwhile, was brought from Bogra to Dhaka under heavy escort yesterday afternoon, where he was grilled by a joint interrogation cell (JIC) in an explosives case filed with Gabtoli Police Station in Bogra on February 6.

The militant kingpin was also implicated in two more cases from Gaibandha district yesterday, raising the total number of cases against him to seven, while 10 of his followers, all madrasa students, were nabbed in Satkhira after protesting his arrest.

In sharp contrast, however, while actions proceed apace against Galib, Bangla Bhai, the Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) operations commander, has still not been named in a single case.

Also an Arabic teacher at Rajshahi University, Galib was taken to the JIC Safe House at Uttara soon after he reached Dhaka yesterday.

SEDITION CASE
Magistrate Shafiqul Islam issued a custody warrant against the 12 Natore militants in order to keep them in jail. They were arrested under section 54 in the early hours of February 1, while they underwent physical training at Shadhupara Ahle Hadith mosque in preparation for jihad.

"They called for an Islamic revolution to turn the country into an ineffective state and become involved with anti-state activities following stimulation by their leaders (Galib and Abdur Rahman)," said the plaintiff in the case.

The arrested militants are described in the case as claiming Galib and Abdur Rahman as their leaders and as stating that one Khabbab Hossain of Chapai-nawabganj was their trainer.

The plaintiff alleged in the case that the militants are extremists belonging to JMB, adding, "They are creating an unstable situation in the country through robberies at NGO offices, bomb attacks on different NGOs, jatra, social and cultural functions."

The accused militants also include activists from the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh and Islami Chhatra Shibir. They are suspected militant-leader Forman Ali (30), Shahidul Islam (58), madrasa teacher Alauddin (45), tailor Anwarul Islam (37), Mokhlesur Rahman (36), HSC examinee Ahsan Habib (22), madrasa student Saiful Islam and Natore sugar mills employees -- Isahaq Ali, Muhammad Ali, Abdur Razzak, Rafiqul Islam and Abdul Baki.

Asked why he exempted Galib, Abdur Rahman and Khabbab from the accusations, OC Faruk Hossain had no response other than to say, "Their names were mentioned in the case."

Natore SP Sayed Nazrul Islam also refused to comment on the case, but Natore police sources said no-one else but the accused will be treated as such in the case.

"It will not be sought to show either Galib or Abdur Rahman as arrested in the case," said the source without elaborating.

TWO MORE CASES AGAINST GALIB
The two fresh cases against Galib were filed under the explosives act as three Brac employees were injured in two powerful bomb blasts at the Brac office in Mohimaganj, Govindaganj on February 11, while 21 people were injured in bomb blasts at a jatra (folk drama) stage at Takier Bazar in Palashbari upazila on December 25, 2004.

The court of metropolitan magistrate Yusuf Ali also rejected the bail prayers for Galib and his associates -- Shaikh Abdus Samad Salafi, Nurul Islam and ASM Azizullah -- moved by pro-BNP lawyers, Advocate Ekhlak Hossain and Shahnewaj, issuing instead a custody warrant to keep them in jail following prayers from the Polashbari and Govindaganj police stations in Gaibandha.

On Saturday, Galib and his associates were shown arrested in five cases of murder, bomb attacks, and robbery of various NGO offices from four districts of Bogra, Gopalganj, Naogaon, and Sirajganj.

Police said that additional cases are also under process against Galib from Shahajanpur, Natore, Joypurhat and other areas, and added that Galib's associates might be taken within a day or two to Gopalganj in connection with a robbery case of Kotalipara.

10 GALIB MEN HELD
Our Satkhira Correspondent reports that at least 10 of Galib's followers were arrested by police around 2:00am on Saturday night from Satkhira town while they pasted posters that read, "The arrest of Dr Galib was a conspiracy and we demand the unconditional release of him and his accomplices".

The arrestees are Abdur Rahman (14), son of Asad Ali of village Sarulia, Mollahat, Mosharraf Hossain (18), son of Abdul Karim of Batra village, Wahiduzzaman (19), son fo Habibur Rahman of Shahpur, Manirul (19), son of Abdul Gaffar of Rudrapur, Monir (20), son of Moslem Ali of Alipur, Abdur Rahman (19), son of Mostazul Islam of Kashempur, Ismail (19), son of Idris Ali of Banshdah, Montasir Billah (20), son of Matiar Rahman of Atulia; Shahinoor (18), son of Samir Uddin of Jahanpur and Arifur Rahman of Keshabpur.

All are students of Bakal Darul Hadith Ahmadia Salafiah madrasa at Bakal that was established by Galib.