Political parties, Islamic scholars, business leaders, lawyers, teachers, student leaders and people in general heaved a sigh of relief, terming it a great success of the government.

They observed that the arrest of the chief of outlawed Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) will help check the rise of Islamist militancy in the country.

Islamic scholars told the Daily Star Islam does not support terrorism and attack on innocent people. The interpretation of Islam by JMB and such militant outfits is wrong and subversive to the very spirit of Islam.

It is a great achievement of the government as no-one of the country's Islamic scholars supported Rahman, said Prof Muhammad Islam Ghani, principal of Dhaka Government Alia Madrasa.

"He (Rahman) tarnished the image of Islam by resorting to terrorism. Islam never supports terrorism, and the meaning of jihad is struggle, not killing innocent people."

Sylhet Bibhag Unnayan Sangram Parishad took out a procession in the capital, expressing joy and satisfaction over the arrest. The Parishad demanded formation of an investigation committee under a former chief justice to probe Rahman's crimes.

The Awami League and its front organisations however termed the arrest a "drama" by the government to convince the world community ahead of the next general elections.

AL chief Sheikh Hasina's Political Secretary Saber Hossain Chowdhury said the arrest came at a time when the government is facing trouble due to acute crises of power, fuel and fertiliser. Besides, the 14-party opposition's movement for reforms is also being geared up, he added.

"It's simply a government game to divert public attention," he told The Daily Star.

"Books on jihad written by Jamaat's founder Moududi and its former ameer Golam Azam were found at Rahman's den. This once again proves that Jamaat and militants are two sides of the coin."

He wanted to know why Rahman wanted to talk to the state minister for home affairs and the IGP before his surrender. "Doesn't it mean he was maintaining contacts with people in the government and administration?" he questioned.

OPPOSITION 14-PARTY
AL-led 14-party opposition line-up termed the arrest "a drama staged by the prime minister".

The opposition leaders at a meeting at Dhanmondi AL office accused the government of patronising militants and arresting their chief only to divert public attention.

AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil, presidium members Tofail Ahmed, Motia Chowdhury, Suranjit Sengupta, Workers Party of Bangladesh President Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Hqu Inu, among others, attended the meeting.

Emerging from the meeting Obidul Quader, AL joint general secretary, told The Daily Star they discussed the current situation of the country. He said, "The prime minister is blowing hot and cold as she is patronising and protecting the militants, but arresting them as part of a blue print."

AL presidium member Tofail Ahmed alleged it is just a planned drama of the alliance government. "JMB is like a cellphone of the BNP-Jamaat coalition; they open it when they need it. When they don't, they keep it shut," Tofail told a rally organised by the 14-party at Muktangan in the city, UNB reports.

Maolana Abdur Rob Yousufi, secretary general of Islamic Oikya Jote, said, "It's a great success of the government and the Islamic scholars were also demanding his arrest."

"We sighed with great relief and it was one of our major demands to the government for protecting the country's image abroad and restoring confidence of the investors," said Mir Nasir Hossain, president of Bangladesh Chamber of commerce and industry (FBCCI).

He demanded trial of Rahman and exemplary punishment to check further rise of militancy in the country.

Jamaat-e-Islami in a statement welcomed the arrest, expressing the hope Rahman and other top militant leaders will face exemplary punishment.

Jamaat Ameer and Industries Minister Motiur Rahman Nizami and Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid praised all of the operation members.

Ahle Hadith Andolan Bangladesh also congratulated the government for arresting the top militant leader.

Workers Party of Bangladesh President Rashed Khan Menon demanded arrest of those influential people who patronised Rahman and gave him shelter.

Former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University Prof AK Azad Chowdhury said the government finally made the arrest to divert the public attention from misrule before next election.

AAMS Arefin Siddique, former president of Dhaka University Teachers Association, said, "The government would take action much earlier had it been against the Islamist militants."

Mujahidul Islam Selim, general secretary of Communist Party of Bangladesh, blamed Jamaat as chief patron of JMB. He demanded immediate arrest of the Jamaat and BNP leaders, who tried to "cover" JMB terming it media creation.

Liaqat Sikder, president of Bangladesh Chhatra League, said Rahman could have been arrested much earlier if the government wanted. The government staged a drama in the name of resisting militants, he observed.