Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 626 Fri. March 03, 2006  
   
Front Page


He wanted dialogue with media


JMB chief Abdur Rahman refused to admit, while giving in yesterday in Sylhet, that he has done wrong by launching militant attacks across the country.

"I'll not say I have done any wrong or any misdeed...You've forced my brother (Ataur Rahman Sunny) to say this and want to make me say the same thing," the militant kingpin told Rab officials while they were asking him repeatedly over loudhailers to surrender in the early morning yesterday.

As Rahman expressed his desire for 'dialogue ' with the media at around 6:00am, Rab officials asked him first to come out and surrender, saying they would arrange talks with the media men.

The conversation turned into a bargain although Rahman's voice was much lower than on the previous day.

Rab asked him what he wanted and Rahman replied, "I want dialogue with the media and the countrymen."

A Rab official told him over loudhailer, "You will be able to talk with the media but you have to prove yourself safe first."

Assuring him that he would be brought out of the house safely as was done in the case of his family members earlier, the Rab official said, "Come out, there will be no problem."

Rahman responded, saying, "Give me a microphone to hold dialogue."

Rab again asked him to come out but the JMB chief said, "If I do so, I'll not be able to talk with the media. You'll also make me utter the words you forced my brother to do earlier."

"Impossible," the Rab official said, adding he would be taken to his brother.

At this point, Rahman said, "You'll make me say I've done wrong, I'll not say that. I want to talk from here safely. There is no problem if the media is here. If I go outside, I'll not be able to talk the way I can do from here."

Asked how long he wanted to continue the talks, the militant kingpin said it would depend on them (media men).

"Come out, you'll be able to talk as long as you wish. There is sitting arrangement in the nearby building. You see many journalists are here. We're giving you words before them you'll be able to talk with them. But there is only one condition, you'll have to talk after coming out safely.

"We're talking with you for two days and we want you'll not waste anymore time," the Rab official said.

Reacting anrgily, Rahman then said, "You've attacked me, you lobbed teargas (shells), threw water. Why did you injure me with gas (teargas)? You've snapped gas, electricity and water supply (to this house), stopped supply of food and even water for ablution. Is not it human rights (violation)?"

At this time, the JMB chief was seen standing near a window on the eastern side of the house, flanked by his two aides -- Moizul and Habif.

Rab then told him that they would not attack him. "We're giving you an opportunity to talk and giving you words in front of all. You'll be allowed to talk no matter even if it takes a day or two. We want a peaceful solution," a Rab official said.

Rahman just showed two fingers when asked how many others were with him inside the house. He answered in the negative when asked if Nabil (his eldest son) was with him.

Another Rab official this time told Rahman, "You've have not taken food since yesterday, you're certainly hungry. Please, come out."

This time he was seen discussing with his two aides. Encouraged at this, Rab men kept on asking him to come out.

The top militant leader then raised his right hand and bowed his head in a gesture of readiness to come out and started walking on.

"You're coming out! You're coming out! "Alhamdulillah," a Rab official said over loudhailer as Rahman was seen at the gate of the house.