The notorious militant leader also admitted to having enjoyed supports from the local administration and police while conducting his "operations" in the region, said a source with links to the Task Force for Interrogation (TFI).

The TFI yesterday showed Bangla Bhai clippings from newspaper reports on the carnage conducted by the Bangla Bahini, the self-styled gang named after the militant, and asked his explanation for the incidents, the source said.

The interrogation of Bangla Bhai started on Tuesday, 15 days into his arrest in Mymensingh, after a cognisance court of Mymensingh placed him on a 10-day remand.

Earlier that morning, after his release from Bangladesh Rifles Hospital, the militant leader was taken to Mymensingh under Rapid Action Battalion and police escort.

Bangla Bhai and his cadres introduced a subversive rule in the northern districts, killing 22 and maiming and torturing more than 300 others in their vigilante operations during April-July 2004.

The source said the interrogators are quizzing the JMB leader about his links with different bomb blasts, killings and subversive incidents across the country before August 17 last year.

Asked if Bangla Bhai named any of the ruling lawmakers and ministers believed to have patronised his activities, the source claimed that the authorities are yet to interrogate him in that line.

There has been a strong allegation that some ruling lawmakers and ministers had patronised the gang in conducting its so-called anti-outlaw operations.

The interrogators are now quizzing Bangla Bhai about his dens, militant training, supply of explosives and other related matters, the source said.

They also asked him about his Muktagachha hideout and the explosion that took place there during his arrest on March 6.

Bangla Bhai admitted that he shot two rounds at the law enforcers and that his aide Masud hurled the bomb to make way for him, the source said. The explosion injured the two JMB militants.

The investigators also asked Bangla Bhai about his operations in Bagerhat in 2002. The militant was arrested in Bagerhat and was later released. The interrogators quizzed him if he had been arrested and released on any other occasions.

The TFI source refused to disclose further information for the sake of investigation and operations the investigators intend to conduct.

ABDUR RAHMAN'S WIFE AND DAUGHTER SENT TO JAIL
Wife and a daughter of JMB chief Abdur Rahman along with two other JMB men were produced before the Sylhet sadar magistrate court yesterday afternoon on completion of their second term 10-day remand, reports our correspondent in Sylhet.

The court sent JMB leaders Moizul Islam Chowdhury alias Hridoy Chowdhury and Abdul Aziz Hanif on another three-day fresh remand each in connection with the August 17 serial bomb blasts in Sylhet.

The court also ordered to send Rahman's wife Nurjahan Begum alias Rupa and daughter Afifa Rahman to jail custody.

All the four were brought to the court from the capital at 12:55pm yesterday.

Meanwhile, during interrogation in the capital last week, Hridoy and Hanif had admitted to their involvement in the serial blasts, police sources said.

Hridoy's wife Chameli along with two children was also produced before the magistrate's court Tuesday afternoon. The court sent them to jail custody.

LALMONIRHAT
The police arrested two JMB men in the border areas of Lalmonirhat in the early hours yesterday, reports our correspondent in the district.

Madrasa teacher Hazrat Ali, 28, of Hariswar village under Kaliganj upazila was arrested at Burimara outpost of Patgram upazila while homeopath doctor Abdul Gani, 35, was arrested at his chamber in Kakina Bazar of the same upazila.