Govt 'unaware' of HuJi comeback
Staff Correspondent
The government yesterday claimed ignorance about the Harkatul Jihad al Islami (HuJi) meeting in the capital on Friday despite the fact that several identified and most sought-after leaders of the banned militant outfit held the rally openly and that members of intelligence agencies were present near the meeting venue.State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar said yesterday he learnt about the meeting from newspaper reports on Saturday. Meanwhile, 72 hours into the HuJi meeting under the banner of Sachetan Islami Janata at the north gate of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, the law enforcers are yet to find any of the high profile HuJi leaders who attended the rally. Although newspapers published detailed reports on the meeting, accompanied by photographs showing the HuJi leaders sitting on the dais, the law enforcers are yet to be sure about the identity of these leaders. Babar said he was out of Dhaka on Friday and Saturday, and after being informed of the newspaper reports over telephone, asked the law enforcers and intelligence men on Saturday to "find out the fact" and submit a report. He, however, did not receive the report as of yesterday afternoon. "I hope I will get the report in a day or two," Babar said. The state minister said there is no necessity of taking any new step against HuJi. "We have already banned the organisation and we will go for immediate action upon getting any information," he said. Babar avoided answering whether he received any prior information from the intelligence agencies about the HuJi leaders' gathering and holding a rally at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram. People, who are yet to forget the rise of the Islamist militants over the past few years and their countrywide bomb blasts, witnessed the top leaders of the banned militant outfit holding programmes successfully and going untouched. The government, however, is yet to show any willingness for capturing the militants. It rather seems sceptical about the newspaper reports. "We will have to check how much of the information is true. We need to examine the reality and the whole situation," Babar told reporters at his office yesterday. Asked whether the government has any information on more militant organisations' launching political programmes, the state minister said, "There is no scope for any militant organisation to hold political activities."
| 
