Cadres of Bangla Bhai armed with bamboo sticks and guarded by the police bring out a procession in Rajshahi city on May 23, 2004. PHOTO: File Photo
"...A number of militants who were arrested over time have revealed that they either belong to the Jamaat-e-Islami or its various wings or were past members. The most startling suspected Jamaat-militant link was unearthed at Khetlal of Joypurhat August 14, 2003. After an overnight gunfight at Jamaat activist Montejur Rahman's house, police arrested 39 suspected militants, 29 of whom confessed they were activists of Jamaat's student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS)..."
"...In August 2003, Sohel, a student of Sunamganj Government College was arrested for links with the JMB. His brother Selim made the following statement to the press on August 23: "Shibir [ICS] turned my brother into an ultra-religious man and forced him to work for Jama'atul Mijahideen [JMB]." Local ICS president Abu Hanif, however, denied the link and said, "He might have worked for us previously but is no more a Shibir worker now." Other than Jamaat, some leaders of the ruling BNP also supported the militants, specially Bangla Bhai and his group Jagrata Muslim Janata, Bangladesh (JMJB) in the northern districts. Bangla Bhai himself was an active member of the ICS until 1995. When Bangla Bhai came into focus for his killings, a state minister, a deputy minister and a BNP lawmaker openly supported him and directed the local police to give Bangla Bhai shelter...."
"...Last November, three militants were arrested with 24 powerful gelatin bomb-sticks and 124 electronic detonators in Gaibandha from a Shantahar-bound train. All of them said they are ICS activists although Jamaat disowned them.
Afterward, five JMB activists were arrested while making time bombs at the residence of one Naimuddin Hazi, a Jamaat worker. On May 23 last year, JMB members marched through Rajshahi town with police escort, in which local Jamaat leaders and activists participated. After the grenade attack on British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury at Hazrat Shahjalal Shrine in Sylhet on May 21 last year, Khelafat Majlish Amir Hahbibur Rahman called a press conference to dismiss reports of his link to the incident. Jamaat and Islami Oikya Jote leaders accompanied him to the press conference...."
JAMAAT DENIAL=> Whenever any militant claims link to Jamaat, the party holds press conferences or issues statements to disclaim such connections. On August 20, Jamaat Aimr Moulana Matiur Rahman Nizami at a press conference said his party has no connection with militants. He said Jamaat does not believe in extremism and that such links are cooked up to malign the party.
Militants claim Jamaat background:
http://www.thedailystar.net/2005/08/25/d5082501033.htm