Ansar al-Islam has released a fresh list of targets, this time issuing death threats against State Minister of Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam and seven other eminent personalities of the city.
A letter carrying the letterhead of Ansar al-Islam, containing the names of the targets, was sent to the office of the Daily Sunshine, a Rajshahi-based local daily on Monday.
The other targets are former Rajshahi mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, Rajshahi University Vice-Chancellor Dr Mizanuddin, writer Azizul Haque, Rajshahi police range's Deputy Inspector General Iqbal Bahar, Rajshahi Education Board Chairman Prof Dr Abul Hayat, Rajshahi city Awami League General Secretary Dablu Sarkar and the Daily Sunshine's Editor Yunus Ali.
A copy of the letter has reached the office of the state minister of foreign affairs, his assistant personal secretary, Sirajul Islam, confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune.
However, he did not comment any further about the letter.
Titled “Our targets in Rajshahi city,” the letter says that the al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) – represented by Ansar al-Islam in Bangladesh – has started their activities in Rajshahi, and death threats have been issued against those who are against Islam.
“Local Muslims are not our targets; only those who have taken a stand against Islam and Allah are on our target list,” the letter reads. “None shall be spared.”
At the bottom of the letter, the name of Mufti Abdullah Ahram is mentioned as the AQIS chief, while Rajshahi College's Principal Prof Habibur Rahman is mentioned as Rajshahi city chief of the militant outfit.
However, when contacted, Prof Habib vehemently denied having anything to do with the letter or the AQIS.
“I am certainly not a part of the AQIS; I am strictly against militant groups and their activities. This letter claiming me as their Rajshahi chief is completely baseless,” he told the Dhaka Tribune, adding that other teachers in the college bearing the same name are also not a part of the militant group.
The Dhaka Tribune also contacted DIG Iqbal Bahar who said he had not yet received his copy of the letter.
“But I have heard of the letter and am enquiring about it. Necessary action will be taken against those who have done it,” he said.