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 in or from Rajshahi 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 local daily in Rajshahi city, yesterday, sources said.
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.
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.
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.
Receiving the letter, former mayor Khairuzzaman Liton and Awami League leader Dablu Sarkar filed general diaries (GD) with Boalia police station in Rajshahi city last night, police sources said.