New JMB's propaganda translator arrested

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) detained a man suspected of being a translator of militant propaganda connected to the new faction of banned militant outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (New JMB) from the Demra area in Dhaka. Shayek Mamunur Roshid alias Shayek Mamun was detained on Monday morning for his role as one of the ameers on the Shariah board of Sarwar-Tamim’s New JMB group. “Shayek Mamun was inducted into JMB by Touhid and Imam alias Darakutni in 2014. The following year, in 2015 he was picked by the Sarwar-Tammim group for his professionalism and was soon promoted to be an ameer in their Shariah board in 2016,” RAB's Legal and Media Wing Director Mufti Mahmud Khan said while confirming the arrest at a press briefing on Monday. The central coordinator of JMB's Sarwar-Tammim Group and also a Shariah board member, Sajid would often hold secret meetings with Shayek Mamun to pass on directives for the entire board on behalf of JMB Ameer Abu Muharib, RAB said. “The Shariah board basically translates extremist militant ideology from Arabic into Bangla and prints them for books, magazines, leaflets etc. Roughly 10-15 people are members work in the Shariah board. “These translations would be handed over the Alem board who would find the opportune moment to transmit their propaganda formally through madrasas and mosques or informally through leaflets and online,” said Director Mufti. Shayek Mamun revealed to the RAB how the Shariah Board works. Zahid, Touhid and Imam of New JMB came to him with extremist documents for translation from foreign sources and that was his principal job. Shayek Mamun completed the Dawra Hadith from a Madrasa at Malibagh Chowdhury para from 2002 to 2003. He went on to complete his studies in Darul Uloom in Deoband, Uttar Pradesh, India from 2004 to 2006. He worked as a principal of Marakajul Hikma Omar Faruk Kaomi Madrasa from 2016 in Demra area of Dhaka. He is very well versed in the Qur'an and Hadith and a skilled translator. According to RAB, Sarwar Jahan alias Abdur Rahman alias Abu Ibrahim al-Hanif was the chief of New JMB while Gulshan attack mastermind Tamim was the second-in-command of the group.