Dhaka: Bangladeshi authorities on Thursday
arrested a top professor of premier Dhaka University here for
allegedly coordinating the activities of banned Islamist
militant group Hizbut Tahrir, which has called for the
overthrow of the present government.
"We have arrested Syed Golam Mawla, an associate
professor of Dhaka University’s Business Studies Faculty this
evening," Mohammad Walid, of the detective branch of the
police, told agency.
He said Mawla was detained from the campus at Kataban
area and was "shown arrested" under a case lodged in March
this year under the tough Anti-Terrorism Act.
It is banned organisation in the country along with
terror groups Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Harkatul
Jihad al Islami (HuJI), Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladeshand
Shahadat-e al Hikma.
Tahrir men have carried out a campaign for
establishing a self-styled Khilafat rule and overthrowing the
present government.
Islamist thinker Tokiuddin-al-Nakhani formed Hizb
ut-Tahrir in Jerusalem after Israel captured Palestine while
its members were believed to have links with al-Qaeda.
The arrest came as Tahrir activists in recent weeks
have tried to stage protest rallies in the capital. It has
called for the ouster of the "anti-Islamic government" in
Bangladesh.
In April Mohiuddin Ahmed, a business administration
professor of Dhaka University and alleged chief coordinator of
Tahrir’s Bangladesh chapter was arrested for instigating
subversive activities in the capital. He also faced three
other cases for his alleged attempts to reorganise the outfit.
In subsequent drives, police arrested several dozens
of Tahrir activists as they tried to stage protests
"anti-state campaigns" defying the ban.
Mawla was also arrested last year from northwestern
Rajshahi along with 10 others, including two university
teachers, for their suspected "militant links".
"We want to establish Islamic rule through a truly
democratic way and abiding by the law of the land," Mowla had
said.
Founded in Israel in 1953, Tahrir launched its
Bangladesh chapter in 2000. Officials said the organization is
banned in 20 countries, including Pakistan and the United
Stares for suspected links with militancy.
PTI
