Bangladesh concerned at 'well-organised' Islamic extremist group

DHAKA, Friday (AFP) - Security experts in Bangladesh say they are alarmed at the coordinated and well-organised execution of a nationwide wave of bombings linked to a little-known Islamic extremist group.

Although Jamayetul Mujahideen was banned by the country's Islamic-allied coalition government in February, attempts to root out its leaders have so far failed.

Investigators are interrogating around 90 people in connection with Wednesday's blasts which killed two people and slightly injured more than 100.

The explosions were caused by small homemade devices. Leaflets bearing the group's name were found at each of the 350 blast sites.

"What is concerning is that these are terrorists with good organisational skills," a security official speaking on condition of anonymity told AFP.

"These bombs were very low-grade, simple devices using screws and wires and explosive powder in soft drinks cans with a simple battery powered timer.

"They make a loud noise but only if someone is standing very close will they cause casualties. They are meant to cause terror, not kill," he said.

The devices were detonated in almost all the country's main towns and cities within one hour of each other, triggering widespread panic.

"There is no doubt now that these people have a network, a very good organisational structure and that they have displayed a very high level of coordination," said security expert and former army major general Muhammad Ibrahim.

"And it appears that they intentionally kept the violence at a low level but that they are capable of causing greater damage," he added.

Little is known about Jamayetul Mujahideen which was unheard of until the government banned it along with another group in February.

In imposing the ban, the government cited its alleged involvement in a series of blasts at the offices of a non-governmental organisation.

The leaflets found at Wednesday's blast sites called for the implementation of strict Islamic law in Bangladesh.

"In a Muslim land, there can be no rules other than Allah's," stated one of the leaflets found in Dhaka.

"Jamayetul Islam does not recognise this traditional judicial system and at the same time calls all to reject the so-called election system. Otherwise, Jamayetul Mujahideen will start total implementation of a killing system ordered by Allah," it said.

"In this country those who want to give institutional shape to democracy are the enemies of Islam," the leaflet added.

The leaflets also denounced US president George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

"In today's world George Bush is the biggest terrorist. All the rulers including Bush and Blair are warned vacate all the Muslim countries.

And the group issued an ultimatum to the government.

"Already the Jamayetul Mujahideen have called on the government twice to establish Islamic government. This is the third call to the government. If after this call, the government does not establish Islamic government ... Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh will take action."

Another security expert, former army brigadier general Sakhawat Hossain, urged the government to act decisively, adding that it should have tackled extremism after the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Anwar Choudhury survived a grenade attack in May 2004.

"That was a wake-up call for the government. Wednesday's incidents were obviously carried out by a big network and are an even bigger wake-up call, if only the government will take note," he said.