Burqa-clad women suspected of radical propaganda at Mymensingh school

Two burqa-clad women suspected of links to militants have left radical propaganda leaflets at a Mymensingh school.

Ilias Ahmed, from Mymensinghbdnews24.com
Published : 18 Jan 2017, 07:20 AM
Updated : 18 Jan 2017, 07:20 AM

They came to the Ishwarganj Women’s High School and College around 12:00pm on Saturday while everyone was busy preparing for an annual sports competition, said Principal Mahir Uddin Talukdar.

Both claimed to be seeking admission, he said.

Video shows the two women placing leaflets inside of students’ bags and textbooks. They were also seen speaking to some teachers.

The leaflets ‘sought to spur pro-Islamist sentiment’ by describing various Islamic rules and regulations, and ‘human rights violations’ in several countries including Bangladesh.

The leaflets say they were printed by the ‘Abaha Foundation’.

Many locals allege that neglect by the school administration has allowed militants to become active at the local level.

Ishwarganj Municipal Awami League President Habibur Rahman told bdnews24.com that the negigence of the school authorities allowed ‘female militants’ to enter the college and distribute such leaflets.

“For our part we are trying to identify the perpetrators. We urge the people to be vigilant as well.”

“Female militants have actively begun targeting educational institutions in small towns,” said Ishwarganj Municipal Mayor Abdus Sattar. “They are trying to motivate and radicalise students.”

Members of Jamaat-Shibir are conducting such operations in rural areas, said Mymensingh Metropolitan Freedom Fighter Unit Command Member Secretary Selim Sarkar.

“As intelligence agencies are not as active in rural areas, it has allowed Jamaat-Shibir members to come together and distribute militant propoganda,” he said.

One person who spoke to the burqa-clad women told bdnews24.com that the two had entered the classroom and spoke to four or five students.

“They congratulated us on our JSC exam results and then put leaflets in our books and our bags,” they said. “They told us to go home and read the leaflets.”

Principal Mahir Uddin said a general diary had been filed with local police over the incident.

Police suspect the two women to be eleventh standard students from Ishwarganj Women’s College and Ideal College.

“The two have been missing since the leaflets were distributed,” said Ishwarganj Police Station OC Badrul Alam Khan. “Police are questioning their firends and relatives. The truth will emerge after their arrest.”

The guardians of the students claim police suspicions are unfounded.

One mother said, “My daughter cannot be involved with militants in any way.”