Religious schools shelter terrorists in Bangladesh

Bangladesh has been a traditional transit route to Pakistan for militants ince 1995, reveals one of the conspirators of IC-814 hijacking.

Some religious schools double up as shelter places for terrorists in Bangladesh, which has been a traditional transit route to Pakistan for them since 1995, reveals one of the conspirators of IC-814 hijacking.

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Abdul Latif, who was arrested by the CBI, has said in his statement before the investigating agency that he had gone to Dhaka way back in 1995 where he contacted Faizullah, a militant who was working as the principal of a madrasa (religious school) in Mohamadpur.

Giving a complete insight into the entire hijacking conspiracy, Latif, whose statement has been submitted before the sessions court in Patiala, said during his stay in the madrasa, he had met two more Pakistani militants -- Akhtar and Abdul Rehman, who were injured while "fighting" in Kashmir and were on their way back to Pakistan.

In what could also be termed as connivance between the militants and officials in Bangladesh, Latif said after 15-20 days, Faizullah had given him a Pakistani passport as well as to the two other injured militants.

Latif, alongwith the two militants, left for Karachi by a Pakistan international flight and upon his arrival in the port city, was sent for training to Khost in Afghanistan, the statement said.