Bangladesh police foil plot to kill ‘atheist’
DHAKA: Bangladesh police said yesterday they had foiled an attempt by suspected Islamic militants to murder an “atheist” school teacher in the capital, amid concerns a banned hardline outfit is reforming.
Police fired on the militants from banned group Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) whom officers had stopped by chance on Wednesday near the teacher’s home in north Dhaka, a local police chief said.
Police arrested one militant and seized two syringes full of poisonous liquid and a pistol, while two other suspected militants fled, Atiqur Rahman said.
“Our patrol team stopped the car for routine check, but the three men got out and opened fire at us. Officers were forced to retaliate by firing live rounds,” Rahman said.
“We thought they were a group of muggers, but during interrogation (militant) Rubel admitted they were heading to murder a teacher at a school for what they said were his atheist views,” Rahman said.
TOKYO: In a blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, his trade minister was ensnared in controversy yesterday after reports that her political funds were spent buying theatre tickets for supporters and goods from relatives’ businesses.
Abe picked Yuko Obuchi, the 40-year-old daughter of a former prime minister, to head the powerful ministry of economy, trade and industry in a cabinet reshuffle in early September. She was among five women given top jobs, as Abe sought to bolster his government’s popularity with voters.
Regarded as a possible future contender to become Japan’s first woman premier, Obuchi apologised at a parliamentary panel for the controversy after the reports of misuse of funds, possibly violating electoral and political funding laws, hit the news-stands.
“I apologise from the bottom of my heart for the fuss created by my private matter,” Obuchi said in response to questions at a panel in the upper house of parliament.
Agencies
