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Buying flowers from Jihadists

Vinod Mehta - 2/5/2010

In Bangladesh ’s capital Dhaka , Gulshan is considered to be one of the posh areas, where diplomats and foreigners prefer to reside considering the comparatively safer security. But, for years, a notorious Islamist militancy group named Hizb-Ut-Towhid (or Hizbut Towhid) is continuing to operative a recruitment and fund collection center right at Gulshan Avenue under the disguise of a flower shop named Ferns and Petals.

Ferns and Petals is a famous florist shop in India , wherefrom the famous brand name of the chain-store was stolen by this Islamist militancy group few years back. Ferns 'N' Petals (FNP), a leading florist in India , has long been associated with good quality flowers and flower arrangements. FNP, the only Indian name at par with international flower brands in both quality and designs provides one-stop solution for all flower requirements, be it for daily or occasional gifting or for floral decoration in weddings, corporate events and individual parties.

Ferns ‘N’ Petals (FNP) has redefined the concept of flower retailing, making even rare flowers readily available to the Indian consumers. Apart from its strong retail network of local outlets all around India , the company has a wide presence on net as well to provide you the comfort of buying and sending flowers online. At FNP you can buy flowers online and use their online delivery services for a huge range of products ranging from fresh flowers and artificial flowers to cakes and chocolates to combo gifts and sweets etc. FNP’s reliable and cost effective flower delivery service makes it the global leader in sending and buying flowers online.

The company has already registered its trade mark and patent for Indian and global market. But, Bangladeshi terror outfit Hizb-Ut-Towhid has stolen the name and trade mark of this internationally known florist outlet and continuing to operate a number of outlets in various areas in Dhaka and outside the Capital city for years with one Sigma Huda, a lady comrade of the militancy group.

Hizb-Ut-Towhid is gathering strategic information on various community centers and large public gathering places in Dhaka through this florist shop, which is also engaging in floral decoration in weddings, corporate events and individual parties.

It is reported that, various outlets of Ferns and Petals in Bangladesh are basically recruitment centers of Hizb-Ut-Towhid commando as well monthly subscription and donation from various people are received for this Islamist militancy group through Ferns and Petals in Bangladesh . Sigma Huda also is assigned to establish links with members of diplomatic corps and foreign nationals in Bangladesh under the mask of owner of Ferns and Petals in Bangladesh . Later strategic information on the whereabouts of these foreign nationals are forwarded to Saleem Khan Panni, kingpin of Hizb-Ut-Towhid, who is planning offensives on all diplomatic and foreign establishments in the country with the ‘goal’ of establishing Taliban type rule in Bangladesh.

Hizbut Towhid, which was established in Bangladesh's Tangail district under the leadership of Mr. Bayeejid Khan Ponni aka Selim Ponni has secretly established its branch in a number of countries in recent years with the aim of establishing branches of this ultra religious terrorist group in those countries.

The group’s agenda, however, is quite clear. It promotes jihad to establish the rule of Islam through literature, training and indoctrination.. An HuT book entitled "Islamer Prokrito Salah" (Real Prayer of Islam) states: “[if anyone] leaves jihad or armed struggle, they shall not be accepted by Allah.” The book also says that Muslims as a whole are a military nation. “The whole nation is a military force; each and every Muslim is a soldier, a mujahid and a warrior” (Daily Star, April 18). HuT members have a number of unusual beliefs that set them apart from other Muslims. They do not exchange the customary formula of Islamic greetings, do not pray in mosques and refer to the call to prayer as the “barking of dogs” (Daily Star, August 28, 2005).

The group was set up from 1995-1996 by Bayejid Khan Ponni (a.k.a. Selim Ponni) who left Bangladesh immediately after independence and returned in the 1980s to preach a radical version of Islam (Daily Star, April 19). He is a cousin of the former Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Humayun Khan Panni (bangladeshnews.com, August 13, 2006). Ponni, by some media accounts, has written a total of eight books on jihad which are widely circulated through dedicated outlets across the country (bangladeshnews.com, August 8, 2007). His first book, A Islam Islam Noi (This Islam is Not Real Islam) was heavily criticized and eventually banned by the Awami League government (Daily Star, September 28, 2003). Ponni’s second book, Islamer Prokito Roop Rekha (Main Policies of Islam) argued that if democracy was not replaced with Shari’a rule in any society, armed struggle should be continued until Shari’a was implemented. A third book, Dazzal, called Jews and Christians “evil.” Ponni has called upon his followers, who consider him an imam, to migrate to foreign countries to continue jihad against Jews and Christians. A large number of HuT militants have gone abroad after indoctrination (Weekly Blitz, April 22).

HuT has deliberately kept away from the limelight by confining itself to spreading the message of their leader through leaflets and street corner meetings. Working under the guise of the generally non-militant Tablighi Jamaat missionary organization, HuT has been campaigning in smaller towns and villages in central and south Bangladesh for several years (see Terrorism Focus, February 13, 2008). These campaigns are aimed at recruiting men and women to the group’s cause. The recruits are indoctrinated at several offices run by the group across Bangladesh . Recruitment efforts are part of the phased growth of HuT. “We are now at a primary level of jihad and limit our work to awareness building and seeking new mujahideen,” a HuT leader told a newspaper in 2005 (The Daily Star). This recruitment drive was low key until 2003, when the group became more open and aggressive. The leaders talked openly about Islamic revolution and doled out money and gifts such as mobile phones to attract young men and women from poor families. By most accounts, the group has strength of 1,200, with a women’s wing and a publicity division (The Daily Star, April 19). Several recruits have been trained in suicide missions (Weekly Blitz, April 22).

Indian government as well Bangladesh government has recently tuned an excellent path of mutual cooperation in fighting terrorism. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has assured New Delhi of her government’s all out support in not allowing Bangladeshi soil as the breeding ground of Jihadists. Hopefully, Bangladeshi government will begin immediate investigation into the under-cover activities of Hizb-Ut-Towhid as well stop running activities of Ferns and Petals in Dhaka, which operates in violation of international patent right of an Indian enterprise.