Two operatives of banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) yesterday surrendered to Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and high officials of the Rapid Action Battalion in Bogra.

They are Abdul Hakim, 22, of Kamarpara village in Bogra's Shajahanpur upazila, and Mahmudul Hasan alias Bijoy, 17, of Haat Bhorotkhali village in Gaibandha's Shaghata upazila.

Hakim was a close associate of Khairul Islam alias Payel, one of the slain Gulshan café attackers. After passing Alim examinations from Bihigram Fazil Madrasa in Shajahanpur in 2015, he along with Payel went to Dhaka for taking preparation for university admission tests, according to a Rab press release.

During that time, Hakim and Payel were involved with JMB. They went missing afterwards, the release added.

Bijoy is a student of Bogra Polytechnic Institute. He was involved with JMB through local leaders of the militant outfit in Gaibandha and Bogra.  

They surrendered to the minister at a programme organised by Rab-12 at Shaheed Titu Auditorium in the district town.

They admitted that they were misguided by some “big brothers”. They said they were misguided by the misinterpretation of religion to kill people.

The two added that they became interested to surrender after the prime minister and Rab officials announced that the government would cooperate with militants to come back to normal life.

At the beginning of the event, Hakim and Bijoy each received cheques for Tk five lakh from the home minister.

Speaking at the programme, Asaduzzaman urged people to campaign against militancy at the root levels.

A vested quarter wanted to destroy peace by targeted killings and militant activities and all should fight against them, he said, adding that the people of Bangladesh were peace-loving.

Director General of Rab Benazir Ahmed said militancy would be uprooted from the country.

He said those who wanted to shun the path of militancy would be rehabilitated and that some families of militants contacted the elite force to talk about their family members' surrender.

Hakim's brother Abdul Halim and Bijoy's mother Akhtar Jahan were present at the event.

They said they realised the true meaning of their lives and that they were very shocked by the evil deeds of their dear ones.

Local lawmaker Nurul Islam Omar and Commanding Officer of Rab-12 Shahabuddin Khan, among others, were present at the programme.