Dhaka attack planner named, bounty declared

Tamim Chowdhury (left) and another former army person Maj (Retd) Zia are named as the masterminds of Holey Artisan Bakery attack of July 1, Sholakia Eid congregation attack and Kalyanpur militants. Photo: Collected

Bangladesh police today revealed the name of the mastermind of Holey Artisan Bakery attack of July 1 in Dhaka and placed a Tk 20 lakh bounty for his arrest.

- ‘Mastermind’ Tamim Chy, and another Maj (Retd) Zia

- Tk 20 lakh reward for information leading to their capture

- Hasnat Karim under police vigilance, IGP says

One Tamim Chowdhury has been found the mastermind of Gulshan attack during investigation, Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque told reporters in a press briefing.

Also, along with him, another former army person Maj (Retd) Zia has been found involved and they were behind the Sholakia attack and the militants gunned down in Kalyanpur during Dhaka raid, he said.

Gunmen, allegedly of the Islamic State, killed 20 hostages, mostly foreign nationals, during a 11-hour siege at Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka’s diplomatic zone on the first day of last month.

Police, however, have been repeatedly claiming that these militants, including those killed during Kalyanpur raid, belonged to the banned outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).

In response to another query, the police chief said Hasnat Karim, the former teacher of North South University who was detained for questioning from Holey Artisan, is under police vigilance.