3 ‘JMB militants’ arrested

Counter-terrorism officials yesterday claimed to have arrested a top militant of the banned group Jamaa’tul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and two other operatives from the city’s Bhatara area.

Abu Raihan alias Mahmud alias Abdul Hadi was made the local “ameer” in 2017 after JMB declared itself “a global militant outfit”, said Monirul Islam, chief of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit, said at a press briefing at DMP Media Centre.

The two other arrestees are: Habibur Rahman alias Chan Miah and Rajibur Rahman.

The trio were arrested on Sunday night along with 150 detonators, extremism-provoking books and explosives when they gathered in Bhatara to head for a training camp they set up in the hill tracts, Monirul said.

The CTTC boss said JMB is trying to regroup in the country under the leadership of its “global chief” Salauddin Ahmed alias Salehin, a death row convict who escaped a prison van ambush in Mymensingh in March 2015.

Salehin is believed to be in India now.

At the briefing, Monirul said Abu Raihan is Salehin’s bother-in-law. They used to maintain direct communication.

Abu Raihan took over as the ameer of JMB (Bangladesh chapter) after his predecessor Khorshed Alam Zia was killed during a police raid in Bogura in 2017.

They were trying to reestablish JMB and for that they had built a madrasa in the hill tracts, and used to train their operatives there, Monirul  said.

The faction of JMB used to collect funds through robberies. Besides, one Maulana Abdur Rakib, who stays in a middle eastern country, collected funds from abroad and sent them to the country, CTTC officials said.

Chan Miah was arrested in March last year during a robbery at a house in the city’s Dakkhinkhan area. But, he walked out on bail and got involved in militant activities again, Monirul said.

Another arrestee, Rajib -- hailing from border area in Sherpur district -- would arrange all meetings and programmes at his house in the area.

Although this group has become quite weak, they are still capable of making explosives.

But police are keeping an eye on them, CTTC officials added.

Hope for Highest Punishment for Holey Artisan Attackers

Monirul hoped that the eight accused in the Holey Artisan attack case will get highest punishment as per the gravity of their crimes in the verdict slated to be delivered on Wednesday.

“We mentioned in the charge sheet their specific roles in planning and executing the attack. We tried to prove their crimes with evidence,” he said while replying to a query.

“We tried to submit a flawless charge sheet… We are hopeful that we will get expected verdict,” he added.