Blast At Ctg Police Box: ‘Neo JMB’ man arrested

Members of Counter Terrorism (CT) unit of Chattogram Metropolitan Police claimed to have arrested an active member of the militant group Neo JMB early yesterday, in connection with a bomb blast at a traffic police box in the port city that injured five people, including two policemen, on February 28.

The arrestee is identified as Md Shahed Hasan of Padua Bazar in Lohagara upazila of Chattogram.

He was arrested from Harbang under Chakaria upazila of Cox's Bazar,  said Palash Kanti Nath, additional deputy commissioner (ADC).

"He is a carpenter by profession and his name came to light when three other Neo JMB men -- arrested earlier -- gave confessional statements," the police official added.

Police on May 4 arrested the three Neo JMB men, including a Chittagong University student, for allegedly carrying out the bomb attack at a traffic police box in the city's Sholoshahar Gate-2.

Sergeant Arafat, Assistant Sub-Inspector Atauddin and three pedestrians were injured when the bomb went off in the area on the night of February 28.

Several days after the incident, IS claimed responsibility of the attack, according to SITE Intelligence Group which tracks online activities of jihadists.

However, police ruled out the IS link.

Talking to The Daily Star at police custody yesterday, Shahed said, "One Shahjahan hailing from Lohagara upazila, who is now a Saudi expatriate, instigated militancy in the name of Tabligh-Jamaat."

Shahjahan and one Jahir developed a good relationship with him and used to visit him at his furniture shop in Padua Bazar, he said.

"Later, I was introduced to Selim and Akib. On the day, Abu Sadek and Habib -- two JMB operatives -- brought the IED device to the town from Lohagara, inside a Chanachur packet, which exploded inside the traffic box."He claimed that he along with other recce the police box area but he did not know about the blast.

Asked, ADC Palash Kanti Nath said they are looking into his claims.