Convicted JMB leader arrested after 3 years

Anti-terrorism Unit (ATU) of police arrested a convicted member of banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), nearly three years after a Rangpur court sentenced him to death for killing the caretaker of a shrine.

Chandu Mia alias Abdur Rahman and six other JMB men were awarded death sentences on March 18, 2018 for the murder, which took place on November 10, 2015.

In a special drive, an ATU team arrested Chandu from Genda area of Savar on Monday, said Mohammad Aslam Khan, superintendent of police of ATU.

While addressing media at ATU head office, Aslam said Chandu had directly taken part in the assassination. Except Chandu, all were arrested earlier, but he went into hiding soon after the killing. During this period, Chandu used managed his livelihood doing small work like pulling rickshaw and labouring in Dhaka, Cumilla and other districts, according to ATU officials.

During primary interrogation, Chandu only admitted to taking part in the shrine caretaker killing and refused involvement with any other assassination, the officer said.

"We have collected some details about JMB leaders and operatives from Chandu, and we are now investigating," said Aslam.

The caretaker of the shrine, Rahmat Ali (55) of Bade Moskur village, was hacked to death in Choita intersection area of Rangpur's Kaunia upazila.