'Neo-JMB member' held in Dhaka’s Bashabo

Officials of Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) claim to have arrested a top member of Neo-JMB from Dhaka's East-Bashabo area under Sabujbagh Police Station.

Shibbir Ahmed (22), was arrested around 5pm yesterday, said Saiful Islam, deputy commissioner of CTTC.

The arrestee admitted to his involvement in collecting money from international sources to finance subversive activities on behalf of the ultra-radical offshoot of the banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh, the CTTC official added.

A mobile phone, five jihadi books and a cheque book were recovered from his possession.

Shibbir has also admitted to being involved with Neo-JMB from its beginning and having close ties with its former "amir," Musa.

Musa was believed to be killed in an anti-militancy operation at a militant hideout in Sylhet in 2017.

After Musa's death, Sibbir detached from the activities of the outfit but he re-joined through online in 2018. "He was trying to establish a communication with different IS-inspired militant outfits in other countries using different online identities," said an official involved with investigation.

Shibbir allegedly managed to establish communication with some IS-inspired militants in the Philippines, Indonesia, United Kingdom, France and Afghanistan. He was trying to enrich Neo JMB activities and conduct subversive activities through collecting funds from different foreign nationals, said the official.

"Shibbir even had financial transactions with some foreign nationals returning from Syria," claimed the CTTC investigator.

According to CTTC sources, Shibbir completed Dakhil exams in 2017 from Saydia Dakhil Madrasa in Basabao area of the capital. After finishing his Madrasa education, he carried out his militancy while working as an imam for different mosques of the capital.

A case was already registered with Sabujbagh police station against Shibbir, CTTC official added.