‘Their plan was to attack police, BGB’
Counterterrorism unit officials yesterday claimed to have arrested four members of militant outfit Ansar al Islam from Mohammadpur area of the capital.
Their plan was to attack police or Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members in Dhaka or Sylhet and then leave the country for Afghanistan, said Md Asaduzzaman, chief of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit.
The members of the Al-Qaeda inspired militant outfit also conducted recce for the planned attack, he said while addressing reporters at the media centre of DMP.
The arrestees are Jasimul Islam Jack (25), a student of Atish Dipankar University of Science and Technology in Dhaka; Abdul Mukit (29), a teacher of Markajus Sunnah Al Islamia Madrasa in Habiganj's Nabiganj; Aminul Haque (20), a student of Al Hidaya Islamic Institute in Sylhet, and Sajeeb Ikhtiar (20), an undergraduate student of Sunamganj Government College.
Based on information, a team of counterterrorism unit arrested the four from Basila on Saturday evening, the CTTC chief said. Police also seized a machete, five cellphones and a laptop from them.
During interrogation, the arrestees told police that they communicated through a messenger chat group. A month back, the arrestees attacked manager of a hotel in Sylhet, said the police official.
There were around 10 members in the group ho planned to carry out violent activities. Two of their members have already moved to Afghanistan, said Asaduzzaman.
Asked about the reason behind going to Afghanistan, he said Ansar al Islam claims they have affiliation with Al-Qaeda and they are the sub-continental wing of the outfit. "Maybe that's why they wanted to go to Afghanistan. But we are not sure," he said.
A case was filed with Mohammadpur Police Station under Anti-Terrorism Act.
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