No chance of militant attack in Bangladesh: Monirul

Terror groups in Bangladesh may be inspired following the Sunday’s synchronised attack in Sri Lanka, but they are no longer capable to carry out any such attack right now, the chief of counter terrorism unit of police said today.

“Terror groups in one country become inspired following a terror attack in another country… any group in the country may think about doing so (carrying out attack) but they have no ability,” said Monirul Islam, chief of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime.

“However, we are on alert,” he said at a view exchange meeting organised by Crime Reporters’ Association of Bangladesh (Crab) at CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka in the backdrop of the terror attack in Sri Lanka that left nearly 300 people killed.

“Though there is no information regarding preparations of any groups for carrying out such attack, the law enforcers remain vigilant to thwart any such untoward incident in the country,” said Monirul.

Meanwhile, on the issue of Sri Lanka, Monirul said, “Usually terrorist outfit leaders do not directly take part in such suicide attacks, but in case of Sri Lanka, we are getting information that kingpins of terrorist groups took part in the attack.”

Replying to a query over the Islamic State’s claim of appointing one Sheikh Abu Muhammad al-Bangali as the new Caliph of this region, Monirul said, “It is self-claim statement of the IS.”

“There is no caliph of IS in Bangladesh. It might be announced by any Bangalee who is now staying abroad,” he said.

Monirul said many Bangladeshis, who went to Syria and Iraq to join the Islamic State after 2014, were either captured or dead.

They have to take travel pass from Bangladeshi Embassies if they want to return back to the country as the validity of their passports have expired by this time, he said.

The officials concerned will scrutinize strictly to issue travel pass in those countries.

Besides, Bangladeshis arrived from those countries had to undergo screening by immigration police and different intelligence agencies at airports, he further said.

“If anyone tries to arrive in Bangladesh, he will be identified and captured,” Monirul said.