Dhaka hands over list of 51 criminals

Bangladesh yesterday handed over to the visiting team of Indian National Investigation Agency (NIA) a list of 51 --10 militants and 41 top criminals  –  who are believed to be hiding in India.

The NIA team, on the other hand, gave the intelligence agencies in Dhaka a list of 11 suspected militants thought to be behind the October 2 Burdwan blast in India.

Dhaka's list includes JMB chief Sohel Mahfuz, Anwarul Islam Faruque alias Jamai Faruque, Bomaru Mizan, Salehin, Tariqul Islam, Maulana Taj and Maulana Yahiya, said a source in Rab.

On the other hand, NIA's list includes Kawser, Mawlana Yousuf Sheikh, Talha Sheikh, Rezaul Karim, Amjad Ali Sheikh, Abul Kalam, Shah Noor, Borhan Sheikh, Habibur Rahman Sheikh, Jahirul Islam Sheikh and Nasirullah.

The persons arrested in connection with the Burdwan blast gave the names to Indian investigators, the Rab source said quoting the NIA officials.

"We exchanged some information about the JMB network, and also handed over a list of some JMB operatives who are hiding there [India] to evade arrest," Dhaka Metropolitan Police Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam told reporters after a meeting with the NIA team at the DMP headquarters.

"Both sides have agreed to work in a coordinated manner to arrest the operatives hiding in both the countries," he added.

At the meeting, the two sides shared their suspicion that the JMB operatives, snatched by a group of armed men in an ambush on a police van in Mymensingh's Trishal last year, were behind the Burdwan blast.

The NIA sought Bangladesh's help in arresting JMB leaders Faruque alias Jamai Faruque alias Shawkat, Bomaru Mizan and Salehin. 

Faruque was among the members of the armed group that snatched the two convicted JMB militants -- Mizan and Salehin -- on February 23 last year.

The NIA officials have information that the trio might have been involved in the Burdwan blast. “They requested us to help arrest the trio," said Monirul.

"We informed NIA officials that the three JMB men had fled Bangladesh following the Trishal incident. And we also sought their help to nab the trio."

When the news that some Bangladeshis were involved in the Burdwan blast surfaced in the media, we conducted drives and arrested several operatives of the JMB, Monirul said adding, "We have got some information regarding the blast [Burdwan] which we exchanged with the NIA team."

An intelligence team from Bangladesh will soon visit India to expedite the process of identifying and arresting the absconding militants, he said.

Asked when the visit will take place, he said certain procedures need to be completed first before the visit.

On the issue of a plot to kill Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP chief Begum Khaleda Zia by militants, Monirul said such news surfaced in Indian media but the NIA was yet to ascertain the matter.

Regarding the nationality of Rezaul Karim Sajid, an alleged Bangladeshi national who masterminded the Burdwan blast and was arrested in India, Monirul said Saijd might be the pseudonym of JMB operative Masum of Narayanganj.

He added that Sajid alias Masum was arrested twice -- first in 2005 for robbery at a BRAC Bank in Gopalganj and then in 2012 from the capital.

He however said, "Nationality of Sajid is yet to be ascertained."

Headed by Director General Sharad Kumar, the four-member NIA team is now in Dhaka to share information with Bangladeshi intelligence agencies of the Burdwan blast and activities of the JMB.