Money came from abroad

Funds used to finance the Gulshan café terror attack came from abroad, police said yesterday.

"The money came from abroad, but it's unclear whether it came via a Bangladeshi or a foreign national," Monirul Islam, chief of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told reporters at the DMP media centre.

Replying to a query, Monirul said Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury was the main coordinator of the attack and he collected funds from various sources.

On July 1, armed militants stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery at diplomatic zone in the capital's Gulshan area, killing 20 people, mostly foreigners. Two police officials were also killed.

A commando operation next morning ended the siege, killing all five militants.

Monirul also told reporters that police have information about the buyer and supplier of firearms used in the attack.

Investigation is still underway to pinpoint the individuals who placed the requirement for weapons and explosives for the attack; who acquired and transported the items into the capital; and finally, who delivered those to the attackers, staying at a flat in Bashundhara Residential Area, he added. 

Meanwhile, a bail petition of Hasnat Karim, the lone arrestee in the Gulshan café attack case, was rejected yesterday by a Dhaka court.

Metropolitan Magistrate Md Sajjadur Rahman passed the order after hearing the bail petition filed by Hasnat, a former teacher of a private university.

He filed the petition on Monday when police produced him before another court in Dhaka on completion of a total of 16 days' remand in two phases. 

Hasnat was shown arrested in the case on August 13.

On August 4, Hasnat and a Canadian university student Tahmid Hasib -- both survivors of the July 1 attack -- were taken on remand for eight days. Later, Hasnat was remanded again for eight days.

Tahmid was sent to jail on Saturday after completion of his remand for 14 days in two phases.