Marjan’s info sealed Holey Artisan fate

According to the investigators, Tamim, the mastermind of the attack on Gulshan’s Holey Artisan Bakery, later finalised his plan based on the information supplied by Marjan, a leader of New JMB. Marjan told Tamim that some 30-35 foreign nationals hang out at Holey Artisan in the evening, revealed two officials after a two-month investigation. Recently the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police has released his photograph and urged people to help the law enforcers capture the suspected militant. The CTTC officials said that he joined the new offshoot of Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) some two years ago. Before that, Marjan had conducted militant activities for the old JMB. Earlier, CTTC unit chief Monirul Islam said another militant named Sohel Mahfuz, who is a senior leader of the old wing of JMB, supplied grenades used by terrorists in the Gulshan attack. The additional commissioner of the DMP said: “The investigators have found Sohel’s involvement with the Gulshan attack and we have information that he supplied the grenades. We are trying to capture him.” Terrorists attacked the upscale Gulshan restaurant and killed 22 people, mostly foreigners, on July 1. The terrorists were gunned down by commandos after a 12-hour standoff. Investigators named Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury as the mastermind of the deadliest terrorist attack in Bangladesh’s history and put a Tk20 lakh bounty on him. Tamim had alleged links to the IS and was believed to be a high-ranking member of the New JMB. He was killed in a raid at a house in Narayanganj last month. After quizzing a number of Tamim’s accomplices along with some arrested militants, the CTTC officials came to know that Tamim had a close connection with Sohel. Sohel has played an important role in purchasing firearms and making grenades for the New JMB. According to the sources of the CTTC, Sohel, who is currently on the run, was a JMB Sura member. He announced himself as the new ameer of the banned militant outfit after the former chief of the extremist group, Maulana Saidur Rahman, was arrested in 2010. Later, he tried to form a new offshoot of the militant outfit after Saidur Rahman refused to quit his position. But, his exact position in the New JMB movement is yet to be confirmed. He was a member of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami. Later, he joined JMB, inspired by its founding ameer Shaykh Abdur Rahman. The investigators also said that Sohel is Marjan’s relative.

Marjan’s role in Gulshan Attack

According to the investigation officials of the Gulshan attack cases, they have collected the detailed information over the attack, conducting a two-month probe. The law enforcers have specific information about the identities and roles of suspected terrorists linked to the attack. Sources said Marjan had worked as the right-hand man of Tamim. The terrorists have targeted a number of restaurants along with a five-star hotel in Gulshan area. Later, Tamim finalised his plan of attacking Holey Artisan Bakery after receiving information from Marjan. CTTC chief Monirul Islam said: “Marjan is the most influential leader of the new JMB offshoot after the death of Tamim. The law enforcers will be able to unfold new information regarding the activities of the militant outfit once they capture Marjan.” Marjan hails from Afuria village under Hemayetpur union of Pabna Sadar upazila. He was a student of Arabic at Chittagong University.