Detectives yesterday claimed that a top leader of a faction of banned militant group Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), killed in an alleged gunfight early yesterday, had been involved in several attacks including the one on Tazia procession on October 24.
Also a member of JMB’s suicide squad, Operational Commander Shahadat Mahfuz alias Al Bani alias Hojja Bhai alias Member Bhai was involved in the attempted bank heist in Ashulia on April 22, slaughtering religious scholar Khijir Khan on October 6 and the attack on police constable at a check post in Ashulia’s Baroipara area on November 5.
Police also claimed that Al Bani had been a follower of JMB founder Shayakh Abdur Rahman, who was executed in 2007. He was killed in a gunfight with the police in Gabtoli’s Dipnagar area early yesterday.
The DB police said they had arrested Al Bani and five other members of the outlawed militant group in separate drives in the capital from Wednesday for their alleged involvement in various subversive activities including bomb attacks, bank robbery and the Trishal militant snatching incident.
The five others are Kabir Hossain alias Rashed alias Ashik, Chan Mia, Omar Faruk alias Manik, Shahjalal and Ahsanullah Mahmud – all followers of Al Bani. They were put on five-day remand yesterday.
DB Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam at a press briefing yesterday claimed that Al Bani and Kabir were suicide squad members. They were trying to regroup recently under the patronisation of Jamaat-e-Islami, he said, adding that one-fourth of the JMB operatives were former Jamaat members.
He claimed that they got the names of five people who had launched the grenade attack on a Tazia procession in Old Dhaka. Two of the attackers – Al Bani and Kabir – have been arrested. “The attackers also wanted to record the attack [in Old Dhaka] on video camera, but failed due to low light.
“Al Bani first planned to attack on the Tazia procession that takes place in Mohammadpur area on October 23 but later changed his plan.”
The JMB men revised their plan after the death of ASI Ibrahim Mollah at a check post in Gabtoli area on October 22. At the check post, Ibrahim had stopped three JMB men, coming from Gazipur after completing militant training. One of them, Masud was caught by the police.
To implement the attack in Hussaini Dalan, the militants rented a house in Kamrangirchar area, the DB chief said.
Al Bani, who used to stay in Mohammadpur area, led the attack on Industrial Police constable Mukul in Baroipara area of Ashulia to create panic among the police. After the attack, many locals told the police that one of the attackers had infection on his hand that was also found on Al Bani’s hand.
Of the five detained yesterday, DB chief Monirul said that Chan Mia, a driver by profession, had been involved in Khijir Khan murder and last year’s Trishal militant snatching incident. His name was also included in the Ashulia bank robbery case.
Rest of the arrestees served as recruiters of the JMB and conducted motivational training to the freshers, Monirul said.
He claimed that they had got the names of several other top leaders of the JMB faction who might take over the position of Al Bani. “This group has reorganised recently and was trying to draw the attention of different international militant organisations by conducting subversive activities,” Monirul added.