RAB yesterday recovered a large cache of explosives in Dhaka and arrested three people who were planning to use an improvised bicycle bomb to launch a large-scale attack.
Initially, Rakibul Islam Mandal, 25, was arrested by RAB 2 during a drive at the capital’s Karnophuli Garden City; based on his information, the team also arrested Aminul Islam Rana, 30, and Riazul Islam, 22, from a house at Koltabazar in Sutrapur.
From the Sutrapur house, the elite force recovered a bicycle rigged with explosives, 58 crude bombs, one pipe bomb, 48 petrol bombs and other materials that were supposed to be used in subversive activities, said RAB’s Media Wing Director Mufti Mahmud Hasan.
The detainees were reportedly planning to destroy some important establishments in the capital. “Rana had collected high-powered explosives from Khulna. To bring the explosives, they bought a bicycle and dismantled its parts.
“They put the explosives inside the iron pipes of the cycle and restructured the frame. They made it in such a way that the explosives could be set off inside the bicycle,” the RAB media wing chief said.
The RAB claimed that during primary interrogation, the arrestees said they were working for Anisur Rahman Khokon, former organisational secretary of Chhatra Dal’s previous central committee.
The three detained men had reportedly been carrying out subversive activities, including blasting crude bombs, and torching and vandalising vehicles in the capital’s Gulshan, Badda, Motijheel, Karwan Bazar and Dhanmondi areas.
Rana and Riaz also reportedly recruited activists from the Titumir College Chhatra Dal unit after being directed by the alleged financier of their operation – Khokon.
3 Jamaat-Shibir dens busted in Sitakunda
In an overnight drive, the police yesterday busted three Jamaat-Shibir dens in the hilly forest areas of Sitakunda’s Nunachhara and Yakubnagar areas.
Police also arrested three Jamaat-Shibir men from the spots but refused to give their names “for the sake of the investigation.” Preparations were on to file two cases against them.
Based on a tip-off, around 200 police members conducted the drive from midnight until early yesterday.
The dens had been used by the Jamaat-Shibir men since 2013. They carried out attacks on vehicles on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway and hid themselves in the dens to avoid arrest, Sitakunda Assistant Superintendent of Police Md Saiful Islam told the Dhaka Tribune.
“From the hideouts, the law enforcers seized 70 petrol bombs, 50 crude bombs, four lighter guns, three rocket flares, 24 cartridges, sharp weapons and kitchen items,” he said.
At least 50 Jamaat-Shibir men used to stay and hold meetings in these places, the ASP said, but they fled the scene sensing the police raid.
District Additional Superintendent of Police (north) Mostafizur Rahman said drives to arrest the fugitive activists would continue.
Police and local sources said many teachers and students of nearby International Islamic University of Chittagong were involved with Jamaat-Shibir politics. A number of students of the university were arrested for sabotage on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway in 2013.
Meanwhile, the CMP Detective Branch early yesterday arrested acting ameer of city unit Jamaat Md Ahsanullah from the Halishahar area.