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"Acting on a tip-off that Marjan was staying in Mohammadpur Beribadh area, we conducted a drive in front of Rayerbazar martyred intellectuals killing ground [Bodhobhumi] around 3am," CTTC Deputy Commissioner Mohibul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune. "Sensing our presence, the militants opened fire at us. In retaliation, we fired back, leaving the duo injured.” They were both declared dead when taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal later told reporters that the duo and another had been passing the area on a motorcycle when the police asked them to stop at a check post. “They hurled bombs targeting the members of counter-terrorism unit. In retaliation, the law enforcers fired back.” DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner Yusuf Ali said that they had recovered a motorcycle, a pistol, a knife and some explosives from the spot. Shahida Begum, a tea vendor at a nearby slum, said that she had heard several explosions and gunshots around 3am. Nuruzzaman, another slum dweller, said the sound of non-stop gunshots had frigthened them. “We were very scared and could not summon the courage to come out of our houses,” he said.
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He came from a strict Muslim family of Afuria village under Hemayetpur union in Pabna. He was the second son of Nizamuddin and Salma Khatun’s 10 children. He passed his Dakhil exams from Darul Ulum Markaziya Madrasa in Pabna in 2010 and Alim exams from Ariful Jamiul Fazil Madrasa, Pabna in 2012. Marjan married his cousin Afrin Akhter - alias Prioti alias Fatema Ferdous - in January last year and they disappeared together, according to his family. Afrin was arrested during a drive in Azimpur on September 10 last year and gave birth to a girl on December 20 while still in custody. CTTC chief Monirul said that Saddam had been accused in 10 cases. Police have submitted charge sheets in five of the cases. He was accused of planning the attacks and supplying arms and a motorcycle. Saddam is the son of Alam Miah alias Jola, and Sufia Begum, hailing from Char Bidhyananda village of Rajarhat Upazila in Kurigram. A highly-placed source of an investigating agency told the Dhaka Tribune that Marjan had stayed in the militant den at Gobindaganj in Gaibandha for a long period and visited other training camps of the outfit in the northern districts. He reportedly gave motivational training to seven militants in the den and was brought to Dhaka at the beginning of Ramadan. Of them, five took part in the Gulshan terror attack on July 1, 2016, when five New JMB members stormed Holey Artisan Bakery and O’Kitchen, a Spanish restaurant frequented by foreigners in the Gulshan diplomatic zone, and massacred 23 people, of whom 17 were foreign nationals.
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Marjan was one of the closest associates of New JMB military and operational wing commander Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, who was killed in a subsequent raid by the CTTC unit in Narayanganj on August 27. Even though Marjan is now dead, at least 14 top- and middle-tier leaders of New JMB are still at large. Marjan's brother-in-law Sagar is also involved with the same group. The wanted militants include New JMB’s IT wing in-charge Basharuzzaman alias Abul Bashar alias Chocolate, trainer Jahangir alias Rajib Gandhi, and Musa alias Mainuddin alias Mosiuddin; Sohel Mahfuz alias Hatkata Mahfuz, Ripon, Khalid and so-called 'big brother' Junayed Hasan Khan, who all fled to India; and Iqbal, Manik, Mamun, Azadul Kabiraz and Badal.