After more than a month since Gulshan terror attack survivors Hasnat Reza Karim and Tahmid Hasib Khan were last seen by their families, police claimed they finally arrested the two men on Wednesday for their “dubious role” during the incident. Both of them were later remanded in the case.
Members of the police’s Detective Branch arrested Hasnat from in front of Aarong in Gulshan around 8:30pm and Tahmid from Block G of Bashundhara residential area around 8:45pm on Wednesday, DMP Deputy Commissioner Masudur Rahman said on Thursday.
They were arrested under Section 54 on suspicion of their alleged involvement in the Holey Artisan Bakery attack. It seemed from primary interrogation that the duo had encouraged the youths in carrying out the attack, police said.
The police claim finally confirms the whereabouts of the duo, who were taken to the DB office after their rescue from the restaurant on July 2, and had remained traceless since then. Police on different occasions gave contradictory statements about their whereabouts.
The arrest came only a day after the police chief said that former North South University teacher Hasnat was still
a person of interest in the case, but denied keeping him in police custody. “But we have knowledge about his [Hasnat] location. If needed, we can bring him under custody any time,” he told media.
Earlier, Masudur Rahman on July 8 told the Dhaka Tribune that the police had released “all the rescued hostages after questioning them about the incident.” But the families of Tahmid and Hasnat have been alleging that none of them returned home.
Meanwhile, a Dhaka court placed the duo on eight-day remand each in the case. Metropolitan Magistrate Nurunnahar Yasmin passed the order on Thursday afternoon after Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit Inspector Humayun Kabir produced them before it seeking 10 days to grill them.
According to the remand prayer, Hasnat – the prime accused in the case – had connection with militant outfit Hizb ut-Tahrir, banned by the government in 2009. Tahmid –
a student of University of Toronto – used to work as his associate.
Hasnat also holds UK citizenship while Tahmid is a Canadian residence permit holder.
Meanwhile, Public Relations Officer Belal Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune on Thursday that Hasnat was one of the four teachers forced to resign from their positions in 2012 for their involvement with Hizb ut-Tahrir, an international organisation that seeks to establish caliphate.
He, however, continued at the university as a part-time teacher until 2013 and later went to the UK.
Around 8:45pm on July 1, armed terrorists barged into a Spanish restaurant, frequented by foreigners, at the heart of Dhaka’s diplomatic zone and killed 22 people, including 17 foreigners.
Although international militant group Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, the police say that it was an act of New JMB, a faction of local banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh, under the leadership of Bangladesh-origin Canadian Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury.
Earlier, the law enforcers said that several militant groups had carried out the attack jointly with the help of some foreign militant organisations and Bangladeshis living abroad.
When contacted, Hasnat's wife Sharmina Karim told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have learnt about him right now. It is too early to take any decision.”
Asked about his legal protection, she said that they had already contacted with the UK High Commission, “but they could not help us. They did not get permission to meet my husband.”
On the other hand, Tahmid's family members refused to make any comment fearing that it could make further hurdles in the process of freeing him.
However, a family source said that they were expecting that finding out Tahmid would be a pleasure for them and they had to do less struggle since they knew that he was innocent. But showing him arrested in the case would make it much harder.
They fear that Tahmid will miss his next semester that starts in September. He has already missed his internship in the current this semester as well.
Tahmid came to Dhaka the day before the attack and went to the restaurant with two of his friends that evening.
Hasnat's phone created suspicion
The remand prayer says the police have found that Hasnat and Tahmid influenced the attackers because he downloaded WICKR ME, a secured private messenger, on his phone at 8:57pm – only 13 minutes after the attacker was launched.
“The police have sought the remand to know why he downloaded Wikr Apps [sic] application within a short time and what information the militants exchanged with their men,” it says.
Several investigation related sources earlier said that the militants had used Hasnat's phone during their operation to send photos and videos of the murders. The receivers are still unknown.
After the midnight when a hostage situation prevailed, the IS' Amaq agency released the photos of five of their members and later several other photos of the slain guests.
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Police: Hasnat, Tahmid not in custody*
Police: Hasnat, Tahmid being interrogated*
20 killed execution-style
