‘Mother and child may have been slated for suicide attack’

Police claimed that New JMB leader Musa and his accomplices were planning to carry out large-scale terrorist attack, possibly during the upcoming holidays when the city is going to see huge gatherings. “We are suspecting that the militants had a plan to use Shakira – who killed herself in a suicide blast on Saturday during the Ashkona raid – for suicide attack at any gathering at anywhere,” said police’s Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit chief Monirul Islam after visiting the spot yesterday evening. In reply to a question, he said: “After analysing our previous intelligence report and observing the activities of the militants at Ashkona den, we are suspecting that the group was planning to carry out large-scale suicide attacks in the near future.” Terming the surrender of militants in Ashkona a “major success”, he said: “The documents we seized from Ashkona den indicate that the militants used the house as their office.” The CTTC chief said they had disposed 19 bombs at the den till yesterday; two on Saturday evening which remained unexploded in the suicide vest, and 17 yesterday. Among the 17 bombs 10 were found attached to two suicide vests lying on the floor. Seven grenades found in the den had also been defused. Police also recovered three pistols with two magazines. Among them one was recovered from the militants who surrendered and the other two were recovered from the den. Of the two 9mm pistols, one was found at the hand of Tanvir Qadri’s son, said the CTTC Chief. Monirul said they had found burnt money, a laptop and mobile  phones from the flat. According to the captured militants, the amount was worth Tk12 lakh. “We are trying to find the source of the money.” Monir said the militants killed in the drive were – Shakira, 25, and Tanvir Qadri’s son Ador. “Ador’s body has been taken to DMCH morgue for autopsy from the den.” The injured girl who is undergoing treatment in DMCH was daughter of one Iqbal, who died from cancer, and militant Shakira. After her husband’s death, Shakira married Sumon who led her into militancy, he added. He also said Musa was supposed to marry Maj (rtd) Murad’s wife Jebunnahar. Besides, Shakira was supposed marry another militant as his current husband Sumon was missing for one and a half month.From school teacher to top tier New JMB leaderMainul Islam alias Musa who had rented the Ashkona flat under the name Imtiaz Ahmed was a school teacher. “After busting the den, we learnt that Musa was planning to carry out a large-scale attack, and had stored a haul of ammunitions and explosives,” said Monirul. “Musa, an ex-student of Dhaka College, joined the old JMB in Rajshahi, and later joined New JMB before the Holy Artisan attack.” Asked about his position in the group and involvement in the Holey attack, he said he became one of the top leaders after the death of Tamim Chowdhury and Maj Murad. A CTTC official seeking anonymity said unlike others, Musa took a very short time to reach the top tier. While a school teacher at an Uttara school, Musa met Maj Murad through Tanvir Qadri, and engaged in the outfit’s activities within the shortest time. “Musa was involved in the planning phase of Gulshan attack.” Monirul said they had little information about Musa earlier, but after arresting three female militants from Azimpur they became well-informed about him. The Qadri family and Musa family often visited Jahid’s home in Uttara, he said, adding that they started searching for Musa after receiving information from the Azimpur arrestees. The CTTC Chief said after the Azimpur raid they had learnt that Ador went for so-called Hizrat with Musa.