RAB arrests New JMB IED expert in Dhaka

Top leader of JMB’s Sarwar-Tamim group Mushfiqur Rahman was arrested by Rapid Action Battalion on Wednesday from his residence in Dhaka’s Uttara. Mushfiqur alias Mushfiq Martin Jenny, an expert in making improvised explosive device (IED), was a Buet computer science and engineering (CSE) student. In primary interrogation after the arrest, he admitted to being involved with Sarwar-Tamim group, also known as New JMB – a faction of banned Islamist outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh. A Dhaka court on Wednesday placed Mushfiq on a five-day remand after he was shown arrested in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act. RAB spokesperson Senior Assistant Director Mizanur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune: “We arrested Mushfiq in the morning from his residence in Uttara and recovered huge stash of wires, electronic components and explosive materials, used for making IEDs. “We also found remote detonators and circuit diagrams in his possession.” Meanwhile, Mushfiq’s associate Salman – who helped him in making the IEDs –  was arrested on April 8 by a team of RAB from Mirpur area. During a press briefing at the RAB Media Centre in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar, RAB 10 Commanding Officer Jahangir Hossain Matubbar said Salman is an expert in making gunpowder and other explosive substances. “Though his educational background is poor, he was successful in fabricating explosive substances from common materials like nail polish, acetone and distilled water.” Mushfiq was on the run after the RAB arrested Salman and some of his other associates. “But we kept our vigil and made the arrest after he returned to Dhaka,” the RAB CO said. According to RAB, Mushfiq was a final year CSE student of Buet. He had given his semester fee but did not continue until the final exam to sustain studentship. His late father was a renowned civil engineer. RAB 10 CO Jahangir claimed Mushfiq’s mother knew about his activities but she did not inform law officials. “When we asked her, she said she kept silent because she knew someday her son will be arrested,” he added. She also claimed that she had warned Mushfiq of interactions with Anwarul Alam as she understood Anwar was trying to lure her son, the RAB CO said. Asked about Mushfiq’s connections with Tamim Chowdhury, the RAB 10 CO said they have found the same apps used by Tamim to communicate with militants installed in Mushfiq’s mobile phone. “We are now looking through the conversations in the apps to gain more information.”