Gulshan attack arms reached Dhaka in mango baskets

A month before the terror attack in Holey Artisan Bakery restaurant of Gulshan, a consignment of AK22 rifles and some small arms reached the militants in Dhaka. Of these arms, three AK22 rifles were used in the Gulshan attack while another rifle was used for the security of New Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) chief Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury. Investigators are now saying they have finally been able to trace the route of the smuggled arms. Sources in police’s Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) Unit said these arms came from outside Bangladesh and the members of New JMB used them in attacks conducted in Bogra and other northern districts. “We have finally learned the source of the AK22s supply and have been also able to identify the group primarily,” Monirul Islam, chief of CTTC, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday. “Now, drive is underway to arrest this group’s members.” The CTTC chief said these AK22 rifles, recovered at different times in drives, mainly entered Bangladesh through the Chapainawabganj border. The consignment was received there by an arms smuggling group, who later sent it to Dhaka inside mango baskets, he said. Missing New JMB leader Nurul Islam Marjan, who was the field-level coordinator of the July 1 cafe attack, received the consignment in Dhaka and delivered it to the militant den in Bashundhara Residential Area. “A large amount of mangoes came to Dhaka from Chapainawabganj in baskets at the time and the militants took advantage of that to elude law enforcers,” added the CTTC chief. “Now, drives are underway to arrest Marjan and other mysteries of such arms smuggling will be solved soon after his arrest.” Dhaka Tribune met with an arms expert in the CTTC to ask about the recovered AK22 rifles. The official, requesting anonymity, said the recovered rifles were not originals. “The New JMB members use modified versions. They do this to carry the rifles around easily,” the official said. “We have also come to know that the modification of these arms was done in Munger city in Bihar state of India and then they came to Chapainwabganj border,” said the official. “A seal from a factory in Bihar was found on the three AK22 rifles recovered after the Gulshan terror attack,” he said. According to law enforcement sources, use of AK22 rifles by militants was also seen during a drive in Bogra on April 27, before the Gulshan attack. During the time, a militant named Abdul Momin was arrested and confessed having used the arms to conduct attack in Shia Mosque of Bogra. Sanowar Hossain, additional deputy commissioner of the CTTC, said they were now trying to learn about the arms capacity of New JMB. Apart from the three rifles, five pistols were used in the Gulshan attack, that killed 23 people, including 17 foreigners and two police officials, on July 1.

Money for Gulshan attack came through Hundi

CTTC unit chief Monirul Islam said a total of Tk20 lakh came to Bangladesh in two phases through Hundi. On behalf of the New JMB, the fund was received by a person named Chocolate alias Basharuzzaman, a close associate of killed leader Tamim Chowdhury. “We have identified the Hundi traders who helped the militants get the money. Now we are trying to arrest them,” he said.

Police not sure of Hasnat’s involvement

The CTTC unit chief yesterday said that they were not sure about the involvement of the only arrestee in Gulshan attack case, former North South University teacher Hasnat Reza Karim. “Hasnat was interrogated in the TFI cell and our investigation officer also interrogated him,” Monirul said. “So, we can only comment clearly about his involvement after getting the TFI cell report and investigation officer’s interrogation copy together,” he added.

Nothing found against Tahmid

“Tahmid Hasib Khan has been found not involved in the Holey Artisan Bakery attack in Gulshan,” CTTC chief Monirul said while talking to reporters at the DMP Media Centre yesterday. He, however, said the investigation of the case had not ended yet and if Tahmid’s involvement was found in any part of the investigation, he would be shown arrested. On Sunday, a Dhaka court granted Tahmid bail. Hasnat and Tahmid were arrested under section 54 on August 3. However, police have charged Tahmid with not giving information on the attackers. Terming Tahmid an eyewitness of the attack, the investigation officer on September 28 submitted an application to file a prosecution report under section 176 alleging uncooperativeness with the investigation despite repeated legal notices.

Tahmid Shafi’s voice in IS video

CTTC chief Monirul said voice analysis suggests that Tahmid Rahman Shafi is the narrator of the latest Islamic State video that features the Gulshan restaurant attackers. Asked about the origin of the video, Monirul said: “The video was not uploaded from Bangladesh. It was uploaded from abroad.” However, he refused to elaborate. On September 23, the Islamic State group released a new video featuring the five terrorists who killed 23 people at the Gulshan restaurant. Sweden-based journalist Tasneem Khalil had earlier posted an analysis confirming that the voice of the narrator in that video was of Shafi. Once a popular Close-Up star, Shafi also sang a motivational song in the video. Shafi, who worked as a teacher at an English medium school before going missing in mid-2015, and two of his Bangladeshi associates spoke on camera in the first IS video released from Raqqa, Syria on July 6 hailing the Holey Artisan Bakery attack.