Elite force RAB arrested a member of the banned militant outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in the capital’s Bhatara area early yesterday.
Mohammad Sagir Hossain is a charge-sheeted accused in two cases filed for carrying out blasts at Dhaka airport’s terminal area and Gulshan’s Star Watch and Anada Sweets on August 17, 2005.
On that day, the JMB conducted series of bomb attacks in 63 districts simultaneously. The Islamist organisation was banned on February 23, 2005 for militant activities.
Sagir hails from Noyakhola Ujampur of Uttarkhan in the capital. RAB claims that he was a top leader of the JMB. The elite force arrested him during a raid in a house on Shahid Abdul Aziz Road at Bhatara.
Mufti Mahmud Khan, director of legal and media wing of RAB, at a press conference said Sagir’s name was mentioned in the two cases filed with Gulshan and Banani police stations.
“The two other accused of the cases Abdullah Al Sohail alias Akash alias Zaeed alias Jahangir and Razaul Haque alias Reza gave confessional statements before the court admitting their involvement in the attack. They said Sagir led the bomb attack at the airport,” Mahmud said.
During primary interrogation, Sagir said he had stayed in Gazipur, Turag and Bhatara areas during the last nine years.
In reply to a question on the al-Qaeda video, the RAB official said they were on high alert but have yet to verify the video’s statement.
“The force is working to arrest the 53 militants who are absconding,” he said.
