Police yesterday arrested eight operatives of outlawed Islamist outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) including two madrasa teachers in Gaibandha and seized a big cache of explosives.
The latest arrest and recovery were made two days after two JMB men with five grenades were held in Comilla. The two have been placed on eight-day remand.
Both Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and police suspect the militants are getting prepared for committing subversive attacks ahead of the national polls.
In Gaibandha, Special Branch in association with police seized 50 casings of grenade, grenade-making materials, huge explosives and jihad books from Chakshibpur and Parkachua villages in the first phase of drives.
Col Gulzaruddin Ahmed, additional director general of Rab, told The Daily Star, “The collection of such explosives and ammunition proves their preparation to commit a serious crime.”
Of the JMB operatives, Rejaul Karim Reji alias Hasan alias Shihab, 25, Manjurul Islam Manju, 20, and Al Amin, 27, were arrested in Gobindaganj upazila during the drive that continued till early hours yesterday.
Following their statements, police arrested Mostafizur Rahman, 32, and Nannu Miah, 32, in Gobindaganj and Rowshan Ali, 30, Amzad, 35, and Mohammad Obaidur Rahman of Pashchim Komarnoi village in Sadar upazila.
SM Moniruzzaman, superintendent of Gaibandha police, said among the eight JMB men, Obaidur is a teacher of Chapadaha Dimukhi Dakhil Madrasa and Amzad Hossain of Afroza Khanam Dakhil Madrasa. Besides, Amzad is also the imam of Argishahpur Jam-e Mosque, he said.
Rejaul Karim Reji is the JMB’s regional commander. He is a student of Gobindaganj Shamim and Shakil Technical College and also the member of JMB’s policymaking body Ehsar.
“All the eight militants are senior JMB leaders,” the Gaibandha SP said. “Following their confessions, we believe there are many JMB men active in the country.”
He said all the JMB men were arrested in their own houses and the explosives were seized from Manju Al Amin.
Gaibandha police chief SM Moniruzzaman said the explosives might have been collected for any big attack ahead of the national election.
Lt Col Ahsan, commander of Gaibandha army camp, and Rab-5 Commander Major Shah Ali said the arrestees have given important information.
They said they are continuing their operations in line with the information extracted from the arrestees.
Meanwhile, Lt Col M Sazzad Hossain said JMB men Masud and Noyeem, who were arrested in Comilla on Tuesday, were taken on eight-day remand.
Rab Additional DG Col Gulzar said, “The two JMB men arrested would be taken to Dhaka and interrogated under the Task Force Intelligence.”
Asked, he said the eight JMB men arrested in Gaibandha would also be taken under TFI.
“There is no way to deny the fact that JMB is getting prepared to commit further crime as they gathered huge explosives and ammunition,” he said.
“Our intelligence activities and drives against JMB have also been beefed up so that they cannot be successful,” he added.
Categories: Bangla, Bangladesh, Bangladesh News, Bangladesh Politics, News, Politics
