Dhaka – Bangladesh police have not found any evidence of Akayed Ullah’s involvement in militant activities at home who allegedly blew up his homemade explosive in a pedestrian subway tunnel in the heart of the Midtown Manhattan in New York.Monirul Islam, chief of Counter Terrorism and Trans-National Crime said the information about Akayed militancy at DMP Media Center in Dhaka’s Minto Road on Wednesday.
Monirul Islam said that the police yet to receive any information about whether the Akayed had any involvement with any political party before going to the United States. There is no evidence that he is involved with any militant organization in Bangladesh. After going to the United States, he can be involved in militant activities through the Internet.
Monirul Islam mentioned that the police are ready to help with United States government in this investigation.
Police sources in Dhaka said that Akade Ullah’s wife, father-in-law, mother-in-law and brother-in-law were taken to Counter Terrorism Unit’s office at Mintu Road. They were originally taken for interrogation.
The original house of Akayed Ullah is Sandwip Colony in Chittagong. some 30 years ago after coming to Dhaka, his father started staying in Hazaribagh area. From there six to seven years ago, the family moved to America. A few years ago his father died in the United States. After moving to the United States he drove a taxicab. Later he took up the work of electricity in a housing firm.
Police said Akayed Ullah married from Hazaribagh to Jigatala in the capital in January last year. His father-in-law worked in a shopping mall in Bashundhara City. Akayed Ullah came to Bangladesh last September 8.
After the blast in the bus terminal of Manhattan in New York, police arrested Akayed being injured and admitted to hospital.
US police officials said that Akayed tied blasts explosives to his body for the blast. They believed that Akayed inspired by any militant group like the IS the incident.
Akayed’s father-in-law’s name is Zulfiqar Haider and mother-in-law is Mahfuza Akter. Akayed became the father of a child on June 10. He visited Bangladesh last on September 18, this year, and left for the USA on October 22. Sources said Akayed Ullah hailed from Sandwip in Chittagong and went to New York seven years ago along with his family members.
Quoting Akayed’s cousin Emdadullah, the police officials said that Akayed returned to his ancestral home in Sandwip only twice.
He (Akayed) returned home only two times after he went to America. The first time he came back two years ago and went to his village home after the death of his father in the USA. Lastly, he came to the country some six months ago, but didn’t go to his village home at Musapur said police officials.
Asked by the police, Emdadullah cousin of Akayed described Akayed as a gentleman and said he (Akayed) used to pray regularly and fast.
“He is a gentleman. We cannot believe that he can be involved in extremism,” the police boss quoted Emdad as having said.
Sources said Akayed Ullah did not have any criminal record in Dhaka.
On Monday, local time, at seven in the morning, there was a bomb attack in Manhattan bus station. Akayed Ullah was arrested in connection with the incident. He was seriously injured in the blast and three pedestrians were slightly injured. Police said, seven years ago Akayed came to New York. He lives in Brooklyn. – Staff Reporter
