Dhaka, Jan 20 – The main purpose of the panic attacks by the militants on law enforcers last year was to spread terrorism and get publicity, said Monirul Islam, Additional Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and Head of the Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) on Monday. Monirul said that the attacks on the police were symbolic and their main purpose was to get publicity and spread terror. Since the police have been more engaged in disbanding the network of militants, the militants were trying to target the police.
The CTTC chief disclosed the matter while talking to reporters at DMP media centre after detaining two members of Neo JMB– an ultra-radical offshoot of the banned extremist outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).
They were arrested for their alleged involvement with the attacks on police in Gulistan, Malibagh, Science lab, Paltan and Khamarbari in the capital last year.
The detainees are– Md Jamal Uddin Rafique and Md Anwar Hossain, arrested from Shanir Akhra of the capital’s Jatrabari area on Sunday. With the duo, six people in total were arrested in connection with the attacks.
During the primary investigation, the two men admitted that they are members of Neo JMB and also confessed to their involvement in the attacks, Monirul Islam said.
On September 23 last year, counter-terrorism officials said a “Neo-JMB” cell planted improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at two places and attacked policemen at three other spots in the capital in the last six months.
Monirul Islam said that militants want publicity through terrorist activities. The attack on the police is more prevalent for them to get attention. Moreover, the attack on the police will create more fear in the public.
“The police provide security to the people. If there is insecurity in the police, then how will the people be protected? This is why they targeted the police. Moreover, the ability of police had increased after the Holly Artisan attacks, and police broke the networking system of the militants so they aimed at police, he mentioned.
Monirul said that Rafique masterminded each of the attacks that took place last year. He himself took part in four attacks. Anwar collaborated of everything and participates directly in one.
Monirul Islam said four people were arrested in two phases earlier linked to the attack on police. They are Farid Uddin Rumi, Abdullah Ajmir, Mehdi Hasan Tamim and Mishuk Khan. Three of them made confessional statements.
During the briefing, Monirul also said that Rafique name came after investigation and Anwar’s name comes up as an ally.
Rafique and Anwar campaigned online wearing black cloths with a video clip containing various extremist rhetoric and they used toy weapons, artificial bomb Vest. After analyzing the video Rumi and Farid also participated with Rafique and Anwar. /Being influenced by the campaign video, Rumi and Farid also teamed up Rafique and Anwar.
They disseminated online video clips aimed at destabilizing the country by destroying police morale and accelerating the recruitment of extremist organizations, Monirul said.
Monirul Islam said Rafique is an engineer by profession as well as an outsourcer. The income earned from outsourcing was spent building a small cell and providing logistics for militant activities.
Rafique’s brother Rumi, while studying in Khulna University of Engineering & Technology, first worked for Ansar al-Islam. Later, he joined Neo JMB influenced by his brother.
The cell, suspected to have 10 to 12 members, used two members for each operation and the IEDs were made at one of its dens in Narayanganj’s Fatullah, the officials said. – Staff Reporter
