Staff Reporter :
The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit arrested Aslam Hossain Rashed alias Rash, a suspected coordinator and one of the key planners of Gulshan attack, from Shingra Bus Stand in Natore on Friday.
Bogra Additional Superintendent of Police Arifur Rahman Mondol confirmed the matter.
The CTTC and a team from police Headquarters conducted drives in Natore and Bogra to arrest Rashed. “Rashed was taken to Dhaka.”
Meanwhile, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said that arrested militant suspect Rashed was one of the masterminds of Gulshan café attack.
Rashed was also among the front rank during the attack, the minister told reporters after inaugurating a drawing competition on the Olympic Day in Dhaka’s Gulshan area yesterday.
“Members of the law enforcement agencies will be able to arrest the other fugitives in this connection. Police are working on the charge sheet of the Gulshan Holey Artisan attack case. The investigation is in its final stages, the charge sheet will be submitted very soon,” the minister said.
At least 20 hostages and two police officers were killed in the attack at Holey Artisan Bakery on July 1, 2016.
Earlier police claimed that 22 people were involved in the Holey Artisan attack while five attackers – Nibras Islam, Rohan Imtiaz, Meer Saameh Mubasser, Khairul Islam, Shafiqul Islam – directly took part in it.
Tamim and seven other suspects – Abdur Rahim alias Sarwar Jahan, Tanvir Kaderi, Major (retd) Zahidul Islam alias Murad alias Jahangir alias Julhas, Nurul Islam Marjan, Abu Raihan Tarek, Abdullah and Faridul Islam alias Akash – were killed during operations.
Officials with knowledge of the investigation said Sarwar was a top leader of New JMB who supervised the whole attack.
Earlier this month, CTTC chief Monirul Islam said five militants-Sohel Mahfuz alias Hatkata Mahfuz, Basharuzzaman alias Chocolate, Mizanur Rahman alias Choto Mizan, Rashedul Islam alias Rash, Hadisur Rahman Sagor-played important role in the attack.
Of them, Hatkata Mahfuz was arrested on July 8 while Basharuzzaman and Mizanur Rahman died in a gunfight with police in Chapainawabganj.
