Staff Reporter :
Law enforcers have arrested a top leader of banned militant outfit Neo-JMB in connection with the ‘planned attack’ from so-called militant hideout at Hotel Olio International in the city’s Panthapath on August 15 last year.
The arrested man has been identified as Mamun, 21, a Shurah member of Neo-JMB.
Mamun, a bomb-making expert and said to be a sabotage planner of that day, said Abdul Mannan, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) Unit.
On November 19, police said they had arrested Tanvir Yasin Karim, another suspect in the case, Police said.
A joint team of Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit, Intelligence Wing of Police Headquarters and Bogra police conducted a drive in House Building area of Uttara Sector-7 on Sunday evening and arrested Mamun, said Masudur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner (Media and Publications) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
Mamun was one of the masterminds of a terror plan targeting National Mourning Day events at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, the DC said.
Mamun admitted that he made the bomb that went off during the hotel raid, police said adding that he was in Dhaka to execute a large-scale attack in the capital, according to him.
The hotel is located some 300 metres away from the museum where mourners had gathered that day to pay respects to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was assassinated with most of his family members in a military putsch 42 years ago.
Earlier on August 15, police conducted an anti-militant drive “August Bite” at the hotel and prevented a possible attack on those marching towards Dhanmondi Road No 32, marking the Mourning Day. As police approached the terror suspect’s room, a bomb went off causing a portion of the building’s fourth-floor wall to collapse onto the street below.
On August 16, a case was filed in this connection. Investigation report said arrested Tanvir Yeasin Karin and fugitive Akram Hossain Khan Niloy are the mastermind.
The suspect, who was later identified as Saiful Islam, son of Abul Khayer of Dumuria Upazila in Khulna, was found dead in the debris on the fourth floor.
