The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested five suspected members of banned militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami (HuJI) and a member of Al Qaeda from different parts of the capital on Friday. The arrestees were Fakhrul Islam, 58, Saiful Islam, 24, Suruzzaman, 45, Abdullah Al Mamun, 46, Din Islam, 25 and Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun, 46. During the drives, the law enforcers also seized nine mobile phone sets from their possession, said Md Asaduzzaman, chief of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit, in a press briefing on Saturday. Fakhrul, who was a security guard at Tamirul Millat Madrasa in Gazipur, went to Pakistan in 1988 where he met a Bangladeshi-born Al-Qaeda commander Mufti Jakir Hossain. Later,  Fakhrul went to Afghanistan with Mufti Jakir several times and took arms training, he said. During the training, Fakhrul learned use of various firearms including AK-47, LMG, rocket launcher and other heavy weapons. Read more: Mastermind behind militant escape from custody identified: CTTC Chief He then met Al-Qaeda leader Mullah Omar and Osama bin Laden, the CTTC chief said. He returned to Karachi, Pakistan after completing jihadi training  in Afghanistan. From Karachi, he went to Tehran, the capital of Iran in 1995 and returned to Karachi after staying there for about 3 years. Fakhrul returned to Bangladesh in 1998. Besides, Hafez Md Abdullah Al Mamun ran a social media group by using encrypted apps to communicate among themselves, Asaduzzaman said. He also created a YouTube channel where he shared extremism-provoking contents including bomb-making manuals and videos to other members, MD Asaduzzaman said in the briefing. A case under the Anti-Terrorism Act was lodged against the arrestees.

Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has arrested three suspected members of new militant outfit 'Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya', from Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban and Kadamtoli area in Dhaka. The arrestees were Kabir Ahmed, 50, arms supplier, Yeasin, 40, an aide of Shamim Mahfuz, a mastermind of the new militant group and trainer and Abdur Rahman Imran. Kabir Ahmed was arrested from Bandarban and the rest were arrested from Dhaka based on information given by Kabir. The members of the new militant outfit used local and foreign made firearms during their training, said DMP's Additional Police Commissioner Md Asaduzzaman, also CTTC chief at a press briefing held at DMP media centre on Monday. Police also seized three locally made arms, six guns, 11 bullets, lead, acid, gun powder, octane and other chemicals from their possession, said Asaduzzaman. The CTTC unit conducted the drives based on the information gleaned from two members of the new militant group--Saiful Islam Tuhin and Naim Hossain, who were arrested from the hill districts of Chattogram on December 21, he said. After interrogation, police identified Kabir as the main arms supplier and arrested him from Bandarban district. Following interrogation, they seized the arms and ammunition from two plastic drums, digging soil in a hilly area of Bandarban, said the CTTC chief. During interrogation, Kabir confessed to police that that he was the main arms supplier the militant outfit and he planned to supply the arms seized during the drive to some extremists, he said. Read more: Jamaat ameer involved in breeding new militant outfit: CTTC chief Mahfuz contacted Kabir several times for arms for providing training to the militants, he said. Meanwhile, the team conducted another drive in Kadamtoli area of the capital and arrested two more members of the outfit, he added. It is known that, Yeasin and Rahman were two active members of the outfit and close aide of Mahfuz and through Rahman Mahfuz used to run his financial activities, said Asaduzzaman. Replying a question, Asaduzzaman said they are working for those who have fled their houses and it is still not clear yet how many members are there in the militant outfit. A case was filed under Anti-terrorism Act with Demra Police Station and remand will be sought for the arrestees after producing them before the court, he said. From October 10, law enforcement agencies started a joint drive against the underground extremists and criminals in the district.

Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has arrested six suspected militants who were inspired by international militant group Al Qaeda. The detainees were Abdur Rob, 28, Md Sakib, 23, Md Shamim Hossain, 18, Md Nadim Sheikh, 19, Md Absar, 20, and Md Saeed Uddin, 18. A team of city intelligence analysis division of CTTC conducted drives in the capital’s Sayedabad Bus Terminal, Chattogam and Teknaf Teknaf and detained them on Sunday, said a press release of CTTC on Monday. Read more: Jamaat chief knew his son was member of militant group: CTTC chief During primary interrogation, the detainees said that they used to form gangs by communicating on social media and online based apps. They were staying in Teknaf for launching jihad in the country after receiving training with local associates. Detainee Abdur Rob left for Saudi-Arabia last June in 2019 after studying at a Qawmi madrasa here. While staying in Saudi Arabia, he was inspired to join jihad seeing various jihadi posts and videos online, said the release. Rob used to work as a  moderator and bring everyone together online to discuss sharia-based state formation, Jihad, etc. Later, they got acquainted with a Bangladeshi who lives in abroad and established contact via audio-video calls, it said. That member introduced everyone to another Bangladeshi in Libya and a local man from Teknaf. In the joint discussion, it was decided that Abdur Rob, Shamim, SaKib, Nadim, Saeed and others who are willing to migrate will first go to Teknaf and receive training through their local associates for waging jihad for the establishment of Islamic rule in Bangladesh, it added. Read more: Top Ansar al-Islam leaders behind militants’ escape from Dhaka court: CTTC chief On November 22 last year, Abdur Rob arrived in the country and rented a house for planning and counseling. A case has been filed at Jatrabari police station against the detainees under the Anti-Terrorism Act, said the release.

Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has arrested six followers of the International militant organization Al Qaeda and Taliban who left home to join 'jihad'. A team of CTTC conducted a drive in Teknaf and arrested them, Md. Faruq Hossain, deputy commissioner of DMP’s media and public relations division, told UNB on Sunday. Read: Rab arrests 25 'muggers' from Dhaka in a night DMP's Additional Police Commissioner (CTTC) will hold a press conference on Monday to give details on this matter, he added.

The two militants – convicted to death in publisher Dipan murder case – were snatched from police custody on a Dhaka court premises at the instruction of top Ansar al-Islam leaders. Additional Commissioner Md Asaduzzaman, chief of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan police (DMP), said this at a press briefing at the DMP media centre on Thursday noon. On Wednesday, CTTC arrested Mehdi Hasan Omi alias Rafi (24), a member of the military wing of Ansar al-Islam, who law enforcers said was involved in the escape of the two convicted militants. Rafi is an accused in the case which was filed with Kotwali Police Station in connection with the incident. Read more: Escape of militants from court premises: CTTC arrests 1 Rafi used to recruit members in the ‘Askari’ wing of the banned militant group, in coordination with sacked army major Syed Ziaul Haque alias Major Zia, said the CTTC chief. Rafi led his team in helping the two convicted militants escape from the Dhaka court premises, he said, adding that three cases under the Anti-Terrorism Act were filed with Dhaka's Mohammadpur, Sutrapur and Badda Police Stations against Rafi for his involvement in anti-state and anti-government activities in 2016. Rafi used to communicate with the other accused during regular appearances at the court during trials of terrorism cases and informed them of the group’s plans, said the CTTC officer. On November 20, Rafi led his group in whisking away the two militants, who were sentenced to death in publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan murder case, from the CMM court premises in Dhaka after using pepper spray on the faces of the policemen, he added. The escapees are Ansar al-Islam members Md Abu Siddique Sohel alias Sakib alias Sajid alias Shahab and Moinul Hasan Shamim alias Samir alias Sifat alias Imran. Read more: Mastermind behind militant escape from custody identified: CTTC Chief Police filed a case against 20 people in connection with the escape of the two death row convict militants from the Dhaka court. A five-member probe body was also formed by the Bangladesh Police on the same day and it was asked to submit its report within three working days.  

Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) Unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Wednesday arrested one of the alleged militants who was involved in snatching two convicted militants from police custody on the Dhaka court premises, officials said. The arrestee was identified as Mehdi Hasan Omi alias Rafi (24). Rafi is the accused in the case, which was filed with Kotwali police station in connection with the incident. Read more: Mastermind behind militant escape from custody identified: CTTC Chief Two death row convicts in publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan murder case -- Md Abu Siddique Sohel alias Sakib alias Sajid alias Shahab and Moinul Hasan Shamim alias Samir alias Sifat alias Imran-- and also members of the banned militant group Ansar al-Islam, were brought to a Dhaka court on Monday. After producing them before a magistrate, police were taking them back to the lock-up when some of their accomplices emerged out of nowhere, used pepper spray on the police and snatched the militants away. Based on secret information, a team of the CTTC unit arrested Mehdi Hasan Omi alias Rafi. He is a member of the military wing of Ansar al-Islam. Read more: 2 militants who escaped from Dhaka court will be arrested any time soon: DB Chief Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Media and Public Relations Department under the DMP Farooq Hossain said that the arrested militant Mehdi Hasan had directly participated in the incident of militant snatching. However, he did not disclose from where and when he was arrested. Police filed a case against 20 people, including the two death row convicts in the Dipan murder case with Kotwali police station after Sunday’s incident.

Members of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Wednesday arrested the banned militant outfit Ansar Al Islam’s member Dr Jakir Hossain from the capital’s Jatrabari area, eight days after he went missing from work at the Bhanga upazila health complex in Faridpur.   Dr Jakir Hossain is son of Md Shamsul Alam of Bangram Residential Area in Manikganj district town. He was produced before a Faridpur court with a remand prayer while it granted a two day remand for interrogation, Ahmedul Islam, additional deputy commissioner of the CTTC, said.   Dr Jakir joined the government’s health department as an assistant surgeon at Tujarpur Health Center under the upazila on December 11, 2019, through the 38th  BCS, he said.    However, the Tujarpur facility only existed in theory, so he remained attached throughout to the Bhanga UHC. Dr Jakir went missing from his workplace on the afternoon of November 8, after finishing his duty. He sent an SMS to the Upazila Health and Family Planning officer and his colleagues saying that he was going to Dhaka because of the illness of his mother-in-law. Later his mobile phone was found switched off. Read more: Militancy under full control in Bangladesh: IGP On early November 9, he also sent another SMS to his wife Koly, saying that his mobile phone would die anytime due to low battery. Dr Mohsin Uddin Fakir, officer of Bhanga Upazila Health and Family Planning, said they came to know about the arrest of Dr Jakir after talking to the concerned police station. “He was a member of the banned militant outfit,” he added.    Read more: Drug, militancy to be uprooted at any cost: Home Minister

Pinaki Bhattacharya and two others have been sued under the Digital Security Act (DSA) for “tarnishing the image of the state through conspiracy”. The other two accused are Mofizur Rahman and Mushfiqul Fazal Ansary. Mofizur is now behind bars and Mushfiqul is on the run. Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) filed the case against them at Ramna Police Station on November 15. Deputy Commissioner of DMP's media wing Md Faruque Hossain said: "Pinaki Bhattacharya is spreading propaganda against the country and the state from France." "We are trying to find his address. If his details can be found, we will seek Interpol's assistance to bring him back to Bangladesh for trial." According to the case statement, CTTC noticed a Facebook post by Pinaki on October 14 through which "misinformation about police was spread on social media." On October 15, police arrested Mofizur from his Pallabi residence over the Facebook post and seized his phones. Police said, through his fake Facebook account, Mofizur contacted different people, including Pinaki and Mushfiqul. "Distorted information and a picture of a police raid in Dhaka's Mirpur were sent to Pinaki, Fazal, and others living abroad." Read more: BNP women’s front leader sent to remand in case under DSA Later, Mofizur was interrogated by CTTC on a two-day remand. Police said: "We have found that Pinaki responded after Mofizur sent the message to him, so charges were brought against him." Pinkai, who often posts on social media and appears on YouTube, criticizing the government and the ruling party, has been staying abroad for several years. Read more: Tiktoker held under DSA for making ‘derogatory remarks’ on PM, police

The Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police recovered 15 grenades, 25 boosters and 510 bullets of machineguns from Satchhari forest in Chunarughat upazila of Habiganj district on Monday. District Intelligence Officer (1) Syedul Mostakim said a team of CTTC from Dhaka, led by its Deputy Inspector General Asaduzzaman, conducted the drive from 4 am on Monday. Read: 54 arrested in DMP’s anti-narcotics drives Earlier on Sunday, police arrested Tripura Amit, 33, son of Bishu Tripura of Khagrachchari district, along with a pistol from Jatrabari area of Dhaka. Following the confessional statement of Amit, the CTTC team conducted the drive.

The head of the online Dawah branch of banned militant group Ansar-al-Islam has been arrested by the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), a senior official said on Monday. Hasibur Rahman alias Azzam Al Ghalib was captured on Sunday after a special drive in the Abdullahpur embankment area of the capital's Uttara. Son of Habibur Rahman of Mahipur police station in Patuakhali district, he is a LLB (Honors) 1st year student of Manarat International University. Also read: Five ‘members of Ansar Al Islam’ held in Dhaka, Keraniganj Briefing reporters at the DMP's media center on Monday, CTTC chief and Additional Commissioner of the DMP Md Asaduzzaman said Hasibur was introduced with "Zaid Ibne Ali" and "Shafayet Musanna Isa" IDs through telegrams. Then they started propagating the same ideology and member recruitment activities together. Hasibur, along with Zayed and Shafayet, led the online radicalization as the head of the so-called "Tri-Ratne" propagating the ideology of Ansar al-Islam. The mobile phones seized from the arrested Hasibur were initially searched and various extremist content including Facebook, Messenger, Telegram apps were found. Recently, Al Amin Siddiqui, the operator of "Zayed Ibne Ali" and "Shafayet Musanna Isa" IDs, and Jobaida Siddique Nabila, a female militant, were arrested by CTTC. Hasibur used to spread various statements of Ansar Al Islam ideology on various social media and online platforms. He had a far-reaching plan and objective to introduce the state system in the shadow of the banned organization Ansar al-Islam. To this end, he radicalized the younger generation by inciting them to violent extremism by posting various descriptions describing the necessity and effectiveness of the so-called armed jihad, the CTTC chief said. He also said that the arrested militant had been performing the responsibility as the head of the online Dawah branch of the banned militant group Ansar al-Islam. Also read: Ansar Al Islam leader placed on 3-day remand He passed SSC in 2016 and while studying higher secondary at Dhaka Oxford International College, when he was introduced to the ideology of violent extremism and militancy. During this time he began to read a large number of extremist books.