Personnel of the Detective Branch of the police early on Monday arrested seven people, including a local leader of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the students’ wing of the main Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), from a residential house at East Goran in Khilgaon area in the city along with eight kilograms of bomb-making materials. Those arrested were identified as Iqbal Hossain Rana, 35, a local leader of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Monir Hossain, 30, Mohammad Babu, 28, Ripon Sheikh, 26, Mohammad Sohel Rahman, 31, Manik Mia, 30 and Rubel Hossain, 32.
On the basis of intelligence inputs, a team of the Detective Branch of the police raided the house at East Goran at around 4:30am and arrested the seven along with the explosives, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) joint commissioner Monirul Islam told the media on Monday.
In a press briefing at the DMP media centre, Monirul Islam told reporters on Monday that one of the arrestees is a local leader of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the students’ wing of the main Opposition BNP.
“Initial questioning revealed that those detained were paid to make and hurl bombs during strikes and blockades enforced by the Opposition for various amounts. Rana is the second man in the bomb-making gang,” Islam disclosed. He used to pay people to make bombs, deliver them to specific locations, and then set them off.
“We had received information that some 50kg of explosives were brought into Dhaka 15 days ago for a gang. We had launched raids. Now we have learnt that they have used 42kg of explosives to make bombs so far,” Islam said, adding that the police have identified seven persons in connection with the vandalism and arson attack at Motijheel Kitchen market area of Dhaka on December 13 after Jumma prayers a day after Quader Mollah’s execution.
Meanwhile, the DMP authorities on Monday announced a reward of Tk. 1 lakh to those who help them arrest criminals involved in arson attacks and vandalism, such as damage to vehicles, in the DMP area.
Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner at the media centre of the DMP, said Tk.1 lakh will be paid out as a reward to those who will help them arrest criminals who try to set fire or vandalise vehicles in the DMP area.
He said: “Additionally, Tk. 25,000 will be given as a reward to those who will help arrest criminals causing explosions of crude bombs, Molotov cocktails or petrol bombs.”
The DMP has published three of the DMP control room’s contact numbers, an e-mail address and a Facebook link, where people can report such activities:
DB control room # 9362640, 0191-001100, 01678-024652 E-mail: dmpmedia@dmp.gov.bd
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dmp.dhaka
Describing them as “criminals, enemies of the nation and threats to the country”, the DMP authorities urged all to help the law enforcement personnel arrest them by providing information.
Courtesy of The Independent
