'Neo-JMB member' Arif placed on 6-day remand over sabotage attempt in Savar
Police says the 26-year-old was planning acts of sabotage, and explosives and bomb-making materials were recovered during raids in Savar.
A Dhaka court today (13 August) placed a 26-year-old man, whom police claim is a member of the banned militant outfit Neo-Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (Neo-JMB), on a six-day remand in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act over an alleged attempt to carry out sabotage in Savar.
Chief Senior Judicial Magistrate Tajul Islam Sohag passed the order after police sought 10 days to interrogate the accused, Mohammad Arif, alias Imran, in connection with the case. SI Bahaj Uddin of the Prosecution Division confirmed the matter.
No lawyer appeared for the accused during the hearing.
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According to the remand petition, the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit launched an operation in Savar on 11 August after acting on a tip-off that members of a banned organisation were there with explosives to carry out acts of sabotage.
Using information technology, they traced the suspects' location and launched a raid around 6:50pm in the embankment area beside the western wall of the BSCIC Industrial Tannery Estate in Savar, the petition stated.
Several suspects fled as police approached, but Arif was arrested at the scene, it added.
Police alleged that they recovered bomb-making materials, a steel pipe for making a pipe bomb, a machete, a switchgear knife, batteries and a Nokia mobile phone from Arif and his bag.
The investigation officer said an explosive-like object found at the scene was defused there for security reasons.
The petition also stated that, based on information provided by Arif, police later raided his rented house in South Shyampur, Savar.
Police claimed to have recovered various liquid chemicals and chemical powders, potassium nitrate, gunpowder-mixed cotton bars, electric wires, detonators, a remote control and controller, pipe bomb remnants and other bomb-making equipment.
The investigation officer further claimed that during interrogation, Arif said he was an active member of the banned Neo-JMB and provided the names and addresses of several others, along with information about their links to the organisation.
Police also alleged that Arif and his associates, inspired by Neo-JMB ideology, were planning acts of sabotage to damage state property, endanger public safety and destabilise the country.
Seeking remand, the investigation officer told the court that further interrogation was necessary to identify the alleged masterminds, financiers, advisers, fugitive suspects and other individuals involved.
