Jubo League leader arrested over Jatrabari blast; 9,000 masks, bomb-making materials seized

Police have arrested a Jubo League leader in connection with a crude bomb blast in front of Jatrabari Police Station and recovered 9,000 paper masks and materials allegedly used to make crude bombs from his rented home.

Jahid Hasan Emon, 30, general secretary of the Lalbagh ward 26 unit of the activities banned Bangladesh Awami Jubo League, was arrested in the Bagashur area under South Keraniganj Police Station in the earlier today (25 September).

DMP Joint Commissioner (Crime Prevention-South) Md Tofayel Ahmed Mia disclosed the details at a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Minto Road in Dhaka this afternoon.

Police said a joint investigation involving Jatrabari, Shyampur and other relevant police stations was launched after several crude bombs exploded outside Jatrabari Police Station on 18 September.

Investigators said they subsequently found information and evidence allegedly linking Emon to the incident. Shyampur Model Police Station later arrested him with assistance from South Keraniganj police.

Chemicals, nails found at rented home

Based on information obtained from Emon, police raided his rented residence and recovered 1.5kg of caustic soda, 1.6kg of sulphur, 5kg of marbles, 2kg of 1-inch nails, 20 rolls of red tape and 11 rolls of black tape.

Police also seized three cartons containing 9,000 paper masks, 30 packets of elastic used to wear the masks, and a Jaipan blender and jar that investigators said were used to grind materials for making crude bombs.

According to Tofayel, the masks resemble human faces and police suspect they were intended to conceal identities during rallies or other criminal activities.

Police said Emon told investigators that the masks had been delivered to him by an unidentified van driver on the instructions of a Lalbagh leader and were being stored for distribution among activists.

He allegedly told investigators that the explosive materials were intended to make crude bombs at different locations. Another person was supposed to visit his home to grind the materials and prepare the crude bombs, while Emon said he became

involved at the direction of a leader, according to police.

Asked whether Emon was connected to other recent crude bomb explosions in the capital, Tofayel said he was.

The police official said Emon did not make the masks himself and claimed that, according to his statement, the materials had been sent to him on the instructions of a senior leader of the activities-banned party.

Asked whether Emon was paid for carrying out the alleged activities, Tofayel said there could have been a financial arrangement, although Emon might also have acted voluntarily. He said the matter was under investigation.

Police had earlier arrested four people, including an Awami League leader, over the Jatrabari blast case. A court later placed them on remand.

Dhaka has witnessed a series of crude bomb explosions in recent days, including the blasts near Jatrabari Police Station.

Asked whether police feared larger-scale sabotage ahead of a possible return of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in December, Tofayel said law enforcement agencies remained alert.

He said some members of the activities-banned political party had been involved in small rallies and crude bomb attacks, but it was too early to determine whether such incidents would escalate.

"We are trying every day to keep the situation under control, and the police are alert," he said.

The investigation into Emon's alleged role and the wider network behind the recent attacks is continuing.