Keraniganj madrasah blast: Main accused Al Amin arrested, put on 10-day remand
Yesterday, members of the Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) arrested Sheikh Al Amin, also known as Rajib Islam, the director of the madrasah, from the Kadamtali area of Dhaka
A Dhaka court has placed Sheikh Al Amin, the prime accused in a blast at a madrasah building in South Keraniganj, on a 10-day remand in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate Md Mahbubur Rahman passed the order today (25 February), said Sub-Inspector Ariful Islam of the prosecution division of Dhaka district police.
Police earlier produced the accused before the court this evening and sought a 10-day remand for interrogation. After hearing the plea, the court granted the remand.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
According to the case statement, a powerful explosion occurred at around 10:25am on 26 December last year at Ummal Qura International Madrasah in the Hasnabad Housing area of South Keraniganj.
The blast caused severe damage, shattering walls and parts of the roof, with debris scattered around the premises.
Following the incident, multiple teams, including the CID Crime Scene Unit, Anti-Terrorism Unit's bomb disposal team, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and fire service, conducted rescue operations and collected evidence from the scene.
During a two-day evidence collection operation, officials recovered large quantities of bomb-making materials from Al Amin's rented residence, according to the case statement.
These included hydrogen peroxide, acetone, nitric acid, jars of unidentified white powder, and nine fresh crude bombs wrapped in black plastic.
Authorities also seized approximately 400 litres of liquid chemicals and various equipment used to manufacture explosives.
Sub-Inspector Md Liton of South Keraniganj Police Station later filed the case under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Yesterday, members of the Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) arrested Sheikh Al Amin, also known as Rajib Islam, the director of the madrasah, from the Kadamtali area of Dhaka.
Police had been searching for him since the explosion, but he remained in hiding after fleeing the scene. Recently, investigators traced his presence after he resumed online contact with his family.
The explosion at the madrasah in Hasnabad left at least four people, including women and children, injured.
Police said at the time that Al Amin, an alleged member of the IS-inspired Neo-JMB, had been manufacturing bombs under the cover of the madrasah. He fled after admitting his injured wife and children to hospital following the blast.
Police records show that Al Amin was previously arrested by RAB in 2017 from Baktabali under Fatullah Police Station in Narayanganj on charges related to militancy.
He has seven cases filed against him, including under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
His ancestral home is in Mollahat Police Station area of Bagerhat district.
