Explosives, bomb making materials recovered from Chittagong

A huge cache of explosives, bomb making material and crude bombs have been recovered from a house in Chittagong amid the BNP-led alliance’s ongoing violent blockade.

Three persons were arrested during Friday’s night-long raid, RAB-7 commander Lt Col Miftah Uddin Ahmed said.

Thirty types of bomb making materials, 150kg of explosives, half kilogramme gunpowder, 76 crude bombs and 24 rounds of bullets were found at the house, RAB Director General Benazir Ahmed told reporters in the port city on Saturday.

Besides, gloves, flasks, and equipment used by security forces were also recovered from the Halishahar house.

“The materials were gathered there for carrying out a large-scale sabotage,” the RAB chief said.

The BNP-led coalition’s violent street agitation has killed over 100 people since Jan 5.

RAB chief Ahmed said they raided the house as part of the crackdown they had been carrying out since the busting of a ‘terrorist training camp’ in Banshkhali on Feb 21.

Faijul Haq, 30, his sister Rahima Akter, 21, and Abdul Hye, 36, were arrested from the scene.

Another youth ‘Jahed’, 25, has been detained for questioning.

Charters of Islami Chhatra Shibir and documents relating to Islami Chhatri Sangstha were found at the house the arrestees rented.

Shibir and Chhatri Sangstha are BNP’s key ally Jamaat-e-Islami’s student fronts.

But it was unclear if the arrestees were involved with any militant groups or political parties.

Meanwhile, police have arrested 13 activists of Jamaat and BNP from Chittagong on charges of sabotage.