DNA reports confirm militant Tamim Ahmed’s identity, police say

Police have confirmed the identity of Neo-JMB leader Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, who was recently killed during a raid in Narayanganj.

DMP Deputy Commissioner (media) Md Masudur Rahman told bdnews24.com that DNA samples collected from the body matched with that of his father and sister.

“We sent their DNA samples to Canada for testing. His DNA matches with that of his father and sister. So now we can confirm that he is indeed Tamim Chowdhury,” he told bdnews24.com.

Tamim, a Canadian passport holder, was among the 10 individuals who were on the first list of ‘missing’ persons released by the authorities in the wake of the deadly attack on Gulshan’s Holey Artisan Bakery on Jul 1.   

International media reports claimed, citing various publications by the so-called Islamic State, that Tamim was the coordinator of the Middle East-based terror group’s Bangladesh operations.

The Bangladesh authorities have, however, maintained that Tamim led the 'Neo-JMB', which emerged after the JMB split. They also ruled out any connection between the outfit and Islamic State.

On Aug 27, Tamim and two other suspected militants were shot dead during a police ‘shootout’ at Paikparha in Narayanganj.

Tamim is grandson of the late Abdul Mojid Chowdhury, of Beanibazar in Sylhet, who is said to have been a member of the Peace Committee, an outfit that collaborated with the Pakistani military forces during the 1971 Liberation War.

His father worked on ships. The family moved to Canada after the Liberation War.  

Tamim came to Bangladesh in 2013 via Dubai and remained untraced until the Narayanganj raid.