Police continue hunt for two more militants wanted in Gulshan cafe attack

After confirming the deaths of two top militants in ‘Operation Eagle Hunt’ in Chapainawabganj’s Shibganj three months ago, police are now using their resources to detain the two remaining militants they believe were directly involved in the 2016 Gulshan attack.

Among the suspects identified by the counterterrorism unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police for their direct involvement, only two - Hadisur Rahman Sagar and Rashedul Islam – are still at large.

Asked about their roles in the carnage, counter-terrorism unit chief Monirul Islam on Sunday told bdnews24.com, “Rashedul was very close to neo-JMB chief Tamim, and Sagar supplied weapons from Jessore.”

On Jul 1, last year, 22 people, including 17 foreigners, were killed in the unprecedented attack on upscale Holey Artisan Bakery and O' Kitchen restaurant in Dhaka’s Gulshan.

Monirul, earlier this month, had cited the names of five militants who were on the run for police failure to submit the charge sheet in the sensational case even a year after the incident.

Until that time, the five fugitives were Abdus Sabur Khan alias Soheil Mahfuz, Rashedul, Basharuzzaman, Mizanur Rahman alias Chhoto Mizan and Sagar.

The chief of the counterterrorism unit, which is leading the investigation, at that time had said that Soheil, Rashedul and Basharuzzaman played most integral parts in the attack and police would be able to paint a full picture of it once they are arrested.

After arresting Soheil in Chapainawabganj during an early morning raid on Jul 8, police came to know that Basharuzzaman and Mizanur were among four militants killed during a raid at their den in the district’s Shibganj on Apr 26 and 27.

Soheil, one of the masterminds behind the cafe carnage, on Sunday also reportedly confessed in court to his involvement.

Counter-terrorism unit’s Inspector Humayun Kabir said Soheil gave his confessional statement to Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ahsan Habib. Later, the militant was sent to jail.

“As the mastermind of the attack and supplier of weapons, Soheil has given detailed information of the source of the arms and how they were brought it,” Kabir told bdnews24.com.

Soehil was remanded twice after his arrest. He and five others have so far given confessional statements in the case.

Monirul Islam said during a raid in April at Shibnagar village in Shibganj’s Mobarakpur four militants blew themselves. “We could identify three of them. Soheil has said that two of them were Basharuzzaman and Mizanur.

“I'm fairly sure about that. One of the deceased looked like Basharuzzaman when we compared a photo of his face with his beard shaved off.”

But their DNAs would be marched with their family members to be certain of the identities, Monirul added.

“Our investigation is at its final stage. The charge-sheet will be submitted soon,” he claimed, saying that their investigation got pace after they managed to confirm the whereabouts of Soheil, Basharuzzaman and Mizanur.

Until now, suspected militants Soheil, Jahangir Alam alias Rajib Gandhi, Mizanur Rahman alias Boro Mizan and Rakibul Hasan Regan, currently behind bars, have confessed to their involvement in the attack.

Former North South University teacher Abul Hasanat Rezaul Karim, who was also among the hostages along with his family members, has also been arrested.

Top neo-JMB leader Tamim Chowdhury, Jahidul Islam, Tanvir Quaderi, Nurul Islam Marzan, Abu Raihan Tarek, Sarwar Jahan, Abdullah Motaleb and Faridul Islam Akash – the men killed in different anti-terror raids since July 2016 -- were all involved in staging the attack to some extent, police have said.

The five gunmen who carried out the attack at Holey Artisan have been identified as Nibras Islam, Mir Sameeh Mobassher, Rohan Ibn Imtiaz, Khairul Islam Payel and Shafiqul Islam Ujjal -- a mixed squad of tech-savvy Dhaka youths and Madrasa-bred radicals. All of them were killed in the commando operation launched to save the hostages.