Six arrested HuJI 'members' were planning attacks on secular politicians, police say

Police say six suspected members of Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami (HuJI) who have been arrested were planning attacks on cultural programmes and secular political figures.

The six were arrested from Zindabahar Park and Uttara in Dhaka on Tuesday night.

Those arrested have been identified as Sajjadul Alam Mukti, 46, Mesbah Ur Rahman Pradip, 37, ‘Bashar’, 37, ‘Ashraf’, 37, Azizur Rahman alias ‘Babu’, 36 and Shafikur Rahman alias ‘Palash’ alias ‘Bijoy’, 35.

Jihadi literature and propaganda material were seized from them.

Pradip works as a driver for Kushtia’ Mirpur Fire Service and Mukti is the HuJI commander of Kushtia region, police say.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Monirul Islam, who is in-charge of police's counter terrorism unit, said in a press conference on Wednesday that police arrested the four from Zindabahar Park.

The two others were arrested at Uttara, based on information given by those arrested at Zindabahar Park.

"During preliminary interrogation they revealed their plans to attack cultural programmes and secular political figures," DIG Islam said.

HuJI members killed 10 persons in a bomb attack on the Bengali New Year gathering in 2001.

The group also attempted to kill Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina several times.

"They are trying to regroup and make their presence felt by carrying out attacks," DIG Islam said.

He said all six were experts in making bombs.

The government banned the organisation in 2005.

According to media reports, a total of 101 persons died and over 600 injured in HuJI attacks in the past seven years.

HuJI leader Mufti Abdul Hannan, the mastermind of these attacks, has been sentenced to death in several cases.