Police cordon off Gazipur ‘militant hideout’

Police have cordoned off a suspected hideout for militant outfit JMB in Gazipur’s Maona.

Staff CorrespondentGazipur Correspondent and bdnews24.com
Published : 24 June 2018, 10:34 AM
Updated : 24 June 2018, 10:34 AM

The Counter Terrorism Unit is providing back-up to the Police Headquarters Intelligence Wing Lawful Interception Cell at the scene, Deputy Commissioner of CT Mohibul Islam Khan told bdnews24.com.

Police began the operation at the two-storey building in Sreepur municipality’s Kewa West Khanda (near Maona Alhera Hospital) before dawn on Sunday. Police personnel were seen surrounding the building on Sunday afternoon.

“We believe the old faction of the JMB still has a hideout here,” Counter Terrorism Unit ADC Abdul Mannan told bdnews24.com. “More details will be available after the operation is completed.”

Weapons and explosives were found at the scene and a bomb disposal unit from Dhaka has arrived in Maona to disarm them, a police official said.

The owner of the building, retired police havilder Rafiqul Islam, told the media that police came to the building early that morning, detained tenant Abdur Rahman, searched the building for an hour or so and found three pistols and four explosives.

“They showed me a pistol. But they left the bombs in the tenant’s room. Police from Dhaka are to come and disarm them.”

Rafiqul Islam says he rented the room to Abdur Rahman and his wife Shamsunnahar two months ago for Tk 3,500. Rahman had told him that he was a driver and drove a car for a vehicle rental business.

According to the landlord, Rahman hails from Kaliganj village in Dinajpur’s Debiganj Upazila. Police have not released any details on the matter.