3 JMB members arrested in Dhaka

Police on Thursday arrested three members of the outlawed Jam'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) with bomb-making ingredients from Dhaka's Sayedabad area.

They have been identified as Jahidur Rahman, 33, Shamin Mahfuz alias Sumon, 38, and Md Ismail Hossain, 39.

Police said they were trying to restructure their organisation along the lines of the al Qaeda.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police's ADC (Media) Saidur Rahman told bdnews24.com that the arrests were made during an early hour raid on Thursday.

Earlier, Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam had said, "They were planning to carry out terror attacks in the capital during the Eid holidays. They had also planned an attack on an Eid congregation."

The arrested men, police said, had confessed during preliminary interrogation to planning to promote the ideals of the banned militant organisations such as the al Qaeda through sabotages and terror attacks.

They used modern technology, Islam said, adding that police also seized a laptop during the raid.

The police officer said detectives were monitoring the internet to prevent the militant activities.

"We are planning to nab those involved."

One of the arrestees, Shamin Mahfuz, had passed the SSC and HSC with flying colours and later completed his honours and masters from Dhaka University’s Social Welfare Department.

He was expelled from the Rangpur Cadet College after he joined Islami Chhatra Shibir, student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, said Monirul Islam.

He said Shamin has been staying in Bandarban's Thanchi for last several months to recruit militants. Jahidur and Ismail were his assistants.

The DMP joint commissioner said, "They planned to carry out attacks in the hill tracts. They also distributed leaflets to spread their ideology to strengthen their organisation."

Three-day remand

Meanwhile, a Dhaka court on Thursday remanded the three in custody for for three days.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Amit Kumar Dey issued the order after the accused were were presented before his court in two cases.

The DMP's Detective Branch Additional Deputy Commissioner Md Anisur Rahman said no lawyer stood for the militants.