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Published : 02 Feb 2026, 08:58 PM
The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police has arrested a man on charges of militancy, contradicting the DMP commissioner’s earlier claim that there is “no militant activity” in Bangladesh.
The suspect was arrested in the south-western side of Zia Udyan Lake on Saturday evening.
The CTTC says the arrested Ahsan Zahir Khan, 50, is a member of the banned militant organisation JMB.
“The arrested Ahsan Zahir Khan is an active member of the neo-JMB.
“He and his other fugitive associates, inspired by the ideology of the neo-JMB, met at the scene to plan and attempt to carry out subversive activities aimed at damaging the property of the country,” the CTTC statement said.
It also added that these JMB members communicate with each other under pseudonyms through various apps including Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Telegram.
They used to carry out activities to implement “extremist goals, objectives, and ideology”.
A case was previously filed against the arrested under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Mymensingh’s Fulbaria Police Station.
Following his arrest, he was produced before a court through Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station under the same Act.
On Jun 30, before the ninth anniversary of the Holey Artisan attack, DMP Commissioner Sazzat Ali told bdnews24.com that there are “no militants in Bangladesh”.
He claimed there are hijackers, who “commit the crime for money”.
“During the Awami League regime, they staged militant dramas and beat up young boys,” he added.
His comments were widely criticised on social media.
Later, in an explanation, the DMP said: “The news published in various national dailies and online news portals on Jul 1, quoting the police commissioner regarding the terrorist attack on the Holey Artisan restaurant, has been presented as a fragmented statement.”
The statement described the Holey Artisan incident as a “terrorist attack”.
