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Published : 29 Apr 2026, 10:27 PM
Four suspected extremists have been arrested in Dhaka with explosives, firearms and other materials.
A team of the Detective Branch of police from the Ramna Division made the arrests in a series of raids from Monday night to Tuesday afternoon.
The detainees have been identified by police as Imran Chowdhury, 29, Mostakim Chowdhury, 25, Ripon Hossain Sheikh, 28, and Abu Bakkar, 25.
During an afternoon press conference, DMP Additional Commissioner Shafiqul Islam identified them as members of 'ARSA'.
Later, an officer involved in the operation said information regarding their links with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had been uncovered.
By night, a press release from the DMP's Public Relations Division described them as 'extremists', though the statement did not specify any organisational affiliation.
ARSA chief Ataullah Jununi was arrested in Mymensingh in March last year and has remained in prison since.
Briefing reporters on Wednesday, DB Additional Commissioner Shafiqul Islam said two firearms, two toy guns, machetes, more than 1.5kg of explosives, jackets, jihadist books, and other materials were recovered from the four suspects.
Asked whether extremist groups were regrouping, he said: "I would not say they are resurfacing. I would only say that action will be taken against anyone involved in such activities. Action was taken in the past, and it will be taken again against anyone who becomes involved in future."
Responding to questions over transparency in such operations, amid past allegations of staged anti-militancy drives, Shafiqul said: "It is not police's job to stage dramas after arresting suspects. Our duty is to bring criminals under the law. We remain vigilant and carry out our work professionally."
According to DB, Imran was first arrested late on Monday night from a house in the Koilaghat near Tara Mosque in Kamrangirchar.
Mostakim was then detained early on Tuesday in Keraniganj's Jianagar.
Later that day, Ripon and Abu Bakkar were arrested in the Rasulpur bridge area in Kamrangirchar.
Following the arrests, police have filed a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Kamrangirchar Police Station.
According to the case statement, law enforcement recovered a foreign pistol, a one-shooter gun, 14 rounds of ammunition, spent shells, and approximately 900 grams of explosive powder.
The seizure also included five bottles of acid, a metal detector, military-grade fabric, seven watch belts, multiple smartphones, a drone with related equipment, and 'jihadi' literature and leaflets.
A Detective Branch (DB) official noted that while the seized military fabric was initially suspected to be "ARSA uniforms," investigators later uncovered links to the TTP.
The official clarified that while ARSA members are typically Rohingya or Myanmar nationals, all four suspects are Bangladeshi citizens.
Among them, brothers Imran and Mostakim hail from Habiganj’s Madhabpur, while Ripon is from Naogaon’s Raninagar. The fourth suspect Abu Bakkar is a resident of Dhaka’s Kamrangirchar area.
According to the DB source, Abu Bakkar was apprehended at Shahjalal International Airport on Monday night after he completed immigration formalities for a flight to China.
Evidence of communication with the TTP was reportedly discovered on the suspects' digital devices.
In a late-night statement, the DMP said: "During primary interrogation, the arrestees confessed to being active members of an extremist organisation."
On Mar 16 and 17 last year, law enforcers arrested Ataullah and nine others in separate operations in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj, and the Notun Bazar area of Mymensingh City.
ARSA is an armed Rohingya insurgent group that has operated for years.
It has repeatedly been accused of asserting control in Rohingya refugee camps, as well as involvement in drug trafficking and violence.
Reports from Myanmar's conflict-hit Rakhine State suggest that ARSA and another group, the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) are currently fighting the Arakan Army.
The Arakan Army, which has battled Myanmar's military for years, is said to have captured 14 of Rakhine's 17 administrative areas.
ARSA and RSO have also been accused of fighting on behalf of Myanmar's junta against the Arakan Army.
