The Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) of police has arrested chief of Barpa militant hideout in Narayanganj Md Javed Hussain, 27.
He was arrested from Gazipur Tongi station road area on Tuesday night, said ATU Superintendent of Police (Operation) Md Sanwar Hossain.
At a press briefing held at ATU Headquarters on Wednesday, Hossain added, “The arrestee Jabed Hossain received training at an Ansar Al Islam training center in Netrokona with the help of absconding accomplices.
“There, he became experienced in making bombs. He then started making bombs in a rented house in Rupganj. Using home-made bombs, Javed was preparing to degrade the country’s law and order situation, and spread fear among the people.”
Hossain then said, “The ATU found a training center belonging to the banned militants outfit Ansar Al Islam in Netrokona’s Basapura village of Kailati Union on June 9. Law enforcers raided the den, and seized firearms, magazines and fresh bullets, walkie-talkie sets, handcuffs, laptops, mobile phones and various materials and equipment used for training extremists.
“On June 30, the ATU arrested Parveen Akhter, 24, – women coordinator of the training center – from the Cox's Bazar Sadar area. Utilising information provided by Parveen, the ATU team conducted a raid in Narayanganj. During that raid, we seized 3 fresh IEDs (bombs), bomb-making materials and tools including daggers, machetes, diaries, mobile phones and SIM cards.”
This officer mentioned that Javed rented the Narayanganj hideout, and other members of the organisation used to stay there sometimes. From that place, the militants conducted organisational activities, including secret meetings.
