Dhaka: Militant outfit Neo-JMB may have changed its target of attacks in order to attract attention, counter-terrorism officials apprehend.
The group may now carry out terrorist attacks at crowded public places rather than attacking members of other religions and foreign nationals.
“Neo-JMB is desperate to launch a massive attack in the county,” an official engaged in counter-terrorism operations said.
As part of this desperation, the official added, the group had planned an attack near Dhanmondi 32 on 15 August, but that was foiled.
Neo-JMB, a self-styled follower of the Middle East-based Islamic State (IS), is the newer form of the Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) which came to the limelight through the 500 simultaneous bomb blasts in 63 districts on 17 August 2005. Old JMB is also said to have remained active in the country.
In early July, the law enforcers claimed, they received information about a possible attack on the ‘ulta rath jatra’, a Hindu religious procession which was banned on security grounds.
The law enforcers were stunned by such quick regrouping of the Neo-JMB men after their strength and network had been depleted through a series of raids and operations.
“They are not large in number, but the neo-JMB has the capability of sabotage with its suicide attackers,” a high official the counter-terrorism unit said. “It is also recruiting new members.”
As they fail to rent houses, the Neo-JMB cadres are now in their own homes, preparing for attacks, said an official referring to recent trends.
The JMB was formed in 2001, according to members of the law enforcement. Within six months after the attack in 2005, top leaders of the militant outfit, including founder Shaikh Abdur Rahman, were caught and hanged in 2007.
Later, Habiganj’s Saidur Rahman, who was detained in 2010, became amir of the battered militant organisation.
After the emergence of the Middle East-based militant group Islamic State, JMB was split into two – one led by Saidur Rahman and another followed by IS ideology.
In 2015, the old split of the JMB snatched its three members — Salahuddin aka Saleheed, Mizanur Rahman aka Boma Mizan, and Hafez Mahmud – from police custody. Hours after the incident, Hafez Mahmud was detained and killed in a ‘gunfight’. But, the remaining two are still out of reach.
Detective sources said as Saidur Rahman is now in jail, Salahuddin has become acting amir of the old outfit of the JMB.
The detectives also said Salahuddin is trying to re-organise the militant group from India.
JMB’s terrorist activities in India came to light after an explosion at a militant hideout in Khagragare in Indian state of Bardhaman.
According to the Saidur Rahman’s deposition, the JMB has 100 ‘ehsar’ (regular members) and 20,000 supporters in India.
Saidur also said there are seven madrasas in Nadia, Maldah and Murshidabad in West Bengal that are run by JMB followers.
A source conversant with JMB activities said Salahuddin has appointed a certain Khorshed Alam alias Zia as coordinator. Khorshed Alam, a resident of Sarishabari in Jamalpur district, is senior member of the militant group.
The source also said Khorshed Alam was charged with murder of Khizir Khan in the capital’s Badda and accused of attacking police in Joypurhat in 2003.
Abdullah Al Tasnim alias Nahid, detained on 18 September 2014, was former coordinator of the JMB.
Quoting a JMB member who was released on bail few days ago, intelligence sources said the JMB is trying to organise its senior members.
Meanwhile, some neo-JMB men joined its old outfit, the sources added.
The JMB could rise again ahead of the next national election as this militant group is extremely against the democracy, said Ain o Salish Kendra’s executive director Md Nur Khan, who has been observing the militant activities in country for long.
The militant outfit tried to do same thing during the national election in 2008, but failed.
He also said there must have a long-term plan to fight back this religious extremism in the country.
In 2008, a bomb attack was planned at the BNP chairperson’s Khaleda Zia’s rally in Comilla.
In a confessional statement in 2010, Saidur Rahman said they had a plan to launch attack at voting centres during the 2008’s national polls. But, the plan was foiled after some of its members were detained during an attack in Khaleda Zia’s rally there.
The police’s counter-terrorism and transnational crime unit chief Monirul Islam told newsmen on Monday that police are ready to tackle any kind of situation.
He claimed that the organisational networks of terrorist groups have been destroyed during police raids.
He also called on the guardians and teachers to come forward to uproot the militant base in society.http://en.prothom-alo.com/bangladesh/news/156667/New-JMB-may-target-crowds
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