report in The Daily Star, June 25, 2023
Jama’atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya aimed to launched an armed attack in Bangladesh to disrupt the country’s democratic system.
To receive weapons training, members of the outfit sought refuge at the hideout of the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), an armed group in the Chattogram Hill Tracts.
When law enforcement agencies initiated a crackdown, the chief of KNF, Nathan Bom, suggested that they should surrender. However, the outfit’s chief, Shamin Mahfuj, rejected the suggestion and instructed the members to resist and counter the law enforcement drive.
Consequently, the outfit made attempts to resist the operation on various occasions.
Following the arrest of Shamin and his wife Naznin Sultana on Friday night in the capital’s Demra, the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit disclosed these details yesterday.
During his time in jail, Shamin began devising plans to establish a new militant outfit. Upon his release from jail in 2018, he began recruiting members for the outfit.
The activities of the outfit came to light after reports of missing youths surfaced from Cumilla and different parts of the country last year.
Since then, law enforcers have arrested at least 100, including the outfit’s financial, operational, IT, and media wing chiefs.
Naznin, the chief of the outfit’s female wing, was previously married to one Ezaz Ahmed, who was killed in a drone attack in Pakistan.
Following his death, Naznin married Shamin as per the outfit’s decision.
Addressing the media, Md Asaduzzaman, the chief of CTTC, said, “We had been conducting an operation to apprehend Shamin for a long period. The arrest marks the end of a long wait.”
According to CTTC, Shamin was a student of Rangpur Cadet College, but he was suspended after completing his SSC exams due to his involvement with Chhatra Shibir politics. He then completed his HSC from another college and got admitted to Dhaka University.
During his time at DU, he became inspired and involved in the activities of Jama’atul Muslimeen, which later transformed into Ansar Al Islam.
Shamin came in touch with the Ansar Al Islam leader Jashimuddin Rahmani in 2007.
CTTC chief Asaduzzaman said Shamin and KNF chief Nathan were university friends, and Shamin accompanied Nathan on several visits to hilly areas during their studies.
Shamin was first arrested in 2011 by the Border Guard Bangladesh, and then by the police’s Detective Branch in 2014. While in custody, he was held at Kashimpur jail, where he encountered top leaders of Huji B and JMB.
During his time in jail, Shamin began devising plans to establish a new militant outfit, according to the CTTC chief. Upon his release from jail in 2018, Shamin began recruiting members for the outfit.
Asaduzzaman disclosed that Shamin initially held a meeting with KNF chief Nathan at a hotel in Cox’s Bazar in 2020, where they entered into a written agreement to provide comprehensive support to Sharqiya.
While staying at the KNF camp, the leadership of the nascent militant organisation decided to name it Jama’atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya in early 2022.
When questioned about why Nathan himself didn’t surrender despite giving Shamin similar advice, Asaduzzaman said they are investigating the matter.
“We have many other questions, which we aim to address through interrogating Shamin during remand,” he added.
CTTC produced the arrestees before a Dhaka court seeking 10-day police remand. After a hearing, the court granted four-day remand for Shamin and three days for Naznin, according to investigators.
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/they-were-planning-armed-attack-3354936
