report in bdnews24.com, May 11, 2017 a6 1742 hrs
Rajshahi: Sazzad Hossain, the owner of a house used as a militant hideout in Rajshahi’s Godagari, was known as a Jamaat-e-Islami activist who later joined JMB at the banned outfit’s urging, according to local residents.
Sazzad had built the house from tin and bamboo in Machmara Benipur village two months ago. JMB militants had sought refuge there in different times, the locals said.
Local resident Abdul Bari identified Sazzad as a Jamaat activist.
“His movements grew suspicious about two years ago. People used to come to his house from different parts of the district and beyond. They were introduced as relatives of his son-in-law or relatives from Dhaka.”
Sazzad’s son-in-law Zahurul is a major JMB operative, said Bari. Zahurul is currently in police custody.
Police and fire service personnel were attacked on Thursday as they were preparing to raid the militant hideout. Afterwards, members of the family set off suicide blasts.
Police believe the dead attackers are Sazzad, his wife Beli, their sons Alamin and Shoeb and daughter Karima. Fireman Abdul Matin was killed in their attack.
The couple’s other daughter Sumaiya has surrendered to police. Locals say her husband, Zahurul, brought Sazzad into the JMB’s folds.
Locals say Sazzad, his wife, two sons and two daughters lived in the house but the family lived in isolation and rarely interacted with others.
Sazzad worked undercover as a hawker and his two sons as farmers.
The house in the middle of the rice fields was known to locals as ‘Alamin’s house’, said Police Inspector Hifzul Alam Munshi.
Sazzad transformed himself into a JMB militant about two years ago. He would use the pretense of his occupation to conduct his operations.
A team from the police headquarters arrived in Rajshahi to investigate after they received information about Sazzad, said OC Munshi. “We then planned the operation.”
“We are still investigating Sazzad. People say he was involved with Jamaat and his son-in-law Zahurul is a JMB member. We are trying to gather further details.”
http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2017/05/11/jamaat-activist-sazzad-was-lured-by-jmb-propaganda-neighbours
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