report in The Daily Star, Sept 17, 2023
Police have arrested three members, including the chief, of a new militant outfit Tawhidul Uluhiah (Al-Jihadi) from Dhaka and other parts of the country.
The arrestees — chief Jewel Molla, 29, members Rahul Hossain, 21, and Gaziul Islam, 40 — had a plan to carry out terror attacks in the country in 2024, according to the Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) of police.
They were arrested from Bagerhat, Joypurhat and Dhaka in separate drives conducted by ATU personnel in the last four days.
“The outfit started its activities two to three months ago. Their plan was to launch a major terror attack in the country in 2024,” Abdul Alim, deputy inspector general (operations) of ATU, said during a press briefing at the ATU headquarters in the capital’s Baridhara yesterday.
The ATU came to know that the outfit has so far collected around 80-90 members, he said.
“We have been getting information that some radical people including former members of militant outfits, who do not believe in the democratic system of the country, are regrouping over the past few months with a new goal.”
They were collecting new members through social media. The founder and chief leader of this outfit is Jewel, a former bakery worker who later joined militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team after being inspired by its leader Jasim Uddin Rahmani’s speech.
Jewel was in prison for nine months after he was arrested by Rab. During this time, he planned on starting his own outfit.
Jewel also planned to free ABT leader Jasim, who is currently serving his sentence, from prison, the official said, adding that their financiers are yet to be known.
“We first arrested Jewel from Rampal in Bagerhat. Later, based on information provided by him, the remaining two top leaders were arrested. During their detention, eight banners of this new outfit were seized.”
The two other arrestees were previously members of militant outfit Hizbut Tawheed, he said.
Asked whether they had any plan to launch terror attack during upcoming national election, the DIG said, “We will question them in this regard. However, there is no information in this regard yet.”
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/three-members-new-militant-outfit-arrested-3420706
