CTTC arrests 3 Neo JMB members, including key bomb expert

The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has arrested three members of the banned militant outfit Neo JMB.

CTTC chief DMP Additional Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman announced the development during a press conference at the DMP Media Centre on Wednesday. 

Md Jahid Hasan alias Raju alias Ismail Hasan alias Furkan, a key explosives expert and chief of Neo JMB’s military wing, was arrested from Dhaka's Kafrul area along with two of his associates by a team from the bomb disposal unit, said the CTTC unit chief.

The associates were identified as Saiful Islam Maruf alias Bashira, and Rumman Hossain Fahad alias Abdullah, he added.

On June 30, Hasan's family arranged a press conference where they said he went missing on June 24 after he left his Mirpur house to go to the mosque.

“To avoid arrest, Hasan – who graduated with a degree in chemistry from Jahangirnagar University – went into hiding,” the CTTC chief said.

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Hasan was born to a poor family in Barguna's Patharghata upazila and joined Neo JMB in 2016, according to the CTTC unit.

“Hasan had knowledge of bomb making as he was a student of chemistry and became the key explosives expert in a very short time. He has produced IEDs, remote-controlled bombs, and trained other members as well,” the CTTC chief said.

During initial interrogation, Hasan acknowledged that he had been involved in attacks on police and planting bombs in police boxes, DMP Additional Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman said. 

Hasan also organized multiple meetings in Rohingya camps to expand the militant organization's activities, he added.

Saiful and Rumman had moved to the Bandarban area to receive military training. Saiful took part in several bombing missions, the CTTC unit chief said.

A case has been filed against the three with Kafrul police station. The arrested have been sent to court with a 10-day remand plea.

Moreover, a special team of Lalmonirhat district police with the help of the CTTC unit arrested another accused Neo JMB member, Nazmus Sakib, from Khilgaon on Tuesday night, reports UNB.