RAB arrests JMB northern chief

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) claimed to have arrested four suspected members of banned militant outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), including its northern regional commander, from Rajshahi city on Thursday night. 

Based on the information gleaned from them, another coordinated raid was launched in Sirajganj where four other JMB men were held.

During the seven-hour operation in Sirajganj, the suspected JMB men reportedly fired gunshots from the cordoned-off house. Later, the four individuals came out and surrendered as soon as law enforcers initiated the final operation on Friday.

RAB Additional Director General (Operations) Colonel Tofail Mostafa Sarwar told the media that they recovered two foreign-made pistols, gunpowder, fuses, jihadi books and three sharp weapons from the house.

He also mentioned that they arrested JMB regional commander Mahmud alias Jewel Ali and another three members Ashraful Islam, Alif Hossain and Jewel Sheikh during a drive at Shah Makhdum area of Rajshahi on Thursday night. 

They told the RAB that other members of the outfit were planning a meeting in Sirajganj district. After that, the RAB team immediately rushed to the place with JMB northern chief Mahmud in tow. 

In the early hours of Friday, the house at Ukilpara in Sirajganj's Shahjadpur was cordoned off. Sensing the presence of RAB officials, the militants fired several gunshots from the hideout. Subsequently, people from the neighbouring residences were evacuated.

The four individuals – regional second-in-command Kiran alias Shamim alias Hamim, Naimul Islam of Pabna, Atiyar Rahman alias Kalam Sainik of Dinajpur and Aminul Islam alias Shanto of Satkhira – surrendered as soon as the RAB initiated their final operation at around 10:00 am.