Bangladesh ex-Army man held over Neo-JMB links, major terror plot foiled

According to reports, the arrest ended a manhunt that began in April following threats of attacks targeting airports, the parliament, and places of worship across the country.

The arrested individual has been identified as 23-year-old Mohammad Rahed Hossain Mahed, a dismissed serviceman.

In a statement, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said that Rahed Hossain is a suspect in a case filed with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station in Dhaka, reported the Dhaka Tribune.

A team from the Counter Terrorism Investigation Division of the DMP conducted a special operation at around 1:45 am on Friday in the Islamnagar area of Shahjadpur Union under Barlekha Upazila in Moulvibazar, where he was arrested, the newspaper reported.

In a separate incident, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police said another individual was arrested while in possession of posters and leaflets linked to a banned organisation.

The arrested person was identified as 24-year-old Md. Ashik Topedar.

He was detained at approximately 4:30 am on Saturday (May 16) in the Dhaka-Mymensingh Road area under the jurisdiction of Banani Police Station.

Sources told DMP News that, acting on a tip-off early Saturday morning, a police team from Banani Police Station conducted a special operation opposite the Naval Headquarters on Dhaka-Mymensingh Road. During the operation, Md. Ashik Topedar was arrested with posters and leaflets belonging to the banned organisation in his possession.

Bangladesh has frequently faced threats from homegrown extremist groups inspired by Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

One of the country’s deadliest terror attacks occurred in 2016, when militants stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka, killing 22 people, most of them foreigners.

During the same period, extremists also targeted and killed several secular writers and activists, including Avijit Roy, a US citizen of Bangladeshi origin.