Police on alert over possible
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from police on November 20.
In a letter to the superintendents of police across the country recently, the Police Headquarters has also suspected that there might be an attack on religious sites. Officials said it may take place on Christmas eve.
According to the letter, signed by Mohammad Abdullahel Baqui, additional deputy inspector general of the PHQ’s confidential wing on December 7, a group of people, linked to the Al-Qaeda, is planning an attack, and militants have even gone on to conduct recces for “possible targets” in two districts.
The PHQ has suggested stepping up security and vigilance at all religious sites, on foreign nationals and inmates in jails, and conducting block raids and patrols.
SM Ruhul Amin, additional inspector general of the anti-terrorism unit, however, said there were no specific threats centring Christmas or New Year.
“There remains a possible threat and alert centring the two upcoming occasions. We generally remain on alert [on these days] and will be vigilant so that no untoward situation takes place,” he told The Daily Star yesterday.
Sources said Ansar Al Islam mainly follows the strategy of Al Qaeda (AQ).
Recently, some leaders and supporters of the outfit, previously known as the Ansarullah Bangla Team, have formed a new militant outfit -- “Jama’atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya”.
A high official of the police, who has been tracing the steps of the AQ-inspired militant outfits, said the attack could be carried out by Ansar Al Islam or Sharqiya, as both are AQ affiliated.
Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) on December 13 arrested Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman for his links to Sharqiya and for funding it.
The PHQ letter said a possible attack may also be led by activists of former Jamaat’s student wing -- Islami Chhatra Shibir.
“We have come to know that some new leaders have taken over Ansar Al Islam’s military wing activities, which had been carrying out attacks under the leadership of sacked Major Sayed Ziaul Hoque, alias Major Zia,” said the official, requesting anonymity.
Regarding the new leaders, he told The Daily Star they were yet to get details.
Ayman alias Mashiur Rahman is currently leading the military wing of the outfit, and the two militants were whisked away from police custody under his leadership.
Major Zia and Ayman are currently believed to be in hiding somewhere in the country, police said.
Ansar Al Islam last took part in the killing of USAID staffer Xulhaz Mannan and his friend Khandoker Mahbub Rabby Tonoy.
The two men were hacked to death inside Xulhaz’s flat in the capital on April 25, 2016.
Meanwhile, a month has passed but law enforcers are yet to trace any hideout or arrest the two snatched militants.
The CTTC unit investigating the incident said they are yet to get any breakthrough.
Khandker Golam Faruq, commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, recently said they have been able to identify the militants, who were involved in the snatching, and they are now under surveillance.
In another development, the four-member home ministry probe committee, which was formed with an additional secretary (prisons) of the Security Service Division as the chief to investigate the snatching, submitted its report.
Confirming the development, Md Abdullah Al Masud Chowdhury, secretary of the security service division of the home ministry, told The Daily Star yesterday, “We have received the report from the committee and are taking action according to the findings.”
Masud, however, refused to disclose any further details.
Meanwhile, the US embassy, in a security alert issued on Monday, said there is a potential for the increase of criminal activity and violent terrorism during the holiday season in Bangladesh.
“Most of these occur in crowded public locations, such as holiday markets, shopping malls, airports, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, transportation hubs, schools, and other areas frequented by tourists. Public events, such as demonstrations, holiday events, and celebratory gatherings, are also at a higher risk for violence.”
The alert suggested exercising vigilance at holidays festivals and events, places of worship, and locations with large crowds.