Militancy Concerns Grow Amid Slow Bomb Probe Progress Across Bangladesh
Recent bomb recoveries and militant activities in Dhaka, Jashore, Cumilla, and Savar are facing slow investigation progress. Authorities have arrested several suspects while special units investigate the incidents.
Recent incidents involving the recovery of bombs and bomb-like objects across Dhaka, Jashore, Cumilla, and Savar have raised serious concerns regarding the involvement of extremist groups and the slow pace of case investigations. According to reports by Samakal on August 12, 2024, out of 10 related cases, six still show no visible investigative progress, while over the past eight months, bomb and bomb-like objects have been recovered from nine additional locations across the country.
A series of specific violent events highlight the ongoing security challenge. On December 26, an explosion occurred at a rented house belonging to Ummul Kura International Madrasa in Hasnabad, South Keraniganj, where security forces recovered approximately 400 liters of chemicals and nine bombs. Subsequently, on January 31, a joint force conducted an operation in Bagherpara, Jashore, seizing 10 grenades, three foreign pistols, and 19 rounds of ammunition. Further violence struck the capital on February 21 when constable Md. Shah Alam was injured by suspected criminals in a knife attack at a checkpoint near the Kutubkhali pocket gate in Jatrabari. Additional discoveries followed, including a pipe bomb recovered from beneath a metro rail station in Motijheel on July 24, and the arrest of Mohammad Arif alias Imran during an operation in the Savar Tannery industrial area on August 11.
Law enforcement agencies, including the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, the Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU), Bagherpara Police Station, Jatrabari Police Station, Motijheel Police Station, Ashulia Police Station, and Kotwali Police Station, have been actively handling these various cases. The investigation into the Ummul Kura International Madrasa incident involves extremist connections, prompting the Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) to take over the probe, as confirmed by Md. Shah Jalal Alam. Meanwhile, other investigators like Md. Rezwanul Islam noted that cases are being pursued through the analysis of CCTV footage.
Legal proceedings and arrests involve numerous individuals, including Chunnu Molla, Raihan Molla, Md. Shah Jalal Alam, Md. Shah Alam, Najmul Hasan Mamun, Mohammad Arif, Imran, Rezwanul Islam, Sheikh Al Amin, Ranjon Chakraborty, Nahid Mina, Azharul Islam Shihab, and Birong Chandra Mondal. Birong Chandra Mondal stated that accused individuals have admitted their involvement during preliminary interrogations. Mahfuzul Alam Russell added that every case investigation remains ongoing with continuous efforts to identify all involved perpetrators.
Security analysts and human rights observers have also weighed in on the broader implications of these developments. Nur Khan Liton remarked that extremist group activities in the country existed previously and persist today, noting that criminals frequently change their tactics and have re-emerged in public discussions. Emphasizing that extremism is a global problem, he stressed that all relevant information must be taken into account to implement necessary measures. Meanwhile, specific operations linked these incidents to factions such as 'Neo-Jemul' (Nব্য জেএমবি), underscoring the persistent security threats monitored by specialized state agencies.
