Bagerhat militant admits to role in serial blasts
Star Report
Barkatullah Morshed, director Al Markajul Islamic Madrasa and Orphanage in Bagerhat, who was arrested on Wednesday, yesterday admitted to interrogators that some of his madrasa students were involved in August 17 countrywide serial bombings, an investigator said.
He also admitted that his students carried out the bomb attacks on instructions of JMJB operation commander Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai.
Superintendent of Police (SP) of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Ruhul Amin will supervise the investigation into the blasts in Satkhira, Jessore and Kushtia districts while a team led by CID Assistant Police Super (ASP) Munshi Atiqur Rahman will assist him, said a top CID official yesterday.
A four-member CID team led by ASP Rahman left Satkhira after taking Munna and Nasir, who have already confessed to being involved in the August 17 bomb blasts, on a four-day fresh remand.
Investigators continue to quiz six arrestees--two from Dhaka, two from Satkhira, one each from Khulna and Kushtia -- at the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) in Dhaka.
Some 26 arrestees have already been sent to their districts, Joint Secretary (administration) of the Ministry of Home told a press briefing on Thursday.
Our Khulna correspondent reports: Barkatullah Morshed admitted to investigators that there are three strong training camps for Islamist militants in Chitalmari, Mollahat and Sadar upazilas under Bagerhat district where 52 of his students are being trained in arms and high explosives including bombs and grenades.
Barkatullah, who is now being quizzed at a seven-member interrogation cell, said he is a leader of banned Islamist militant organisation Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB).
"Apart from academic activities, students of Al Markajul Islamic Madrasa and Orphanage get regular training on militant activities," an investigator said seeking anonymity.
Detective Branch police of Bagerhat arrested Barkatullah on Wednesday from a madrasa at Kadia village under Bagerhat Sadar upazila.
A younger brother to Akramuzzaman Bin Abdus Salam, director of Kuwait funded NGO Revival of Islamic Heritage Society, Barkatullah is now on a six-day remand.
Their another brother Mozammel Huq is the chief organiser of the district unit of JMB, police said.
Barkatullah was absent from his madrasa from August 12 to 17 without taking any leave, an intelligence agency official said.
The militant leader will be transferred to the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) in Dhaka today for intensive interrogation.
ASP Atiqur Rahman went to the district on Wednesday and visited different spots and discussed the matter with local investigators, reports our Satkhira correspondent.
The hearing on the 10 days' remand petition for Mamunur Rahman, Alamgir Hossain and Mahbubur Rahman Liton, who were arrested on Wednesday from Satkhira, will be held today, police said.
They will be sent to the JIC in Dhaka after the court awards the remand, sources said.
Meanwhile, police have provided the Interpol a list of 17 people including Abdur Rahman for arrest, BBC Bangla Service reports said last night quoting police officials. |
