JMB behind Hossaini Dalan attack

Outlawed Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh carried out a bomb attack on a gathering of “non-Islamic” Shia community at Hossaini Dalan last year to announce their existence, confessed two JMB members.

The duo in their almost identical confessional statements before a magistrate said they had attacked the Shias because they did not hold them as Muslims. Besides the bomb attack, they also killed a policeman at a checkpoint in Gabtoli in the city to create panic among people and put the government in trouble, court sources said yesterday.

The two suspected militants -- Jahid Hasan Rana alias Mushab and Mohammad Arman -- also confessed that they support the Islamic State (IS).

Metropolitan Magistrate Waez Kuruni Khan Chowdhury recorded their statements on Monday and Tuesday.

Rana in his statement recorded on Monday said he and five others had taken part in the attack prior to the preparation of Tajia procession annually held by the Shia community.

He himself hurled five bombs, the sources said.

Mohammad Arman in his statement recorded on Tuesday said he did not take part in the attack but kept seven bombs at his Hazaribagh house, the sources added.

Two persons were killed and more than 100 were injured in homemade bomb explosions in front of Hossaini Dalan in Old Dhaka on October 24.

They said one Albani was with them during the operation but could not mention the others' names.

Earlier, police said Albani alias Hozza Bhai alias Member Bhai alias Shahadat alias Mahfuz, who was killed in a “shootout” with detectives on January 13, had planned and executed the Hossaini Dalan blast and attacks on two police checkpoints at Gabtoli and Ashulia.

Law enforcers held Mohammad Arman and Jahid Hasan Rana alias Mushab on January 13.