Police unearth plot to attack oil depots

Three Islami Chhatra Shibir leaders were arrested early yesterday by police on charges of planning to attack depots of three state-run oil companies in Chittagong.

The arrested are Enamul Kabir, human resources development affairs secretary of Dhaka city Shibir, Md Mostafa, 28, library affairs secretary of Chittagong north Shibir, and Mushfique Abrar, 20, Baitul Mal secretary (treasurer) of Dewan Bazar ward unit of the organisation in Chittagong. Shibir is the student body of Jamaat-e-Islami.

A Chittagong court placed the three on a five-day remand yesterday afternoon.

Acting on a tip-off, police raided a building at Bogar Beel in the port city around 1:30am and arrested the three, said Abdur Rauf, assistant commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (Kotwali Circle).

Enamul reached the port city by train on February 12. He came here on instructions of Shibir President Abdul Jabbar to carry out attacks on the depots of Padma, Meghna and Jamuna oil companies, according to police.

On February 14 and 15, Enamul held several meetings with the leaders of Shibir north and south units of Chittagong city in Foy's Lake and Chittagong College areas.

They planned subversive activities in Chittagong port and attacks on the oil depots in the city's Patenga area, said Rauf. 

Enamul's next plan was to meet former Jamaat lawmaker Shahjahan Chowdhury, he added.

Police were trying to detain Shahjahan, Shibir north unit President Nurul Amin and its south unit President HM Sohel, said police sources.

A case has been filed.

THREE ON 5-DAY REMAND

Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate Syed Mashfiqul Islam sent the Shibir leaders on a five-day remand after they were produced before the court with a 10-day remand prayer, said Kazi Mottakim Minan, additional deputy commissioner (prosecution) of the CMP.

One of the arrestees, Mushfique, confessed before the court that they planned to attack the oil depots, said the police official.