Militancy crushed, no fear of attack now: Cops

Bangladesh’s law enforcers claim to have destroyed the operational capacity of militants leading to hopes that there will be no more militant attacks at the moment.

“We have destroyed the operational capacity of militants,” said Monirul Islam, chief of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit, at a programme today.

“The operational capacity of the militants that grew last year is no more. We have destroyed it. Thre is no fear of any more militant attack at the moment,” he said.

The biggest display of “operational capacity” of the militants was Dhaka café attack on July 1 last year, where 20 hostages, mostly foreigners, and two police officers were killed.

Regarding the Dhaka attack, Monirul said the law enforcers will decide on pressing charges in the case after the remand term of a key accused is completed.

ABT militant Abdullah was ‘trained in India’

The counter-terrorism expert also pulled reference to the Ansarullah Bangla Team militant Abdullah Al Mamun, who was held in India, at the programme organised by Crime Reporters’ Association of Bangladesh (CRAB).

According to what he said, Abdullah hails from Tarakanda upazila of Mymensingh. He left Bangladesh eight years ago and went to India to study in a madrassa there.

“From what we have come to know, he might have been radicalised there,” Monirul said.

Also, he said that Bangladesh’s law enforcers will seek help of Interpol to repatriate any militants outside the territory of the country. “We are taking help of intelligence to trace such militants.”

These are those persons who have been reported missing.

Monirul Islam was speaking at the inaugural of English spoken course programme of CRAB, organised at Sagar-Runi Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity.