B’desh: Series of bomb recoveries, explosions near Dhaka raise fear of militant regrouping
Dhaka: Bangladesh is facing fresh security concerns after a series of bomb recoveries and explosions in areas of Savar and Ashulia raised fears of militant regrouping near Dhaka. Investigators have linked some of the incidents to suspected Neo-Jamatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (Neo-JMB) operatives and warned of possible plans for major acts of sabotage, a report has stated.
Authorities have recovered at least 16 explosives from Savar and Ashulia over the last two weeks, including two powerful pressure-cooker-type devices.
The latest recoveries were made last week, when police seized 14 pipe bombs and bomb-making materials in separate operations. At the same time, another powerful device was found near a madrasa and mosque in Savar, according to a report in Bangladeshi daily Dhaka Tribune.
Highlighting that developments are part of a broader pattern that has emerged since late last year, the report said, “ Investigators believe members of Neo-JMB may have links to at least 11 incidents since an explosion at Al-Qura Madrasa in South Keraniganj on December 26, including bomb attacks, weapons recoveries and explosives found in Dhaka and surrounding districts.”
“Police have stepped up intelligence surveillance, patrols and searches, but several questions remain unanswered — particularly over who is producing the explosives, where the materials are coming from and whether the incidents are part of a coordinated attempt to reorganise militant networks,” it noted.
According to Dhaka District SP Shamima Parveen, intelligence inputs indicated the presence of suspected militants in the area, who had prepared two destructive bombs.
“We had some information. We learned that militants might be staying here. As you know, those who were involved in the Keraniganj madrasa incident came from there and took shelter with us here. We had information that they had made two big and destructive bombs. We were able to recover both of them,” Dhaka Tribune quoted Parveen as saying.
Crime expert Touhidul Haque of Dhaka University said: “Areas around Dhaka like Savar, Narayanganj and Gazipur have become a kind of shelter for criminals. They choose these areas because it is relatively easy to live on little money, blend in with locals, and make bomb cocktails. Criminals are also brought here from other places and kept here.”
He stressed the need to strengthen intelligence collection, tighten tenant verification procedures, and closely monitor the trade of materials that could be used in explosives.
Bangladeshi human rights activist Nur Khan Liton warned against prematurely concluding that the recent discoveries were staged, noting that such suspicions have been fuelled by controversies surrounding several alleged militant incidents during the previous government.
“Since people have seen or suspected many staged dramas in the past, they have a suspicion in this case too. But as much as there was reason to suspect in the context of that time, there is less reason to suspect in today’s context. No thought or ideology actually dies. It can be temporarily stagnant for various reasons,” Khan said.
He assessed that extremist elements might be working to re-establish themselves, recruit new members and secure avenues for training.