Google Alert – Bangladesh Army
Security forces have ended their search of a pond near the home of a suspected militant in Rajshahi city after finding no additional weapons or explosives.
The search concluded around 4pm on Saturday, Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Abu Sufian said while announcing the end of the raid.
The operation began late on Friday night when the Army and Rajshahi Metropolitan Police cordoned off a coaching centre called “Doctor English” in Kadirganj.
The Rajshahi Army Camp (40 East Bengal, Mechanised) later said in a Saturday afternoon statement that three people were detained over the incident.
They are: Muntasirul Alam Onindo, owner of the “Doctor English” institute; Md Robin; and Md Faisal.
According to the Army statement, security forces recovered a significant cache of weapons and bomb-making materials from the centre.
Items recovered include three firearms and ammunition, a military-grade binocular and sniper scope, six locally made weapons, seven foreign daggers, five advanced walkie-talkie sets, a military-grade GPS device, a taser gun, both local and foreign cartridges, a large number of unused SIM cards, bomb-making materials, six computers, foreign liquor, Tk 7,445 in cash, and 11 nitrogen cartridges.
The Army added that the nitrogen cartridges, which are used in explosives, were neutralised by the bomb disposal unit.
Police said Onindo, 35, is a former student of Rajshahi University and the son of former Rajshahi BNP vice-president Shafiul Alam Latkur.
The coaching centre is located on family-owned land belonging to AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, an Awami League presidium member and former mayor of Rajshahi. Anindya is Liton’s cousin.
Onindo was previously arrested on suspicion of militancy following the 2016 Holey Artisan attack and also in connection with the murder of Rajshahi University English professor AFM Rezaul Karim Siddique.
Later on Saturday, two divers from the Fire Service and Civil Defence began combing the pond in front of Anindya’s home for hidden weapons, Rajshahi police spokesperson Gaziur Rahman said.
Commissioner Sufian later confirmed that no weapons were found in the pond.
He also said the three detainees had been handed over to Boalia Police Station and were formally shown as arrested under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Police plan to seek their remand for questioning through the court.