Law enforcers hunting for persons behind the countrywide chain bombings on Tuesday raided a militant hideout in Rajshahi and seized bomb-making materials and jihadi books. Tipped by confessions statements of arrested Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh cadres, the Rajshahi Police raided a house at Baliapukur and recovered bomb-making material and a large number of jihadi books, certificates and cash account books. No one was arrested as residents had fled before the raid. The house has been placed under police control. The Boalia police said militants, including its operation commander Bangla Bhai used to live in the rented house, owned by one Rabiul Islam, a mason by profession. ‘Operation to carry out bombing in Rajshahi city on August 17 was coordinated from the house,’ said a police official. Sub-inspector Ahsanul Kabir told New Age that four cadres of Jagrata Muslim Janata, an Islamist outfit, Hasib, Shihab, Matin and Hafizur had earlier been arrested in Natore for masterminding bombing in Natore town on Aug 17. The Boalia police on Monday brought them from Natore for interrogation on a five day remand. As per Hasib’s confession, the police raided the house and recovered the materials that proved links of the Aug 17 serial bomb blast. Quoting Hasib, the police said 13 Mujahideen militants were deployed in Rajshahi to plant the bombs.
Hasib told the police that they had been living in the house for the past two and half years and executed the organising activity. Another house, Noor Bhaban, at Natore town was also reported to be the stronghold of the Jagrata Muslim Janata. He said Rajshahi regional commander Abdus Samad of Singra upazila of Natore bore all the monthly rents of both the houses (Rajshahi and Natore) and other organisational expenditure. Hasib said Abdus Samad sent him to Rajshahi on August 16. Earlier, on August 13, he went to Natore to attend a meeting relating to the bombing operation. Citing the confessional statement of the four militants, the police said planning of August 17 incident began in January and was kept secret. The field level militants were informed at the August 13 regional meeting.