AL leader held Bomb-making materials seized

Police have arrested a Jubo League leader in connection with a crude bomb blast in front of Jatrabari Police Station and recovered 9,000 paper masks and materials allegedly used to make crude bombs from his rented residence.

Jahid Hasan Emon, 30, general secretary of the banned Bangladesh Awami Jubo League’s Lalbagh Ward 26 unit, was arrested in the Bagashur area under South Keraniganj Police Station on Friday.

DMP Joint Commissioner (Crime Prevention-South) Md Tofayel Ahmed Mia disclosed the details at a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Minto Road in Dhaka on Friday afternoon.

Police said a joint investigation involving Jatrabari, Shyampur and other relevant police stations was launched after several crude bombs exploded outside Jatrabari Police Station on September 18.

Investigators later found information and evidence allegedly linking Emon to the incident. Shyampur Model Police Station subsequently arrested him with assistance from South Keraniganj police.
Chemicals, nails recovered

Based on information allegedly obtained from Emon, police raided his rented residence and recovered 1.5kg of caustic soda, 1.6kg of sulphur, 5kg of marbles, 2kg of one-inch nails, 20 rolls of red tape and 11 rolls of black tape.

Police also seized three cartons containing 9,000 paper masks, 30 packets of elastic used to wear the masks, and a Jaipan blender and jar, which investigators said were used to grind materials for making crude bombs.

According to Tofayel, the masks resemble human faces and police suspect they were intended to conceal identities during rallies or other criminal activities.

Police said Emon told investigators that an unidentified van driver delivered the masks to him on the instructions of a Lalbagh leader and that they were being stored for distribution among activists.

He also allegedly told investigators that the explosive materials were intended to make crude bombs at different locations. Another person was allegedly supposed to visit his residence to grind the materials and prepare the bombs.

According to police, Emon said he became involved at the direction of a leader.
Asked whether Emon was connected to other recent crude bomb explosions in Dhaka, Tofayel said he was.

The police official said Emon did not make the masks himself and claimed that, according to his statement, the materials had been sent to him on the instructions of a senior leader of the banned political party.

Asked whether Emon was paid for his alleged activities, Tofayel said there could have been a financial arrangement, although Emon might also have acted voluntarily. He said the matter was under investigation.

Police had earlier arrested four people, including an Awami League leader, in the Jatrabari blast case. A court later placed them on remand.

Dhaka has witnessed a series of crude bomb explosions in recent days, including the blasts near Jatrabari Police Station.

Asked whether police feared larger-scale sabotage ahead of a possible return of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in December, Tofayel said law enforcement agencies remained alert.

He said some members of the banned political party had been involved in small rallies and crude bomb attacks, but it was too early to determine whether such incidents would escalate.

“We are trying every day to keep the situation under control, and the police are alert,” he said.
The investigation into Emon’s alleged role and the wider network behind the recent attacks is continuing.