Gulshan attack coordinator shot dead, claims B'desh Police

Two militants of the New JMB (Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen) group including the Gulshan terror attack operational commander Marjan have been killed in an alleged gunfight with the police's counter-terrorism unit in Dhaka's Mohammadpur area.

Police claim that Marjan coordinated the July 1 attack on Gulshan's Holey Artisan Bakery that killed 23 people, including 17 foreigners, reports the Dhaka Tribune.

Formerly, Nurul Islam alias Marjan alias Shakil, 22, is believed to be the youngest operations commander of the notorious militant outfit, linked to Islamic State.

The other person killed in the early Friday shootout with the Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit is Saddam Hossain alias Rahul, who is accused in at least 10 murder cases including the one filed over the murder of Japanese citizen Hoshi Kunio in Rangpur.

CTTC Deputy Commissioner Monirul Islam confirmed their identities Friday morning.

"Acting on a tip-off that Marjan was staying in Mohammadpur Beribadh area, we conducted a drive in front of Rayerbazar martyred intellectuals killing ground [Bodhobhumi] around 3am. Sensing our presence, the militants opened fire at us. In retaliation, we fired back that left the duo injured," said Islam.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal later told reporters that the duo and another had been passing the area on a motorcycle when the police asked them to stop at a check post.

DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner Yusuf Ali said that they had recovered a motorcycle, a pistol, a knife and some explosives from the spot.

Marjan was among some 14 New JMB leaders the law enforcers have been looking for since the Holey Artisan Bakery attack of July 1. Police released his photo on August 12 last year.

Marjan, formerly an Islami Chhatra Shibir leader in Chittagong University, became operational head of the outfit after the deaths of Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, Maj (retd) Murad alias Zahid and another top leader Faridul Islam alias Akash in raids. He was expert in Arabic language and operating heavy arms.