Bangladesh police says dead militant Abdur Rahman was New JMB chief

Bangladesh police on Friday said they have identified dead militant Abdur Rahman as chief of the banned New Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), the outfit responsible for the July 1 Dhaka cafe terror attack.

The anti-crime and anti-terrorism unit Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General Benazir Ahmed said at a press briefing that Rahman, who allegedly jumped to his death from a five-story building during an October 8 raid in Ashulia, on the outskirts of Dhaka, was the ameer of the New JMB terror group, and went by the name Abu Ibrahim al-Hanif.

The RAB said his real name was Sarowar Jahan, son of Abdul Mannan and Saleha Khatun, who are residents of Thumribhuja in Bholahat upazila of Chapainawabganj.

RAB said Abdur Rahman was found involved in activities of the banned JMB from 1998.

The RAB earlier claimed they recovered a passport and a driving licence from his flat on October 8. His name was mentioned as Abdur Rahman in the document.

Rahman died in RAB custody at Savar's Enam Medical College Hospital hours after he sustained injuries after falling from a building during an RAB raid in Ashulia, Savar, on October 8 evening, Prothom Alo reported.

Meanwhile, the RAB said they found evidence pointing to the involvement of New JMB in the killing of Italian citizen Cesare Tavella in Gulshan last year, the Dhaka Tribune reported.

Benazir said documents recovered at Rahman's den in Ashulia suggest that the group may have been involved in the murder, however, they are still investigating the matter.

Cesare Tavella, an aid worker and veterinary surgeon, was shot dead at Gulshan in September last year. He had been living alone in Dhaka and worked on food security issues for a Dutch aid organisation.

--IANS

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