Intelligence agencies have spotted a previously unknown well-trained suicide squad within the fold of neo-JMB militant group that has stolen sleep of the law enforcers in the country, especially after three recent suicide attacks including one at a RAB outpost in the capital.
Named as "Feyadi squad", the members of the suicide squad are the third generation of Jama't-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), founded by a radical Islamist Shayek Abdur Rahman in April 1998. Since then JMB members have conducted a series of attacks on "enemies" such as police, officials, lawyers and others trying to establish Shariah law in Bangladesh replacing secular state policies. In August 2005 JMB activists had simultaneously exploded nearly 500 home-made bombs across the country, including capital Dhaka, that rattled the nerves of the then government and law enforcers who later hunted many militants and arrested JMB chief Shayek Abdur Rahman and his deputy Bangla Bhai and several operations commanders. Shayek and Bangla Bhai were executed after their convictions by speedy trial court in early 2007.
But defying speculations, JMB regrouped after going into hiding and keeping a temporary low profile, then hitting new targets including courts and killing judges, among other victims. Over the following decade the outlawed and intensely pursued JMB changed its name and operational tactics, recruited more activists, formed the neo-JMB and now added the suicide squad, police and intelligence sources said.
The suicide squad is operating across the country, including the capital Dhaka, an intelligence source told The Daily Observer on Wednesday,
They reportedly carried out three deadly suicide attacks in Askona, Chaittagong and a RAB barrack in the capital. One suspected suicide bomber was killed in an apparent second attack on another RAB barrack in the city, they said.
The specialized Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is trying to arrest the "Feyadi squad" members, police said.
CTTC sources say so far as they know the group has 10 to 12 active members - but others differ pointing to the scale of operations they have undertaken already forcing the authorities to issue anti-militancy alerts at the airports, prisons and other strategic locations in the country.
The outlawed JMB issued a statement three month ago claiming that Salauddin Ahmed alias Salehin as its Ameer, CTTC chief Monirul Islam said earlier. The outfit manages funds through robberies, he added.
The Islamist militants in Bangladesh have been routinely funded from various local and international sources, especially in the Middle-East, and their overseas mentors, intelligence sources said. But they had no ideas why the suicide squad had to rely on money they manage through robberies?
JMB's acting chief Abdullah Al-Tasnim Nahid is now out of prison on bail. Tasnim and his six accomplices were arrested on September 19, 2014.
Wishing anonymity, a senior police official said that they became alert after being informed about JMB's attempt to get Tasnim released on bail.
Asked about the strength of the mainstream JMB, Monirul Islam said the group still has a good number of activists in Jamalpur, Mymensingh, Tangail and North Bengal region -- the areas known to be JMB strongholds.
Since its emergence in 1998 JMB started underground activities that year to establish Taliban-like rule in Bangladesh through armed actions.
It, however, grabbed the limelight in April 2004 when it launched vigilante operations against the ultra-left outlaws, popularly known as Sarbaharas, in Rajshahi, Natore, Naogaon and Bogra districts.
On August 17, 2005, JMB struck terror across the country detonating 459 bombs in 63 out of the 64 districts almost simultaneously. Since the execution of first JMB chief Abdur Rahman along with five top militants in 2007, the outfit tried to regroup under the leadership of some top militants.
JMB operatives, who became inactive after Saidur Rahman took over as the chief following Abdur Rahman's execution, formed a new group.
Investigators say the "Neo JMB", which is inspired by IS (Islamic State) ideologies, was responsible for the Gulshan café siege and massacre on July 1 last year in which 20 hostages, including 17 foreigners, were killed.
Neo JMB leaders had selected 10 suicide attackers who were trained for the mission, it was reveled in intestigations. However, six of the attackers and two police officers were killed by security forces.
At the capita;'s Kalyanpur militant den, spiritual leaders and trainers motivated them so that they would be ready for the suicide attacks - for a reward they would have is a place in the heaven.
After terrors attacks in Gulshan and Sholakia in Kishoreganj districvt in July, CTTC officials intensified anti-militant drives. They truck militant deans in the city's Kalyanpur, Rupnagar and Azimpur areas, as well as in Narayanganj. Some of neo JMB's top leaders where killed in the drives which weakened the group's organizational structure. But it remained far from being made totally dysfunctional.
Security experts told The Daily Observer on Wednesday that the neo JMB raised special squad for their existence. Police have recently drawn up a list of nearly 5,000 suspected militants and a special drive is underway to arrest them. The police headquarters has sent the list of militants to all district police chiefs.
