Police claim the suspects were planning activities to jeopardize the integrity, solidarity, public safety, and sovereignty of Bangladesh.
During the operation, authorities recovered two firearms, ammunition, extremist literature, drones, and explosives from their possession.
The Suspects
The arrested individuals have been identified as:
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Md. Imran Chowdhury (29)
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Md. Mostakim Chowdhury (25)
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Ripon Hossain Sheikh (28)
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Abu Bakkar (25)
Among them, Imran and Mostakim are brothers hailing from Madhabpur, Habiganj. Ripon is from Naogaon, and Abu Bakkar is a resident of Kamrangirchar, Dhaka.
Details of the Operation
A team from the DB Ramna Division conducted raids across various parts of the capital from Monday night until Tuesday afternoon. Following the arrests, a case was filed against them under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Kamrangirchar Police Station on Wednesday.
According to DB sources, the suspects are believed to have ties with the Myanmar-based armed group Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA). It is suspected that they were coordinating in the capital to carry out sabotage and targeted “hit-and-run” attacks. Military-grade uniforms, suspected to belong to ARSA, were also found in their possession.
Seized Equipment and Weapons
The police recovered a significant cache of equipment, including:
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Firearms: One foreign pistol and one “one-shooter” gun.
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Ammunition: 14 rounds of live bullets and three empty shells.
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Technology: Two drones, a laptop, multiple smartphones, and a metal detector.
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Explosives: 900 grams of gunpowder and five bottles of acid.
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Others: Extremist books and military uniforms.
Investigation into International Links
While initial suspicions point toward ARSA, investigators are also probing potential links to the Pakistan-based militant group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
In a press briefing on Wednesday afternoon, Additional Commissioner (DB) Shafiqul Islam confirmed the arrests, stating, “These individuals were involved with various terrorist organizations to carry out subversive activities.
They have been sent to court, and we will seek remand to uncover the full extent of their plans.”
When asked about a possible rise in extremist activity, the DB chief assured that law enforcement remains vigilant. “I won’t say they are rising; I will say that anyone involved in such activities will face strict action, just as they have in the past,” he added.