BANGLADESH

Sheikh Hasina attempted murder accused Azizul was in hiding for 21 years

 Police have arrested a fugitive convicted in a firing squad in a 2000 assassination attempt on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He was arrested by the Transnational Crime Division of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police. He was arrested in front of Khilkhet Bazar Mosque on Tuesday. The name of the arrested accused is Md. Azizul Haque Rana alias Shahnewaz alias Ruman (44).

According to the CTTC, the arrested Azizul Haque kept himself in hiding for 21 years in disguise. Thus, he was carrying out organizational activities in a very secret way. Azizul Haque also planned to leave the country several times. However, he failed and went into hiding under different names in different districts including Dhaka. To hide himself, he worked sometimes as a tailor, sometimes as a grocer, book seller, driver, and last but not least, printing and making stamp pads.

Jihadi books, two mobile phone sets, pen drives and computer hard disks were recovered from Azizul Haque during the arrest. A case under anti-terrorism law has been filed against him at Khilkhet police station.

This was stated by CTTC Chief Additional Commissioner Md. Asaduzzaman at a press conference held at DMP Media and Public Relations Center on Minto Road on Wednesday (March 2).

He said a 40-kg bomb was planted underground in Kotalipara, Gopalganj in 2000 to assassinate Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her entourage.

Activists of the banned militant group Harkatul Jihad also planted a 76kg bomb next to the helipad. Arrested Azizul Haque Rana was in charge of planting the bomb along with Mufti Hannan. After the incident came to light and two bombs were recovered, Azizul Haque fled from Kotalipara and moved to Dhaka.

 

Preliminary interrogation revealed that the arrested Azizul Haque Rana was admitted to the Nurani department of Jamia Anwaria Madrasa in Sreepur, Gazipur in 1987. At that time he came in contact with Maulana Amirul Islam, a teacher of the madrasa and a follower of Mufti Hannan, an active member of Harkatul Jihad. Maulana Amirul Islam encouraged him to join Harkatul Jihad. Various senior members of Harkatul Jihad Bangladesh (HUJI) including Mufti Hannan, Abdur Rauf, Abdus Salam used to visit the madrasa. Huji members used to hold secret meetings in that madrasa.

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