'New joint probe team formed to unearth roots of terror attacks'

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that a “special team” comprising members from all the security agencies has been formed to probe the root of the current terror menace in Bangladesh.

She said this on Tuesday while addressing a censure motion in Parliament condemning the recent terror attacks across the world, including the ones in Dhaka’s Gulshan and Kishoreganj’s Sholakia.

The motion was later adopted unanimously.

Speaking about the two recent attacks earlier this month, Hasina said, “We have not taken the attacks lightly. I have appointed a special investigating team. Almost all (security) forces are a part of the team.”

She also said that a nationwide ‘combing operation’ is currently on to uncover those spawning terror.

“We have gathered several leads. But they cannot be disclosed for the sake of the investigation,” she said.

Vowing to root out terror from the country, she said, “We have to wipe them clean. We need to ascertain the source of their funding, who is behind them, who is counselling them…”

“It is not like we catch a couple of suspects. We have to get to the root,” she said emphasising her government’s resolve to wipe out terror outfits.

Disclosing that a nationwide combing operation was on, she said, “Following the trails gathered after the Gulshan and Sholakia attacks, a massive combing operation is on across various parts of the country including remote char areas.”

“We will have these terrorists arrested at any cost and prosecute them,” she added.

She urged the MPs to go back to their constituencies and help build public opinion against terrorism.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said that on the night of the Holey Artisan Café attack in Gulshan, the PM was up all night directing the operation.

He said, “What happened in Gulshan was a new experience for us. We had never witnessed mass killing of that scale in the country before.”
Recounting the events from the night of the attack he said, “The entire city was up and ready. Security forces rushed to the spot within three minutes. SI Faruk was the first to take bullets. But despite being bullet-riddled he did not abandon his position. He then requested for the metropolitan police.”

On his call, Gulshan police OC Salauddin and Detective Branch Assistant Commissioner Rabiul Islam and others rushed to the spot, he said.

“Commissioners also rushed to the spot. When the terrorists saw they would not be able to escape after the killing spree, they lobbed grenades at them. It is at this juncture that OC Salauddin and AC Rabiul became martyrs.”

One Ansar member, 37 police personnel and a former soldier of the army were injured at this point.

“Despite all this, our brave police personnel did not yield ground. Our RAB, DMP, Fire Service kept the terrorists surrounded. Soon after, at the behest of the PM, a group of Navy and army commandos reached the spot.”

He said all terrorists were connected. “They have the same leader”, and added that the same terrorists surface under various names from time to time.

“All of them subscribe to the same ideology and carry different names,” Kamal said.

Source: bdnews24