Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Shafiqul Islam has said, the Taliban are trying to recruit activists from Bangladesh through online platform.
“A trend has been prevailing in the country in recent days, people are being invited to join Afghanistan war for Taliban. Some people have already instigated by the Taliban. We think, some are nabbed in India, while some are trying to walk to Afghanistan,” Shafiqul Islam said.
The police commissioner said this while replying to queries of newsmen at Dhanmondi 32 in the capital on Saturday after he inspected the area on the occasion of August 15 that marks the heinous assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Shafiqul Islam said, “We held a member of a militant outfit. He is a bomb expert. He used to train people in online to make explosives. A strong bomb has been found in Narayanganj and it was made under his direct supervision. A handful number of militants were caught this month. That means, they are not restrained. We are trying our best, so that Bangladesh might avoid such events.”
As Bangladesh prepares to mourn the killing of its founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Shafiqul warned that Aug 15 is seen as an important date by militants to draw attention to their cause.
"They
may try and attract international attention by detonating a bomb on Aug 15, even if it's 2 km away from the venue. We are working with the utmost dedication and diligence to prevent any unsavoury incident from happening,” Shafiqul Islam went saying.As part of the security measures for National Mourning Day, each person who comes to pay homage to Bangabandhu in Dhanmondi 32 will be screened with a hand-held metal detector before entering the area through an archway.
Police will activate checkpoints in the area and conduct block raids while a dog squad and a bomb disposal unit will also be on hand.
Dhanmondi Road No. 32 as well as the Banani Cemetery and its surroundings will be under CCTV surveillance, said Shafiqul.