4 Pak-trained IS militants held in Bangladesh

Dhaka, January 19

Four alleged Islamic State militants, including its regional coordinator who frequently travelled to India, Pakistan and other countries, have been arrested here for plotting to attack key installations and turn Bangladesh into a Caliphate State, police said today.

The four, trained in Pakistan, were arrested during overnight raids in the Jatrabari and Khilkhet areas of the capital, Dhaka. “Yes, the IS coordinator and the three others have been arrested,” a police spokesman said.

The IS coordinator has been identified as Shakhawatul Kabir who is also the regional commander of the militant group in Bangladesh. The other three men arrested are Md Anwar Hossain, Md Rabiul Islam and Md Nazrul Alam.

The police said the arrested militants have confessed that they are members of Islamic State and had plans to create an anarchic situation attacking Bangladesh’s key installations as part of their mission to turn the country into a Caliphate State with IS financial and weaponry support.

“The aim of the attacks was to establish a caliphate state in Bangladesh,” DMP’s deputy commissioner Sheikh Nazmul Alam told reporters. — PTI