CTTC acknowledges threat of extremist attack

Staff Correspondent

The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police has officially acknowledged the issue of a warning from the police headquarters due to the fear of extremist attacks on important national institutions in the country. However, the organization did not directly comment on whether there is currently an active presence of militant or extremist organizations in the country.

CTTC Joint Police Commissioner Munshi Shahabuddin was questioned by reporters at a press conference held at the DMP Media Center on Saturday (April 25). He said, “We have received this information and the CTTC Cyber ​​Intelligence Team is working on the matter.” However, he did not give any specific information about which organization or group was involved in planning the attack.

Assuring the public about the panic, Munshi Shahabuddin said, “There is no reason to panic. We are working. God willing, we will be able to face it.” According to police sources, a warning message was sent to unit heads last Thursday based on information that members of a banned extremist organization may be planning to attack important installations in the country, including the National Parliament Building. The message instructed to strengthen security and increase surveillance.

Although the name of the organization was not mentioned in the message, it mentioned the arrest of a member named Istiak Ahmed Sami alias Abu Bakkar alias Abu Mohammad. It was also reported that information about the regular contact between the arrested Istiak and two dismissed army personnel was also found. When asked about the security plan in this regard, the CTTC Joint Commissioner said, “This is our security planning. It is not a matter of disclosing everything. We are working on the installations about which information has come.”

Asked whether those involved in the attack plan have been identified, he said, “We are working on the matter. It is not the time to comment now.” Asked about the dismissed army personnel, he said, “I do not have specific information on this right now. We have seen what you have seen.”

During the interim government, the then DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat ​​Ali had commented that there were no militants in the country. Citing that statement, Munshi Shahabuddin said, “We are working. If we find anyone, we will definitely take action.”