The government has issued a red alert all along the country’s border areas to prevent three convicted Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) militants, who were forcibly freed from police custody by assailants in Mymensingh yesterday, from crossing the border with their associates.
A four-member committee was formed to investigate the incident.
The militants, including two death row convicts, were broken out after assailants attacked a prison van in Trisal upazila, Mymensingh, earlier yesterday.
Sources said the three militants – Salauddin Salehin, Jahidul Islam (Boma Mizan) and Rakibul – were being brought to Mymensingh under police escort from Kashimpur jail to be produced before court. When they reached Trishal, unidentified terrorists attacked the police van and made off with the prisoners. A policeman died in the attack.
State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have issued a red alert so that they cannot flee to neighbouring countries and have also sought the assistance of the Indian Border Security Force in this regard.”
The state minister also held a meeting with Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Director General Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed, Inspector General of Prison Brig Gen Syed Iftekhar Uddin, Director General Immigration and Passport Abdul Mabud at the secretariat in this regard.
He said BGB, Rapid Action Battalion, Police and intelligence agencies were kept on high alert to recapture the militants.
In reply to a question about why just three police officers were escorting such high profile militants, the state minister said: “We will take action if we find laxity on the part of the jail authorities.
“We are making it a priority to arrest the culprits,” Asaduzzaman Khan said, adding that orders had been issued to ramp up security measures in all jails across the country.
“We will be able to arrest the militants within a short time,” he mentioned, with hope.
Following the incident, the home ministry formed a four-member committee headed by Additional Secretary (police) Nazimuddin Chowdhury and including Dhaka Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) SM Mahfuzul Haque Nuruzzaman, Tipu Sultan of DIG Prison Headquarters and Deputy Secretary Khairul Kobir Menon.
The committee has been asked to submit the investigation report in three working days. Joint Secretary Mohammad Iftekharul Islam Khan confirmed this to the Dhaka Tribune.
The committee would assess whether risk factors and adequate security measures were taken into consideration in transporting the prisoners. It will also try to discover the reason behind the incident and find persons responsible.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
