More information has emerged about Momena Soma, who tried to kill a person in Australia and, her younger sister, Sumona, arrested in Dhaka by the counter terrorism unit.
Their laptops have provided vital links to others, who are also being questioned. One such person is under strict monitoring of the Australian police.
It’s found that nine days after going to Australia on 9 February last, Momena Soma used a knife to attack a person with the intent to kill.
When a counter terrorism unit official in Dhaka went to Soma’s house in Dhaka, her younger sister, Asmaul Hosna Sumona, attacked with a knife.
After arrest, Momena Soma was sent to prison, where she admitted her guilt. A verdict may be passed against her next January.
Deputy-commissioner of Counter Terrorism and Trans National Crime Unit, CTTC, Mohibul Islam Khan, says: “we are investigating the case against the younger sister and assisting the Australian police.”
The laptop used by both sisters is under forensic examination. One connection identified by the police is Farah Islam, who got admitted to North South University in 2011 and, after graduating from the department of Marketing, married an Australian Bangladeshi, leaving the country.
It’s found that while in Dhaka, Farah used to take part in religious discussions held at a house in the capital’s Bashundhara Residential Area.

Farah has maintained regular links with Soma in Australia. However, Farah refused to talk to the Australian police. Some books belonging to Hizbut Tahrir were discovered from Farah’s home but since Hizbut Tahrir is not outlawed in Australia, the woman is kept under surveillance.
Forensic probe has also revealed the name of another woman, said to be the wife of Soma’s cousin. She is now a resident in the USA. Another name, Farhana Alam, has surfaced, who used to be a teacher of Lakehead school in Dhaka.
Relevant to mention, several Lake-head teachers were arrested for having links with radicalism.
Momena Soma’s laptop reveals that while at NSU, she took part in a discussion on Jihad and Islam in 2012, and, reportedly, became drawn to militancy.
Soma was also known to Gazi Sohan, who went to Syria to fight. Sohan came back from Syria in May 2015 and was arrested by RAB, says CTTC sources.
At one point, Soma was desperate to go to Syria and join IS; she even managed a scholarship from a university in Turkey.
She also tried to go to Tunisian universities as a cover to join the IS, confessed Soma’s sister during interrogation.
Meanwhile, both the sisters have been disowned by their family. That’s why no lawyer was appointed for them or any bail applications made.
Dr. Abdul Aziz, dean of the science faculty of Dhaka University and the uncle of the girls, said: “we disowned them; therefore, don’t want to make any comment.”
Their ideal is incongruous with our values, he contended.