A new wing of banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) is forming under the banner of ‘Radical Youth Group,’ said Rapid Action Battalion spokesperson Mufti Mahmud Khan.
According to the elite law enforcers’ unit, the group recruits highly educated and talented professionals.
Earlier on Monday, RAB 1 and 2 arrested eight people from the capital’s Mohammadpur, Bhatara and Kalabagan area, saying that they belong to this newly formed militant group.
The arrestees are Md Arafat Azam, 30, Rashed Alam Badhan, 28, Mir Afzal Ali, 37, Mahadi Hasan, 23, Radiuzzaman Howlader Anik, 27, Jalal Uddin Shovon, 28, Zarir Taisir, 26 and Asifur Rahman, 28.
“Although the JMB radical youth group was formed in Mohammadpur, their network has spread in many areas including Kalabagan and Bhatara,” said Khan.
“Almost 30-50 people from this group have been arrested; they are all either service holders or university students,” he added.
According to Khan, this group has been mentored by Basharuzzaman Chocolate (a prime suspect in the Holey Artisan and Solakhia attack).
“There are lots of people in this group who have had direct contact with Basharuzzaman, especially Mahadi, Shovon and Badhan.”
Khan added that RAB is continuing the raids in order to arrest the rest of the members of this group.