Banned militant organization Ansar Al Islam have purportedly sent a letter to Bangla Academy Director General Md Nurul Huda threatening to bomb the Amar Ekushey book fair 2023. In this regard Bangla Academy DG Nurul Huda filed a general diary filed in Shahbag police station on behalf of Bangla Academy. Read more: Anti-Terrorism Unit arrest death-row convict in Madaripur The letter was sent to the office of Bangla Academy by post around 11:30 am on Thursday. Later Bangla Academy Security Officer Md. GD Jahangir Alam took it to the police station. When asked about the matter, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Shahbag Police Station Noor Mohammad said, "The banned militant organization Ansar Al Islam has written to the Director General of Bangla Academy saying that anti-social activities are going on in two hotels of the capital. If those activities are not stopped, they said they will bomb Amar Ekushey Book Fair." "Bangla Academy authorities have made a GD in this incident. We have started a preliminary investigation," he added. Read more: Tracing the Roots of Ekushey Boi Mela Director General of Bangla Academy Nurul Huda said he learned of the incident, but he was outside the office at the time. "We have filed a GD at Shahbag police station," he added. KM Mujahidul Islam, Member-Secretary of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair Management Committee, said,"The letter was sent by post at around 11:30 am. We have forwarded the letter to the police station They will look into it."  

The two militants – convicted to death in publisher Dipan murder case – were snatched from police custody on a Dhaka court premises at the instruction of top Ansar al-Islam leaders. Additional Commissioner Md Asaduzzaman, chief of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan police (DMP), said this at a press briefing at the DMP media centre on Thursday noon. On Wednesday, CTTC arrested Mehdi Hasan Omi alias Rafi (24), a member of the military wing of Ansar al-Islam, who law enforcers said was involved in the escape of the two convicted militants. Rafi is an accused in the case which was filed with Kotwali Police Station in connection with the incident. Read more: Escape of militants from court premises: CTTC arrests 1 Rafi used to recruit members in the ‘Askari’ wing of the banned militant group, in coordination with sacked army major Syed Ziaul Haque alias Major Zia, said the CTTC chief. Rafi led his team in helping the two convicted militants escape from the Dhaka court premises, he said, adding that three cases under the Anti-Terrorism Act were filed with Dhaka's Mohammadpur, Sutrapur and Badda Police Stations against Rafi for his involvement in anti-state and anti-government activities in 2016. Rafi used to communicate with the other accused during regular appearances at the court during trials of terrorism cases and informed them of the group’s plans, said the CTTC officer. On November 20, Rafi led his group in whisking away the two militants, who were sentenced to death in publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan murder case, from the CMM court premises in Dhaka after using pepper spray on the faces of the policemen, he added. The escapees are Ansar al-Islam members Md Abu Siddique Sohel alias Sakib alias Sajid alias Shahab and Moinul Hasan Shamim alias Samir alias Sifat alias Imran. Read more: Mastermind behind militant escape from custody identified: CTTC Chief Police filed a case against 20 people in connection with the escape of the two death row convict militants from the Dhaka court. A five-member probe body was also formed by the Bangladesh Police on the same day and it was asked to submit its report within three working days.  

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) on Tuesday claimed to have arrested a militant leader from Narail district on Monday. The arrestee has been identified as Md Russel Sheikh Salman, son of Md Robiul Islam Robi of Taltola in Narail. He is the divisional leader of the banned militant outfit Ansar al-Islam, according to Rab. Acting on a tip-off, a special team of Rab-6 conducted a drive in the Taltola area of Sadar upazila around 4pm on Monday and arrested Russel. Also read: Ansar Al Islam member held in city During preliminary interrogation, he admitted to his involvement in the activities of Ansar al-Islam, said Kabirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station. A case has been filed against the arrestee, he added. Also read: Khulna police make 6 arrests after indigenous woman gangraped at home