Toronto university student linked to Dhaka cafe attack sent to jail

Dhaka, Aug 20 

A Toronto university student arrested on suspicion of having links with the Dhaka cafe attackers was sent to jail after completion of his 14-day remand, police said.

On Saturday, police finished a second round of interrogation of Tahmid Hasib for six days. Tahmid was produced in court where Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Delwar Hossain ordered him sent to jail.

Tahmid's lawyer applied for his bail which the court rejected.

Police did not ask for further remand.

Police have claimed that former North South University teacher Hasnat Reza Karim and Tahmid “instigated” the Gulshan café attackers.

Tahmid went to the restaurant with two female students of a private university.

The terror attackers killed 20 hostages -- nine Italian, seven Japanese, two Bangladeshis, one Indian and one Bangladesh-born US citizen -- and two police officers on July 1.

Hasnat Reza Karim was arrested along with Tahmid on August 3 night.

Both were taken for eight days interrogation on August 4.

In a related development, several law enforcement and intelligence agencies are on high alert in Sylhet to arrest most wanted militant leader Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, who allegedly masterminded the Gulshan and Sholakia terror attacks last month.

His village home at Borogram of Bianibazar in the district was visited by several agencies but they have learnt that Tamim, on who the police has declared a Taka 20 lakh bounty, has not visited the place recently. His parents live in Canada.

According to investigators, Tamim came to Bangladesh from Canada in 2013, taking special assignment to reorganise the disjointed militants. He then formed a wing of banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), according to Dhaka Tribune.

Tamim's grandfather Abdul Majid was a member of Peace Committee during the 1971 Liberation War. His father moved to Canada after the independence.

The village is within 300 metres of the Indian border.

Local Awami League leader Zakaria Ahmed demanded immediate arrest of Tamim. “We condemn his activities,” he said, adding that Tamim's uncle Nurul Emran is a joint secretary of the ward Awami League unit.

Tamim last visited the village in 1995. When his family came to Bangladesh again in 2001, they were staying in Sylhet city for three months but did not go to the village.