Banned militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team has taken up a new name, Ansar al-Islam, an alleged al Qaeda affiliate that recently claimed responsibility for the murder of online activist Nazimuddin Samad.
The law enforcement agencies came up with the finding after analysing the bombs, explosives, and their documents, recovered from three dens of the militant group in Dhaka.
Several officers of the law enforcement agencies who keep a watch on the Ansarullah Bangla Team told Prothom Alo that the militant group had been following the principles and strategies of al Qaeda from its inception.
Initially, leaders and workers of this organisation were followers of Mufti Jasimuddin Rahmani who was arrested in 2013 with 40 of his accomplices in Bogra.
Its present leader is Ejaz Hossain alias Sajjad alias Kargil. He was previously involved with another banned outfit Jamayatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).
According to intelligence officials he is presently in Pakistan and providing Ansarullah members internet-based support online. He is also connected with the Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).
Some officials predict that Ansarullah Bangla Team might have grown a link with the AQIS through Ejaz.
Pakistan-based daily Dawn reported Ejaz was killed with three other AQIS members on 9 January, 2015 in a drive of law enforcement agencies in Karachi.
Later, Bangladeshi detectives who work on anti-terrorism wings also confirmed the death of Ejaz.
After Ejaz’s death, the Ansarullah Bangla Team started reorganising under the leadership of a spiritual leader. He is a madrasa teacher in Old Dhaka’s Faridabad area. And, Major Syed M Ziaul Haque, who is the main suspect of a recent coup attempt in the army and now absconding, is the chief of the military wing of the organisation.
Intelligence officials also said the banned outfit took up the new name, Ansar al-Islam, after getting new leadership.
Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police and the chief of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of DMP Monirul Islam told Prothom Alo that they are aware of the fact that Ansarullah Bangla Team is getting reorganised taking up a new name.
“This is old wine in new bottle,” he said.
Ansar al-Islam as wing of AQIS on Wednesday claimed responsibility for the murder of online activist Nazimuddin Samad, according to SITE Intelligence Group.
Ansarullah or Ansar al-Islam is the main suspect for Nazim murder, said Monirul Islam.
Talking about Nazim murder, home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told newsmen Saturday in Chittagong, “I do not want make comment on this before investigation.”