Militants who plotted the August 17 and October 3 terror attacks, had planned to strike the key point installations in the capital including the parliament building, secretariat and airport. This was disclosed by the arrested zealots during interrogation, sources said. During interrogation yesterday Abu Taleb Ansari, Assistant Security Inspector of the parliament secretariat revealed the information, detective branch sources said. Ansari, who hails from Gaibandha district, has been serving the parliament secretariat for the last five years. He was arrested by the detective branch of police on Wednesday night from his Green Road staff quarter residence. Abu Taleb alias Babul Ansari, a security official of the Jatiya Sangsad, who was arrested on charge of his alleged link with the JMB, was placed on a seven-day remand for interrogation. It is learnt that the militants who were arrested from Jhenidah in connection with the August 17 synchronised blasts, disclosed the name of Ansari claiming that he was their ‘own man’ at parliament. Following their confessional statement police arrested Ansari, who during interrogation reportedly confessed to his link with the Jamaatul Mujahideen, the banned militant outfit which plotted the terror attacks, sources said.
Police also came to know from other arrested zealots that top militant leaders frequented Ansari’s residence and the plan to set off bombs in the capital was made at his house. Ansari’s arrest, however, stunned his colleagues at parliament and many could not believe it. "I read it in newspapers today (Friday). I knew him as a very simple man and I never imagined that he could be involved with any extremist groups," a member of parliament security staff told The Independent yesterday. He said that there were two types of security personnel in the parliament. The armed personnel are deployed here on deputation from the armed forces and there are civil security forces who are appointed by the parliament secretariat. Ansari belonged to the civil security staff, he added.