(RAB) expressed its interest to interrogate the five alleged New JMB Lions of Islam who were reportedly tossed in the clinkKeep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please!
by the elite crime busting unit on Wednesday night from different parts of the capital.
A 40-year-old Islamic spiritual leader and a 27-year-old explosives expert were among the group detained in a series of raids in the capital late Wednesday and early Thursday.
Abul Kalam Azad, director of intelligence wing of RAB on Friday told the Dhaka Tribune that they would seek permission from the Home Ministry to investigate the case, confirming the common knowledge that the RAB and police are evidently not on the best of terms.
Azad said: "Usually, after a case is field, the police take charge of the investigation. But as we are working on controlling militancy since the agency’s inception, we want to investigate the whole issue."
Earlier on Wednesday night, a team of the elite force detained Maulana Abdul Hakim Faridi alias Sufian, 40, Rajibul Islam alias Ahmed, 29, Gazi Kamrus Salam Sohan alias Abu Abdullah, 27, Md Sohel Rana alias Khadem alias Moazzin alias Shahidullah, 23, and Sheikh Md Abu Saleh alias Liton alias Huraira, 42, from Airport Railway Station and Adabar areas in the capital.
"They belonged to Sarwar-Tamim group of the Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB)," RAB said in a statement, referring to the myrmidon group the government has blamed for the July attack.
"As the arrestees played a very important role for New JMB, we need to know about their other activities and accomplices," Azad added.
It is mentionable that there have been a few instances in the recent past that indicate a rift within these two forces, and expression of RAB’s interest to interfere into police responsibility clearly shows that the rift is widening.