Two accomplices of Dhaka cafe masterminds arrested

Bangladesh's anti-crime elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have arrested two accomplices of the two masterminds of the July 1 attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka's diplomatic quarter.

They are also members of Neo-JMB (an offshoot of the banned militant outfit Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh) blamed for the deadly attack on the Spanish cafe.

RAB spokesperson Mufti Mahmud Khan confirmed the arrest of the militants on Tuesday.

He said the militants, Atikur Rahman Milon and Khademul Islam Khadem, were arrested Tuesday in capital Dhaka with five religiously inciting books, leaflets and four sharp weapons.

"So far we know they belonged to Sarwar-Tamim faction of the Islamist outfit."

Tamim Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi-Canadian and Sarwar Jahan, identified as Neo JMB chief who was killed during a raid on Oct. 8, have been blamed as the masterminds of the brutal attack on the Spanish cafe that left 20 hostages including 18 foreigners dead on July 1.

Chowdhury was also killed in a police raid on Aug. 27 morning.

JMB carried out a series of bombings in 63 out of the country's 64 districts, including capital Dhaka on Aug. 17, 2005, leaving two people dead and 150 others injured.

Hundreds of JMB leaders and activists were rounded up while six top leaders of the group, including Shaikh Abdur Rahman, were hanged in 2007. Endit