Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) today pressed charges against three militant suspects in a case filed over the sensational five-day anti-militant drive at Atia Mahal in Sylhet in 2017.

The drive, “Operation Twilight”, conducted at the house in Shibbari area from March 24 to March 28, 2017.  Four militant suspects, seven other people including a high official of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) were killed during the drive.

Dewan Abul Hossain, inspector of PBI in Sylhet and the investigation officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet to the Sylhet Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court.

The accused are Jahurul Haque, 25, his wife Arjina Begum, 19, and Mohammad Hasan, 26.

The trio was arrested in connection with several other militancy cases and later shown arrest to this case on January 17 this year, the investigation officer said adding that they were remanded after showing arrest.

He said, “Eight militants were listed in the charge sheet. Among them, four died during anti-militant drive at Atia Mahal and another one died during anti-militant drive at Nasirpur area in Moulvibazar. Therefore, these five are asked to acquit from the case.”

The investigating officer said, “Lokman Hossain alias Mosaraf Hossain alias Sohel, 38, who died along with his family members in a suicide blast during another anti-militant drive in Nasirpur area of Moulvibazar on March 29, 2017, was the leader of the militant group of Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB)”.

“Among the four other dead militants at Atia Mahal, only two have been identified. They are Monjiara Begum Alias Morjina Begum of Bandarban and Tamim Ahmed Foraji of Mymensingh,” he said.

In the evening of March 25, 2017, while the drive was ongoing, two grenades were blasted around 400 metres away from Atia Mahal, which claimed seven lives including Rab intelligence chief Lt Col Abul Kalam Azad and two police officers.

Police filed two separate cases, one regarding the militant hideout and another for the twin grenade blast, with Moglabazar Police Station accusing unnamed people after the operation.

Following an order of Police Headquarters on May 9 that year, PBI took over the cases from Moglabazar Police Station and started investigation from May 13.

PBI, on July 22 this year, submitted a final investigation report on twin-grenades blast where they said that two attackers and the key planner died during anti-militant drives in Barahat and Nasirpur area in Moulvibazar.