Lt Col Mustafizur Rahman, a notorious individual with criminal past has direct connections with militancy outfits. Back in 2016, a retired military officer Major Jahid, who was killed during police operations following Dhaka’s Holey Artisan café had earlier suspiciously applied for retirement from service. But, due to his dubious behavior, then Brigade Commander of Sylhet Cantonment, Brigadier General Jafar rejected Zahid’s application. Knowing about Major Jahid’s issue, the SU Det of Sylhet Cantonment Lt Col Mustafizur Rahman (24 BMA) extended his help and forced Brigadier General Jafar to forward the retirement application of Major Jahid by exerting influence. Onwards he began pursuing the matter as a guardian of Jahid.
Following Zahid’s retirement, Lt Col Mustafizur Rahman maintained regular contacts with him. When Major (Retired) Zahid started firing at police during the operations at Holey Artisan, Mustafizur Rahman became restless as he was worried that his militancy connections would be exposed. Sensing consequences, Lt Col Mustafizur Rahman hurriedly returned to army from Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and had abruptly applied for retirement and later fled to the United States. It is assumed that, Lt Col Mustafizur Rahman had helped Major Jahid in getting retired from army and join militancy group. Should Mustafiz did not do this, there might not be any militancy attack at Holey Artisan.
In July 2016, Lt Col Mustafiz Joypurhat, when he was the commander of BGB, beat the Awami leaders in Pach Bibi Upazila. When the mayor of Pach Bibi municipality lodged a written complaint against Mustafiz with BGB, an investigation was started against him. But by the time this investigation was completed, Mustafiz had already fled Bangladesh.
It is learnt from a credible source, sitting in the United States, Lt Col Mustafizur Rahman is still maintaining connections with several key figures of Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) as well as Ansar Al Islam.
The source said, one of Lt Col Mustafizur Rahman’s contacts in AQIS is Tamim Al-Adnani, who is seen as more effective in leadership position for the militancy group in the South Asian region.
Tamim Al-Adnani has been prominent in to inciting and exhorting the Muslim “Ummah” in general and Bengali Muslim youths in particular to accept their “responsibilities” for defending Islam and its Prophet by waging armed jihad under the banner of AQIS.
According to our information, Lt Col Mustafizur Rahman is currently living in 121-09 85th Avenue Kew Gardens in Queens area in New York City with his wife Nasrin Ahad Chowdhury, son Md Hamza Bin Mustafiz and Khalid Bin Mustafiz. The property where Lt Col Mustafizur Rahman and his family members has four residential units. The property was built in 1920. This 121-09 85th Avenue, Kew Gardens, NY 11415 property was last sold in July 21, 2015.
Major Jahid, the mastermind behind Holey Artisan attack
Following the gruesome militancy attack at Dhaka’s Holey Artisan café, police first identified him as ‘Murad’ alias ‘Omar’ aka ‘Jahangir’, but it has emerged that he is Mohammad Jahidul Islam, son of a former police inspector.
DMP Deputy Commissioner Masudur Rahman said the law enforcers became certain about his identity after matching his fingerprint on the National ID card.
Police said the former army officer was the second-in-command of ‘top Neo-JMB leader’ Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury and the military commander of the group.
Officials related to the investigation also suspect that Jahidul had trained the militants who carried out the terror attacks in Gulshan and Sholakia.
Jahidul’s brother Jahirul Islam, a salesman at an electronics shop in Dhaka, that his brother was a Major.
He went to Canada in 2014 and left the job after returning home, Jahirul said.
“He had said he was not enjoying the job,” he added.
Jahirul also claimed the family had no contact with Jahidul for the past four months.
Tamim, an expatriate in Canada, allegedly masterminded the deadly Gulshan cafe siege. He was killed in a raid on a house at Paikparha in Narayanganj on August 17.
Police said he had been reorganizing Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).
JMB is known for its ideological inclination to ISIS.
Born in Canada, Tamim hails from Sylhet’s Biyanibazar. His grandfather late Abdul Mazid Chowdhury was a member of the Peace Committee, formed to help the Pakistani occupation during the Liberation War.
Jahidul’s father Nurul Islam also hails from Sylhet, according to Comilla Superintendent of Police Shah Abid Hossain.
Asked about Jahidul, the military’s press wing told reporters, no-one with the rank of a Major going by the name Murad or Jahangir has left the service.
“But a major named Jahidul Islam retired in July last year [2015]”, Inter Service Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) Director Lt Col Mohammad Rashidul Hasan said.
He also said the army was not sure about Jahidul’s links with militancy and was investigating the matter.
Jahidul was commissioned in 2000 after completing the 43rd BMA Long Course, according to media reports.
An official, investigating militants told reporters Jahidul had trained militants in Gaibandha’s Gobindaganj. He attacked police during the raid with a pistol and a knife, injuring three.
