Bangladesh on 'bomb chief's trail'

[Lite Beer]

ERAWAN SHRINE BLAST
Bangladesh on 'bomb chief's trail'
THE NATION

Bangladeshi Ambassador Saida Muna Tasneem, right, meets with assistant national police chief General Prawut Thavornsiri, left, at the Royal Thai Police headquarters yesterday. They discussed the suspected mastermind of the Erawan Shrine bombing

BANGKOK: -- Suspected mastermind flew to Dhaka one day before blast

BANGLADESH says that it will work closely with Thailand to get information about the alleged mastermind of the Erawan Shrine bombing after it was discovered he left Bangkok for Dhaka a day before the attack and stayed there briefly.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Thailand Saida Muna Tasneem said yesterday that Bangladeshi law enforcement agencies were investigating the activities of the alleged mastermind during his stay there and would share details with Thailand, other concerned countries and Interpol.

The ambassador, who met with police spokesman Pol General Prawut Thavornsiri yesterday to discuss the case, said it was the first time that the suspect had been to Bangladesh.

The case's chief investigator Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda has alleged that Abudustar Abdulrahman, or Izan, was the mastermind of the deadly bomb attack on August 16.

Without mentioning the suspect's name, Tasneem told The Nation that the suspect applied for an entry visa to Dhaka from her embassy and obtained a single tourist visa.

"In applying for the visa, the alleged bomb plotter submitted the required documents which were found [to be] legal. The documents included a non-immigrant multiple visa to Thailand and a work permit," she said.

She said that it was unfortunate the suspect had left the country - on August 30 - when Bangladeshi authorities learnt from Thailand that he had travelled there.

However, she said her embassy had initiated a high-security alert after learning about the suspect's visa application in order to prevent any further attempts to enter the country by similar individuals.

Bangladesh's The Daily Star online reported on Thursday night that the man in question flew to Dhaka on a Chinese passport on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Bangkok on August 16.

It quoted Assistant Inspector General for Media Nazrul Islam as saying that he landed at the airport in Dhaka at about 3.30pm.

"We have also found that the man left Dhaka for Beijing on August 30 in a Jet Airways flight at 10am," he said.

However, Prawut said intelligence reports show that the suspect did not go to Beijing, and investigators were checking to see if he went to India. Asked about Izan's whereabouts during his stay in Bangladesh, Nazrul Islam said: "This is part of our ongoing intelligence activity and I have a limitation in disclosing the information right now."

The Bangladesh ambassador said she was in close contact with the Thai Foreign Ministry, law enforcement agencies in Thailand and the Thai media, while concerned agencies in both countries were also exchanging information.

She said Bangladesh would continue to uphold its "zero tolerance" policy against all acts of terrorism and extremism, and stood ready to enforce stringent counter-terrorism and extremism measures.

It would also enforce its counter-terrorism laws with an extra-territorial third country jurisdiction and when necessary bring perpetrators to justice.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Bangladesh-on-bomb-chiefs-trail-30268633.html

-- The Nation 2015-09-12

[davehowden]

"A career diplomat, Ms. Tasneem belongs to the 11th batch of BCS (Foreign Affairs) Cadre. In her distinguished diplomatic career, Ms. Tasneem served in Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the UN in New York and Bangladesh High Commission in London in various capacities.

Ms. Saida Muna Tasneem obtained her B.Sc. (Engineering) degree from Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology (BUET), Dhaka. She also did her M.Sc. in Public Policy and Management from School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London."

Nice looking lady, ads a feminine interest angle to the whole charade.

[Oziex1]

Did she say they would look into it?

[Srikcir]

"Prawut said intelligence reports show that the suspect did not go to Beijing"

Why "intelligence reports" - can't the Chinese authorities just say whether he entered the country or not? What does the Chinese ambasssador have to say and why is he not being as proactive as Bangladesh's government?

There has not been any official statement from the Chinese government regarding what appears to be a Chinese citizen traveling on a Chinese passport purported to the be bombing mastermind. Prayut may want to re-examine HIS 2014 Security Agreement with China.

[NCC1701A]

"Prawut said intelligence reports show that the suspect did not go to Beijing"

Why "intelligence reports" - can't the Chinese authorities just say whether he entered the country or not? What does the Chinese ambasssador have to say and why is he not being as proactive as Bangladesh's government?

There has not been any official statement from the Chinese government regarding what appears to be a Chinese citizen traveling on a Chinese passport purported to the be bombing mastermind. Prayut may want to re-examine HIS 2014 Security Agreement with China.

commies can do whatever they want...

[geriatrickid]

Bangladesh isn't overly concerned with this. It's a country with much in common with Thailand. Incompetence, corruption and dishonesty.

[krdowney]

I lived there for two years from 2004-2006. They won't be able to give much help, trust me.

[DavisH]

With all the extracted information from the accused now, why has there been no report on WHY the bombing was carried out. Yes we can all make assumptions, but has any of the accused made a statement regarding the reasons behind the bombings?

[waldroj]

Bangladesh isn't overly concerned with this. It's a country with much in common with Thailand. Incompetence, corruption and dishonesty.

That's probably why the RTP are seeking their help (rather than US, UK, or even Russia).

[trainman34014]

'' They discussed it ''. No they didn't; she spoke perfect English and he just nodded his head as that's all he's capable of !

[simon43]

The documents included a non-immigrant multiple visa to Thailand and a work permit

A WP to work in Thailand?

That and the non-imm visa suggest that he had been living in Thailand for many months.

I wonder what his job was? What company was he working for or running?

[phoenixdoglover]

Well, he's not in Bangladesh any more. He was there for a day. He left on the 30th of August.

This is probably a relief for everybody in Dhaka.

[gk10002000]

looks like there is quite a paper trail. It will be interesting to see the names, signatures, passports etc. If the same name was used all the time, then it should be easy, even in that part of the world to track the travels. But I doubt he kept the same passport and documents all the time

[kiwikeith]

Bangladesh isn't overly concerned with this. It's a country with much in common with Thailand. Incompetence, corruption and dishonesty.

The Thai visa and documents appeared to be legal!!! is that because they were actualy granted by a Thai corrupt border official???