Dhaka: Two Pakistani citizens were held at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Friday night at about 9:30. The detained were suspected Taliban militants Humayun Kabir and his brother Nasir Ullah.

Special branch of police (SB) seized the suspected militants’ passports and released them after two-hour preliminary interrogation. A duty officer of SB informed banglanews24.com.bd that the suspects will be interrogated again on June 23 in joint interrogation cell.

The arrested identified themselves as Bangladeshi citizens and were about to depart for Africa on Friday night on African Maloari flight. They were carrying Bangladeshi passports.

Police suspects that the two brothers are Pakistani citizens and previously received Taliban training. Special branch of police (SB) has intel that the two arrested were going to Africa to receive training this time too. Police and other intelligence interrogated them at night as well.

An airport immigration police official told banglanews24.com.bd that some intelligent agencies informed airport immigration authorities few days ago on Humayun Kabir and Nasir Ullah. Since then, airport immigration police have been on special alert.


Immigration authorities held the suspected Taliban militants when they arrived at the airport at about 9:30 pm on Friday to catch a flight to Africa.

The arrested confessed that they collected African visa as Bangladeshi citizens and were scheduled to catch the African Maloary flight 589 for Africa.

The Immigration Police Officer also informed that both the suspects’ Bangladeshi passports carried their father’s name as Habibullah and Haziganj of Chandpur as address. Police came to know that one of the arrested - Humaun Kabir got married in  Chandpur. Their passports show that they went to Pakistan several times before.

BDST: 0935, 19 July 2010
TA/ZH