The information came forth during the interrogation of Momena’s younger sister Asmaul Hosna Sumona and their father, Monirul said. In 2016, law enforcement agencies had included Nazibullah’s name on the first list of the 10 missing youths suspected to be involved with militancy. A CTTC official said Momena also had contact with another Bangladeshi militant, Gazi Sohan. Gazi introduced her to Nazibullah in 2014, when she was studying English language and Literature at North South University (NSU). Gazi Sohan went to Syria to fight for Islamic State militants on December 11, 2014 but came back to Dhaka on May next year. He has been held in the custody since his return. CTTC unit chief said: “We had detained many radicalized students in 2014. Momena maybe had contact with some of them. We are investigating this matter closely.” CTTC officials are contacting the Australian police to find if Momena had any other accomplices. In this context, a CTTC unit official said Momena used to pray at the NSU mosque with a few others ladies. CTTC has identified at least four and further investigations are underway about their activities.
However, Momena’s younger sister Asmaul Husna said that before going to Australia, her sister used to visit several places in Bashundhara area. Officials are trying to identify those places. Both sisters have been radicalized through social media, according to law enforcement agencies. Momena Shoma stabbed an Australian national with a knife just nine days after her arrival in Melbourne. She had even previously informed her younger sister Asma about the attack. Three days after Momena was arrested on February 9, a CTTC team went to her family’s home in Kafrul, Dhaka for investigation, only to have one of their officers allegedly stabbed by Asmaul. CTTC later arrested Asmaul, who is currently on a five-day remand.
This article was first published on banglatribune.com
Published February 16th, 2018