Dismissed soldier Naimul held for sabotage plot: ISPR

Md Naimul Islam, a former soldier dismissed from service, has been arrested on charges of orchestrating sabotage activities, including issuing provocative statements across various media platforms, since August 5, 2024. 

The arrest was confirmed by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement released this afternoon, following a dramatic confrontation in the capital.

According to the ISPR, Naimul, along with several other dismissed or disciplined ex-army personnel, had been planning subversive acts, notably a major sabotage disguised as a protest rally scheduled for May 18 at the entrance to Dhaka Cantonment. 

His campaign included widespread provocative posts on social media, raising security concerns. 

The situation escalated Saturday when an army delegation attempted to engage Naimul in the Battala Bazar area of Khilkhet around 2:00pm to dissuade him from these activities. 

In response, Naimul and his associates allegedly ambushed the delegation with country-made weapons, prompting a swift intervention.

A nearby army patrol team arrived promptly, apprehending Naimul and two of his accomplices. 

The ISPR highlighted that Naimul’s dismissal stemmed from serious misconduct, including dowry demands from his wife, physical and mental torture, and repeated breaches of military discipline. 

Legal proceedings against him are now in progress, the statement added.