Dhaka bomb-making materials seized, one arrested after Jatrabari blast
Synopsis
Days after a crude bomb exploded outside Jatrabari Police Station in Dhaka, a police raid in South Keraniganj has unearthed a stockpile of bomb-making materials and led to one arrest — set against a backdrop where 311 members of banned terrorist groups reportedly remain at large across Bangladesh as of April 2026.
Key Takeaways
Police raided South Keraniganj , Dhaka , and seized crude bomb-making materials including 5 kg marbles , 2 kg barbed nails , cellophane tape, and a blender allegedly used to grind explosive compounds.
9,000 paper masks in three cartons and 30 packets of elastic were also recovered during the operation.
Suspect Zahid Hasan Emon , 30 , was arrested from the Baghapur area in connection with the 19 September explosion near Jatrabari Police Station .
The investigation into the blast and Emon's alleged role is ongoing; further arrests have not been confirmed.
According to reports, at least 311 members of banned terrorist groups — including Neo-JMB, JMB, Ansar Al Islam, and HuJI-B — were at large in Bangladesh as of April 2026 .
Bangladeshi police have seized a cache of crude bomb-making materials and arrested one suspect following a raid in South Keraniganj, Dhaka, days after an explosion rocked the area near Jatrabari Police Station on 19 September 2026. The recovery, which also included 9,000 paper masks, points to what investigators believe is a broader supply network behind the blast.
What Was Recovered
During the operation, police recovered five kg of marbles, two kg of one-inch barbed nails, 20 pieces of red cellophane tape, and 11 pieces of black cellophane tape — materials reportedly used to assemble crude bombs. Authorities also seized 9,000 paper masks packed in three cartons, 30 packets of elastic for wearing the masks, and a Jaipan-brand blender and jar allegedly used to grind explosive compounds.
The Suspect: Who Is Zahid Hasan Emon
The arrested individual has been identified as Zahid Hasan Emon, 30, who was apprehended from the Baghapur area on Friday, according to reports citing the Dhaka Tribune. Sources at Shyampur Model Police Station indicated that a tip-off received during the post-blast investigation pointed to Emon's alleged involvement in the 19 September Jatrabari incident. The investigation into his precise role remains ongoing.
The Jatrabari Blast: What Triggered the Probe
The inquiry was set in motion after a crude bomb detonated in front of Jatrabari Police Station on 19 September. The brazenness of an attack directly outside a police facility prompted an immediate intelligence-led investigation, leading authorities to the South Keraniganj raid and Emon's arrest. Investigators are now working to determine whether the seizure is linked to a wider network.
Broader Terror Context in Bangladesh
The seizure comes against a deeply troubling backdrop. According to a report citing security data, at least 311 members of banned terrorist organisations remained at large as of April 2026. The figure reportedly comprises 16 Neo-JMB operatives, 185 members of the original JMB (Jamaat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh), 83 from Ansar Al Islam, and 16 from Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami Bangladesh (HuJI-B).
A Stringer Asia analysis quoted in reports warns that these are 'not merely isolated names on a police watchlist but reflect successive generations of jihadist militancy, ranging from Afghanistan-linked veterans of HuJI-B to Islamic State-inspired Neo-JMB cadres and the digitally focused operatives of Ansar Al Islam.' The same report noted that while Bangladesh had appeared to dismantle its jihadist infrastructure following the 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery massacre, 'the bombs now reappearing around Dhaka suggest that the victory may have been less definitive than advertised.'
The investigation into the Jatrabari blast and the full extent of Emon's alleged role is continuing, with authorities yet to confirm whether additional arrests are expected.
Point of View
But it underlines a structural failure: a crude bomb detonating outside a police station is not a fringe aberration in Bangladesh right now — it is part of a pattern. With 311 militants from four banned organisations reportedly still at large, the Dhaka administration faces a dispersed, multi-generational threat that cannot be addressed through individual arrests alone. The 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery attack prompted a security overhaul that was declared a success; the reappearance of bomb-making networks around the capital suggests that assessment may have been premature. Regional intelligence cooperation, particularly with India and Myanmar, will be critical if Bangladesh is to avoid a fresh cycle of escalation.
NationPress
28 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Dhaka bomb-making raid?
Police recovered five kg of marbles, two kg of one-inch barbed nails, red and black cellophane tape, a Jaipan-brand blender, and 9,000 paper masks, all allegedly used in assembling crude bombs. The raid was conducted in the South Keraniganj area of Dhaka.
Who is Zahid Hasan Emon and why was he arrested?
Zahid Hasan Emon is a 30-year-old suspect arrested from the Baghapur area of Dhaka in connection with the crude bomb explosion outside Jatrabari Police Station on 19 September 2026. Investigators reportedly received a tip-off linking him to the incident during the post-blast probe.
What was the Jatrabari Police Station explosion?
A crude bomb detonated in front of Jatrabari Police Station in Dhaka on 19 September 2026, prompting an investigation that led to the South Keraniganj raid and the arrest of Zahid Hasan Emon. The full circumstances and any wider network behind the blast are still under investigation.
How serious is the broader terror threat in Bangladesh?
According to reports, at least 311 members of banned terrorist organisations were at large in Bangladesh as of April 2026, including 185 JMB members, 83 Ansar Al Islam operatives, 16 Neo-JMB cadres, and 16 HuJI-B members. Analysts warn that the recent bombs reappearing around Dhaka suggest the security gains after the 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery attack may have been overstated.
What happens next in the Jatrabari investigation?
The investigation into the 19 September explosion and the alleged role of arrested suspect Zahid Hasan Emon is currently ongoing. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether additional arrests are expected or whether the seized materials are linked to a larger network.
