41 grenades recovered from Bangladesh village

Dhaka, Feb 17 : The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has recovered 41 grenades from a Bangladesh village. The authorities have said that the grenades are identical to those used in the blasts at an Awami League rally in 2004.

The grenades were seized in Satkhira District on Friday night.

These grenades are of Arges brand and were supplied by Moulana Tajuddin, RAB officials said. Tajuddin is brother of former Deputy Minister and BNP leader Abdus Salam Pintu, who is now detained in a case filed for the August 21, 2004 blasts that left 24 AL leaders and workers dead and scores injured.

"The grenades recovered from Satkhira are similar in every detail with those used in the August 21 attack," RAB Director General Hassan Mahmood Khandkar told reporters.

The elite crime busters made the seizure at Simulia village of Debhata upazila following a tip off from Harkatul Jihad al-Islami (Huji) leader Mufti Moin Uddin alias Abu Jandal.

During the raid, they also picked up Nazrul Islam Ghorami, a suspected Huji operative.

"The arrests will provide important leads in investigation of August 21 grenade attacks," Khandkar said.

The RAB is assisting the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), tasked with probing the August 21, 2004 blasts, Khandkar said.

ANI