Dhaka: The militants killed and injured during the ‘Operation Storm-26’ in Kalyanpur area of Dhaka had a plan to carry out massive acts of sabotage like the Gulshan one as they belonged to the same extremist outfit that attacked Holey Artisan Bakery.

‘Those killed in the Kalyanpur operation were members of JMB (Jama’atul Mujaheen Bangladesh. They gathered there for planning big subversive acts,’ Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told reporters at the Secretariat, reports UNB.

‘After observing the clothes and explosives found from the Kalyanpur den, it could be said it has a link to the Gulshan-Sholakia terror attacks, but the law enforcement agencies are investigating it and it can be confirmed after the investigation,’ he added.

In reply to a query, Asaduzzaman said, ‘JMB, Harkat Ul Jihad and Ansarullah Bangla Team, all are the same…they’re conspiring to destabilise the country and embarrass the government. There’s no reason to be panicked about it.’

Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque also said, ‘Kalyanpur militants had similarity with the Gulshan café attackers who had put on black clothes and turbans on their heads, and carried bags. ‘They were preparing to carry out acts of sabotage.’

He said they think the Gulshan cafe attackers and the Kalyanpur militants were members of local militant outfit Jama'atul Mujaheed Bangladesh (JMB). ‘But, they had no link to IS members.’

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Md Asaduzzaman Mia said those killed in the ‘Operation Storm-26’ and those involved in the Gulshan terrorist attack were from the same group.

He also said the militants gathered at the Kalyanpur apartment on Monday night to carry out subversive acts.

Nine suspected militants were killed and one suffered bullet wounds during an operation by a special team of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) in the city's Kalyanpur area Tuesday morning. A suspected militant managed to flee the scene.

On 1 July, the country witnessed its deadliest terror attack when gunmen raided Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan, killing 20 hostages, 17 of them foreigners, and two police officers during a 12-hour siege.

Later on 7 July, the Eid day, militants killed two police constables in an attack at a security checkpoint near Sholakia Eidgah.