Hotel Olio Suspect ‘Bomaru Mamun’ Back Under Scrutiny as Associate Arrested in Savar

Nazmul Hasan Mamun, widely known as “Bomaru Mamun,” who was recently acquitted in the high-profile 2017 Hotel Olio anti-terrorism case, has re-emerged as a central figure in an ongoing counter-terrorism investigation. The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of the police linked Mamun to a fresh explosive cache discovered following the arrest of a key associate in Savar.

Counter-terrorism officers arrested the suspect, identified as Mohammad Arif, alias Imran, during a raid in Savar on Tuesday evening. Subsequent interrogations led law enforcement personnel to an explosive workshop in the Shyampur area of Savar, where detectives seized several pipe bombs and raw chemical materials used in bomb making.

While Arif remains in custody, Mamun evaded capture. CTTC officials confirmed that specialized teams have launched a manhunt to locate and arrest the primary suspect.

Covert Operations in Savar Safe House

According to CTTC investigators, Arif rented a room in a quiet residential building in Shyampur on 5 August under the false alias “Abbas Ali,” claiming to be a commercial driver. Family members of the property owner informed police that the tenant rarely ventured out during daylight hours, preferring to transport mysterious materials into the premises late at night.

Acting on intelligence obtained during Arif’s initial interrogation, CTTC operatives surrounded the building on Tuesday night, maintaining a tactical cordon until nearly 1:45 am. The search yielded multiple fully assembled pipe bombs and volatile precursor chemicals. Police suspect the location was actively being utilized to prepare improvised explosive devices for imminent deployment across the capital region.

On Wednesday morning, police recovered another pressure-cooker bomb discarded inside a plastic drum near the Ghora Mosque in the Goperbari Laltek area of Savar, further highlighting the extent of local explosive manufacturing.

Linkages to Recent Regional Bombings

Investigating officers have tied the suspect pair to a string of unsolved blast incidents and abandoned explosives across Dhaka and neighboring districts over recent months.

CTTC Additional Deputy Commissioner Main Uddin Chowdhury confirmed that Arif identified Mamun as his operational mentor. Investigators allege that both individuals were directly involved in planning and executing the attacks listed above.

From Judicial Acquittal to Renewed Investigation

Nazmul Hasan Mamun first gained national prominence following the 15 August 2017 anti-terrorism operation at Hotel Olio International in Panthapath, Dhaka. During that raid, an occupant named Saiful Islam died after detonating an explosive device inside his room.

Police subsequently filed charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act, naming 13 individuals in the charge sheet. Mamun was arrested in Uttara on 31 December 2017 and identified by law enforcement as a high-ranking shura member of the militant group Neo-JMB.

However, after years of legal proceedings, the Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal in Dhaka acquitted Mamun and ten co-defendants on 5 January 2026. The court’s verdict referenced defence arguments that the prosecution was politically motivated, describing the accused as activists opposed to the former regime.

Despite his full legal discharge earlier this year, Mamun’s name resurfaced in intelligence reports within months. Additional Commissioner of CTTC Mohammad Shamsul Haq stated that all individuals linked to the recent explosive recoveries will face prosecution as investigations proceed.