Counter Terrorism (CT) unit of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) today arrested the reported mastermind, also the military commander of a faction (New JMB) of the banned militant outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh over the bomb blast at a traffic police box in Chattogram’s Sholoshahar Gate-2 area on February 28 last year.

The blast had left five men, including two policemen, injured.

Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate Mehnaz Rahman remanded Md Selim (33) for a day when police produced him before the court with a five-day remand prayer.

Earlier, members of the CT arrested Selim from port city’s Bayezid Link Road area under Akbar Shah police station in the early hours, said Farooq Ul Haque, deputy commissioner (DC) of CT.

With the latest arrest, 13 militants were held so far in connection with the case, said police.

Among the arrestees, nine accused gave confessional statements before the court where eight accused mentioned the name of Selim as the mastermind, according to the investigators.

The police official said they used to send bomb making videos via different apps.

Sgt Arafat, Assistant Sub-Inspector Atauddin, and three pedestrians were injured when the bomb went off in the city’s Sholoshahar area on the night of February 28.

According to SITE Intelligence Group which tracks online activities of jihadist, IS claimed responsibility of the police box attack similar to Dhaka and Khulna.

However, police ruled out the IS link.