Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury (Bengali: তামিম আহমেদ চৌধুরী; 25 July 1986 – 27 August 2016), known by his kunya Abu Dujanah al-Bengali (Bengali: আবু দুজানাহ আল-বাঙালি), was a Bangladeshi-Canadian Islamist militant that was the head of military and covert operations of the Islamic State's Bengal Province.[1] For a while, he was alleged to be the emir of the Islamic State's Bengal Province, Shaykh Abu Ibrahim al-Hanif. He was the alleged mastermind of the July 2016 Dhaka attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery, which resulted in 29 deaths. He was killed in a raid on an IS safehouse in Dhaka by Bangladeshi forces on 27 August 2016.[2]
Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury | |
|---|---|
তামিম আহমেদ চৌধুরী | |
| Head of military operations of Islamic State – Bengal Province | |
| In office 2016 – 27 August 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Office de-established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury তামিম আহমেদ চৌধুরী 25 July 1986 Sylhet, Bangladesh |
| Died | 27 August 2016 (aged 30) Narayanganj Sadar Upazila, Narayanganj, Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| Nationality | Bangladeshi-Canadian |
| Occupation | Head of military operations of Islamic State – Bengal Province |
| Nickname | Abu Dujanah al-Bengali |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Islamic State (2012-13 – 2016) |
| Rank | Head of military and covert operations |
| Battles/wars | Terrorism in Bangladesh † |
History
editHe was born on 25 July 1986 in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Chowdhury was formerly a resident of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
He attended J.L. Forster Secondary School in Windsor. He competed for the school in a variety of track and field activities in 2004. He graduated from the University of Windsor in Spring 2011, with an honours degree in chemistry.[3]
Amarnath Amarasingam, Post-Doctoral Fellow with the Resilience Research Centre at Dalhousie University, said of Chowdhury's time in Windsor, "There were a few [people] who knew him from the mosque and from the social circles" and "He was a shy, skinny kid."[4]
The Windsor Islamic Association (WIA) commented, "We can confirm that Tamim Chowdhury was from Windsor, though he was not a well-known individual in the community," WIA spokesperson Lina Chaker said.[5][6][7][8][9]
Islamic State
editHe may have travelled to Syria at some point in 2012–13. He returned to Bangladesh sometime afterwards.[10]
He was described as the "prime architect" and "one of the masterminds" of the July 2016 Dhaka attack.[11][12]
Bounty
editOn 2 August 2016, it was reported that the Bangladeshi police had offered a reward of 200,000 Bangladeshi taka ($2,500) for information leading to his capture.[13]
Death
editThree militants, including Chowdhury, were killed during a joint forces raid at a house in Narayanganj Sadar Upazila on 27 August 2016. Monirul Islam, chief of Dhaka Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism unit, confirmed his death in an announcement reported in the Bangladeshi newspaper.[14][15]
References
edit- ^ Khalil, Tasneem (25 July 2017). "Meet the mastermind of the Holey attack". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ "Tamim Chowdhury, the Dhaka café massacre mastermind, is killed in raid: Police". Bdnews24.com. 14 September 2013. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
- ^ Zelin, Aaron Y. (2 August 2016). "GUEST POST: Searching for the Shadowy Canadian Leader of ISIS in Bangladesh | JIHADOLOGY: A clearinghouse for jihādī primary source material, original analysis, and translation service". Jihadology.net. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
- ^ MIGDAL, ALEX (2 July 2016). "Bangladeshi terror group affiliated with IS reportedly led by Canadian". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ^ Sachgau, Oliver (10 June 2016). "Windsor man is reportedly leading Daesh in Bangladesh". The Star. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ^ Haines, Avery (5 July 2016). "U of T student detained in Bangladesh following Dhaka attack". 680news. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ^ Bell, Stewart (7 June 2016). "'He is from Windsor': Canadian identified as leader of ISIL affiliate in Bangladesh". National Post. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ^ Khandaker, Tamara (8 June 2016). "The Islamic State's Leader in Bangladesh Is Probably Canadian". Vice News. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ^ Ahsan, Zayadul (7 June 2016). "Militants grow in silence". The Daily Star. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ^ "Isis attack 'mastermind' from Canada killed in police raid". The Independent. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
- ^ "Local 'IS chief' Tamim Chowdhury prime architect of Dhaka cafe attack, say police". The Indian Express. 30 July 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
- ^ Samhati Bhattacharjya (31 July 2016). "Dhaka cafe attack mastermind identified as Bangladeshi-Canadian Tamim Chowdhury". Ibtimes.sg. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
- ^ Mohammad Jamil Khan (2 August 2016). "Tk40 lakh bounty on top 2 militants, details released". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
- ^ "Terror kingpin killed". The Daily Star. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-28.
- ^ Dearden, Lizzie (27 August 2016). "Isis attack 'mastermind' from Canada killed in police raid". The Independent. Retrieved 2016-08-28.