12 remanded over suspected militant links after Tejgaon College raid
CTTC seeks more time to trace alleged militant network.
Highlights:
- Prosecution alleges plans to create instability
- CTTC cites secret WhatsApp group 'Meetup'
- Investigators seek digital evidence from suspects
- Two accused face previous pending cases
A Dhaka court today (19 September) placed 12 people on three days' remand after they were arrested over a suspected militant gathering at Tejgaon College Jame Mosque in the capital's Farmgate area.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Arifur Rahman passed the order after a hearing this afternoon.
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The 12 accused are Md Shihab Uddin, 32, Marzuk Ahmed, 26, Saifur Rahman Khan, 32, Md Rammi Mia, 29, Md Kamichul Islam, 36, Md Sajjad Hossain, 22, Afif Ahmed, 20, Md Mohaiminul Haque, 27, Jaoji Chowdhury, 19, Shahadat Hossain, 25, Sabbir Ahmed, 26, and Junaid Ahmed, 21.
Earlier in the day, Akhter Morshed, investigation officer and police inspector of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit, produced them before the court and showed them arrested under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. He sought seven days' remand for each.
Prosecution counsel Azizul Haque Didar confirmed the matter.
During the hearing, the prosecution counsel alleged that the accused had planned to create instability in the country and were recruiting people to wage "jihad".
He said they needed to be interrogated to identify others allegedly involved in the activities.
Defence lawyer Masudur Rahman opposed the remand plea and sought bail for the accused.
CTTC cites secret WhatsApp group
According to the remand petition, the CTTC learned through technological analysis that several youths had gathered near the Tejgaon Coca-Cola intersection with plans to disrupt law and order, spread extremism and carry out a major violent incident.
The 12 were arrested yesterday during a raid conducted with assistance from Tejgaon and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police, the petition said.
Investigators alleged that the accused were members of a secret WhatsApp group called "Meetup", which they used to exchange extremist messages and communicate before gathering with the alleged intention of carrying out subversive activities.
The petition said investigators needed to recover their mobile phones, SIM cards and other digital evidence and analyse cyber information.
They also want to examine conversations and communications on WhatsApp, Facebook, Telegram, Messenger and other platforms to identify alleged planners and accomplices and determine the source of funding and those financing the alleged extremist activities.
The remand petition said Shihab Uddin had previously been accused of involvement in extremist activities. A case filed against him under the Anti-Terrorism Act with Palash Police Station in Narsingdi is pending trial, it said.
Another accused, Marzuk Ahmed, is facing a separate case under the Speedy Trial Act at Tejgaon Police Station, according to the petition.
The investigation officer said further questioning was necessary to establish the circumstances surrounding the gathering and advance the investigation.
