Sabir, arrested over extremist links, used robbery to fund Fatah Combat System: Police

A robbery case has been filed in Jashore against Fatah Combat System (FCS) founder Shah Amanat Sabir and five others, with investigation sources alleging the money was meant for the organisation's funds.

Police and Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) sources said the case was filed after Sabir's arrest in Dhaka brought fresh information about the group, which presented itself as a martial arts organisation.

According to police and CTTC sources, easy-bike driver Kamal Biswas was robbed of Tk10,300 in cash and an easy-bike worth around Tk2.75 lakh in Madhugram area of Jashore Sadar upazila on the night of 16 September last year.

Investigation sources claimed the robbery was carried out to raise funds for FCS.
Kamal initially did not know the identities of those involved.

After Sabir was arrested from Jatrabari in Dhaka, he recognised him from photographs published in the media.

Kamal later filed a case with Jashore Kotwali Police Station on 7 July, accusing Sabir and five others.

According to the case statement, Shah Amanat Sabir and his associates admitted during interrogation by Dhaka Metropolitan Police that they had taken the easy-bike and cash.

The case names six accused, including one unidentified person. The others are Abu Usama alias Faisal, Walid alias Abul Bashar, Sumanna alias Tasif and Masud.

The case documents list Sabir's permanent address as Chechuri village under Dumuria Police Station in Khulna.

Faisal's address is listed as Bahadurpur village under Jashore Kotwali Police Station, while only Jashore has been mentioned as the address of three other accused.

Intelligence sources said the FCS branches in Khulna, Jashore Sadar, Abhaynagar, Siddhirpasha, Sutarkhali and Chandpur were among the organisation's founding branches.

Meanwhile, police arrested Sabir and five others in a separate operation in Dhaka on 5 July.
In the Jatrabari case, a court on 8 July placed Sabir and Hossain Tanim on a fresh three-day remand.

Four others arrested with them were sent to jail.

The court also ordered investigators to submit the investigation report in that case by 12 July.

AB Siddique, inspector (investigation) of Jatrabari Police Station and investigation officer of the Jatrabari case, told The Business Standard, "We are looking into all the allegations against them. It is not possible to say anything more at this stage for the sake of the investigation."

CTTC sources said they were investigating Fatah Combat System's activities, sources of funding and other allegations against the organisation.

They said the allegation that robbery was used to raise funds for the group was also being examined.

According to CTTC's preliminary findings, Fatah Combat System formally began its activities in February this year as a martial arts organisation.

Law enforcement agencies are now looking into allegations of extremist links, funding methods, member recruitment and other activities.

TBS has also learned that Sabir had earlier been arrested from Shibbari Mor area under Sonadanga Police Station in Khulna on 9 March in connection with a case filed there. Another FCS member, Sabbir Ahmed Sakib, was arrested at the time.

Sub-Inspector Abdul Hai was the complainant in the case filed with Sonadanga Police Station. Sabir and Sakib were produced before a court on 10 March, which ordered them to be sent to jail. They were later granted bail.

CTTC sources said Sabir held a press conference at a hotel in Khulna's Helatala area on 24 May, where he spoke against Indian media outlets and Bangladesh's law enforcement agencies.
Investigation sources said Sabir came under closer watch by law enforcement and intelligence agencies after the press conference. Officials then began gathering information about the organisation's financial sources, branches and activities.

Police said the FCS Dhaka branch began its activities on 4 July.

On the morning of 4 July, Sabir published four video messages on his Facebook page. In the videos, he asked members of the organisation's Dhaka branch not to go to Ramna Park, citing legal restrictions.

He said an exchange of views would instead be held near the main gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.

Later that day, the FCS Dhaka branch's training programme was inaugurated at Balur Math in Jatrabari. Police arrested Sabir and the others soon afterwards.