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 investigators alleging the stolen money and vehicle were intended to help finance the organisation's activities.

Police and Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) officials said the case was filed after information emerged following Sabir's arrest in Dhaka earlier this month. The FCS publicly presented itself as a martial arts organisation.

According to the case, easy-bike driver Kamal Biswas was robbed of Tk10,300 in cash and his easy-bike, valued at around Tk2,75,000, in the Madhugram area of Jashore Sadar on the night of 16 September last year.

Investigators claim the robbery was carried out to raise funds for the organisation.

Kamal initially could not identify those involved. However, after seeing photographs of Sabir following his arrest in Dhaka, he recognised him and filed the case with Jashore Kotwali Police Station on 7 July.

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

Earlier, police arrested Sabir and five others in Dhaka on 5 July. On 8 July, a court placed Sabir and another accused, Hossain Tanim, on a three-day remand.

AB Siddique, inspector (investigation) of Jatrabari Police Station and the investigating officer in the Dhaka case, told TBS, "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 officials said they are investigating FCS's activities, sources of funding and other allegations linked to the organisation.

According to CTTC's preliminary findings, Fatah Combat System formally launched its activities in February this year under the guise of a martial arts organisation, establishing founding branches in Khulna, Jashore Sadar, Abhaynagar, Siddhirpasha, Sutarkhali and Chandpur.

Police said the FCS Dhaka branch began operations on 4 July. Later that day, following the launch of a training programme in Jatrabari, police arrested Sabir and several of his associates.

Investigators also said Sabir had previously been arrested in Khulna on 9 March in connection with another case. They added that he came under closer surveillance after holding a press conference in Khulna in May, where he criticised Indian media and Bangladesh's law enforcement agencies.