The Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) of Bangladesh Police has arrested a fugitive member of Ansar al-Islam, commonly known as Ansarullah Bangla Team.
Md Sijan Hossain, 19, was arrested from Jashore on Saturday night, said Superintendent of Police of ATU (Media and Awareness Wing) Mahfuzul Alam Rasel on Sunday.
SP Rasel SAID, “Sijan is accused in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act in Panchbibi police station of Joypurhat district. Sijan, who was absconding for some days, is an active member of Ansar al-Islam.
“On a tip-off, a team of ATU raided Sheikhati area under Kotwali police station in Jashore on Saturday night, and arrested Sijan. Two mobile phones and three SIM cards were seized from his possession.”
SP Rasel then added, Sijan is a 12th-class student of a local college under Kotwali police station in Jashore.
“Sijan and his associates had been conducting various illicit activities for a long time to establish a so-called caliphate state in Bangladesh, including spreading online propaganda in favour of militancy. The outfit maintains communication by opening secured groups on social media.”
Apart from this, they have been posting extremist content on social media, and maintaining regular contact with like-minded people, inviting them towards radicalism, Rasel said.
