The Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU), a specialised unit of Bangladesh Police, has arrested three suspected members of the banned militant outfit Ansar Al Islam from Noakhali and Cumilla.
Tipped off, a special team of ATU conducted a drive at Atiakandi Baparibari village in Noakhali's Begumganj upazila around 11:30pm on Thursday and arrested Rafiqul Islam Shiblu, said Mohammad Aslam Khan, SP (media and awareness) of ATU.
Shiblu, 20, is the son of Shahidullah of the village.
Based on the information given by Shiblu, the ATU team also conducted drives in Cumilla's Laksam and Chauddagram upazilas early Friday and apprehended two others.
The arrestees are Zahidur Rahman Zahid, 28, son of Harunur Rashid of Chanpur Natunbari area in Chauddagram, and Shahadat Hossain, 25, son of Montaj Uddin Bhuiya of Dimatoli village in Laksam.
The law enforcers also recovered five mobile phone sets, ten SIM cards, and seven books on militancy from their possession.
The arrestees were involved in spreading online propaganda on extremism, SP Aslam said.
"They used to chat by opening several groups on social media platforms to plan subversive activities and spread extremist ideology."
Legal action will be taken against them, he added.
