A Dhaka court on Saturday placed 12 people on three-day remand after police arrested them at a meeting in Tejgaon over suspected links to militant activities.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Arifur Rahman passed the order after the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit sought seven days’ remand for each of the accused, State Prosecutor Azizul Haque Didar confirmed the matter.
During the hearing, the prosecution alleged that the accused had been planning to create unrest in the country and recruit people for jihad. The remand was sought to determine whether others were involved in the alleged activities.
Defence lawyer Masud-ur Rahman opposed the remand plea and sought bail for the accused.
According to the remand petition, the CTTC unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), using information technology, learned that several youths had gathered in the Tejgaon area allegedly with plans to disrupt public order, spread extremism and carry out acts of violence.
A CTTC team, assisted by police from Tejgaon and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police stations, conducted a raid and detained 23 people on Friday, the petition said.
Of them, 11 were released into the custody of their families after questioning and signing bonds, according to the police.
The remaining 12 were produced before the court and later placed on three-day remand.
Police alleged that the accused were members of a WhatsApp group called “Meetup”, where they exchanged extremist messages and communicated about various issues.
According to investigators, members of the group had gathered with plans to carry out sabotage.
The accused are Md Shihab Uddin, 32; Marzuk Ahmed, 26; Saifur Rahman Khan, 32; Md Rashmi Mia, 29; Md Kamichul Islam, 36; Md Sazzad Hossain, 22; Afif Ahmed, 20; Md Mohaiminul Haque, 27; Jaoji Chowdhury, 19; Shahadat Hossain, 25; Sakib Ahmed, 26; and Junaid Ahmed, 21.
The CTTC said Shihab Uddin had previously been accused of involvement in extremist activities. An Anti-Terrorism Act case against him is pending with Palash Police Station in Narsingdi.
Marzuk Ahmed is also facing a case under the Speedy Trial Act with Tejgaon Police Station, the CTTC said.
In its remand petition, the investigating officer said the accused needed to be interrogated to determine the circumstances behind the alleged activities and identify others involved.
Investigators also sought to examine their mobile phones, SIM cards and other digital devices and analyse relevant cyber data.
The petition said investigators wanted to examine their communications through WhatsApp, Facebook, Telegram, Messenger and other social media platforms to identify alleged planners and associates and trace the sources of funding for the suspected extremist activities.
After hearing both sides, the court rejected the bail petitions and granted three days’ remand for each of the 12 accused.
