Three Bangladeshi nationals have been sent to jail upon their return from Malaysia, where they were previously detained on suspicion of involvement in terrorism-related activities. They were arrested at the airport and sent to jail on Friday following a court order issued by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Mejbaul Rahman.
According to the police, based on information received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday night, immigration police arrested the three individuals—Nazrul Islam Sohag, Mohammad Redwanul Islam, and Zahid Ahmed—under Section 54 of the Criminal Procedure Code upon their arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on flight AK71 from Malaysia.
A Deputy Inspector General (DIG)-rank official at the police headquarters confirmed the matter to Times of Bangladesh on Friday night. He said, “There is preliminary evidence and suspicion of these three individuals being involved in terrorist activities both in Bangladesh and Malaysia. As they were detained in Malaysia on similar charges, they were deported. They have been produced before a court under Section 54, and the investigation and legal process are ongoing.”
He further added, “Other suspects involved in terrorism-related activities in Malaysia will also be brought under legal scrutiny if they return to the country.”
Immigration police stated that some of the detainees were allegedly spreading extremist ideologies in Malaysia based on Islamic State (IS) beliefs. Based on information received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, returnees will be interrogated as needed to determine whether they were involved in any ideological activities before leaving the country, how they left, and other relevant details.
On Friday, Malaysian media reported that the country’s Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammad Khalid Ismail stated in a press conference that the arrested Bangladeshis had been raising funds for branches of the Islamic State (IS) in Syria and Bangladesh.
“The funds collected were then transferred abroad using e-wallet applications and international money transfer services,” he told a press conference here on Friday.
The group also used social media platforms and messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram to recruit new members.
Mohd Khalid said police are still investigating the amount of funds channelled by the group to IS networks in Syria and Bangladesh.
He said the group used social media and messaging apps to spread IS propaganda, conduct baiah (oath of allegiance), and organise secret activities such as religious classes and member meetings.
“Those who pledged allegiance online were made cell leaders to expand the group’s influence. New members were recruited in stages, starting from screening to forming elite groups,” he said.
He added that investigations so far indicate no Malaysians were involved in the group, which is believed to have been active in the country for about a year.
Although the group was not planning attacks in Malaysia, it used the country as a base to raise funds and recruit members. Investigations are ongoing with support from Bangladeshi authorities and Interpol.
Mohd Khalid said police initially detected the group’s activities through social media accounts operated by Bangladeshi nationals using Malaysian IP addresses to spread IS ideology.
The first phase of the operation, conducted on April 28, led to the arrest of six individuals in Selangor and revealed the structure of GMRB, which was based in Johor.
The second phase, carried out on May 7, resulted in 14 more arrests in Johor, including the group’s leader.
The third and final phase, conducted from June 19 to 21, saw the arrest of another 16 individuals, effectively dismantling GMRB’s main network operating in Malaysia.
Mohd Khalid said suspects found to have minimal involvement in the group’s activities will be deported to their home countries.
He added that national security is the police’s top priority and urged Malaysians to be alert and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.