A Dhaka court has placed four individuals, recently deported from Malaysia on allegations of militant links, on a four-day remand each in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The order was issued on Tuesday by Metropolitan Magistrate Minhajur Rahman after a hearing.
The accused—Nazrul Islam Sohag, Mohammad Redoanul Islam, Zahed Ahmed, and Mahfuz—were brought to court from jail.
The investigation officer from the Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU), Inspector KM Tarikul Islam, sought a seven-day remand for each of them. However, after hearing arguments from both the defense and the prosecution, the court granted four days of remand.
The defense lawyers argued for cancellation of the remand, but the prosecution opposed, citing the need for detailed interrogation in the interest of national security.
According to the remand petition, the accused allegedly returned to Bangladesh after being involved in extremist activities abroad. Investigators believe they engaged in radical activities aimed at harming the country’s sovereignty, public safety, and creating fear among the population.
The petition claims they maintained links with internationally banned militant organizations and were involved in disseminating extremist content, recruiting, and raising funds for terrorism-related operations.
Authorities have expressed concern that the group, acting in coordination, poses a threat of launching terrorist attacks at various locations within Bangladesh.
Preliminary investigations have found evidence of their involvement in such networks, necessitating further interrogation under remand.
The four were initially arrested on July 4 under Section 54 of the Criminal Procedure Code after being deported by Malaysian authorities.
On July 5, a case was filed with the Airport Police Station by ATU Inspector Md. Abdul Baten, naming 35 individuals, including the four now on remand, for their alleged militant ties in Malaysia.
