RAB arrests ‘militant’ in Manikganj

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in a drive arrested a suspected member of banned militant outfit Ansar Al Islam from Singair upazila in Manikganj on Wednesday.

The arrestee was identified as Maulana Md Ishaq Khan, 32, a media wing coordinator of Ansar Al Islam.

Briefing reporters at Karwan Bazar on Wednesday after noon, Commanding Officer (CO) of the RAB-3 Lt Col Emranul Hasan said they had secret information that a few members of banned Islamic outfit Ansar Al Islam has been preaching books on extremism among youths at village Erta Kashimpur under Singairupazila to motivate them of involving in militancy for carry out subversive acts, reports UNB.

Based on the information, a team of the elite force conducted the drive in the area on Wednesday morning and arrested Ishaq.

During preliminary interrogation, Ishaq revealed that he was involved in collecting members for his organisation motivating youths through his extremism writings, the RAB-3 CO said.

Ishaq, who passed Dawra Hadith from Jamia Rahmania Madrasa of Mohammadpur in the capital in 2006, came in touch with his teacher Maulana Jasim Uddin Rahmani, the spiritual leader of Ansar Al Islam, during his study.

Later, he got involved in preaching of extremism programme as a close associate of Maulana Jasim Uddin Rahmani in various areas across the country.

Finally he went on hidding after arrest of Maulana Rahmani by the members of Law enforcing agencies in 2013, Lt Col Emranul Hasan said.