Malaysia deportee Masud on two-day remand over 'militant links'

A Dhaka court has placed a Malaysia deportee youth on a two-day remand over allegations of involvement in militant activities.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana passed the order on Thursday responding to a five-day remand plea filed by police.

During the hearing, Public Prosecutor Harun-or-Rashid argued in favour of the remand, saying preliminary information suggested that the accused had been involved in militant activities in Malaysia and was arrested there, tarnishing the country’s image.

He said remand was necessary to examine the accused’s past activities, whether he had links with militant groups and who financed those activities.

Responding to the court’s queries about his arrest in Malaysia, Masudur Rahman said he had been detained for posting content about the Taliban on social media.

He said he liked their activities and admitted that by sharing such posts he had put himself and others at risk.

He also told the court that he had worked at a plastic factory in Malaysia.

According to the remand petition, Masudur Rahman, 30, was arrested by Malaysian police for allegedly posting videos of banned militant organisations such as Hamas, the Taliban and al-Qaeda on Facebook while staying in Malaysia.

After serving a sentence handed down by a Malaysian court, he was deported to Bangladesh on 25 February and handed over to immigration police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.

He was later shown arrested under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, and police sought his remand for further questioning over suspected militant links.