Seven held over militancy under guise of martial arts get 3-day remand

A Dhaka court has granted a three-day remand for seven people arrested on charges of conducting militant activities under the guise of martial arts training in the capital's Jatrabari area.

Metropolitan Magistrate Monirul Islam passed the order on Sunday, July 12, partially granting the police's seven-day remand plea.

The prosecution argued that the accused were conducting militant activities under the cover of martial arts and religious programmes, and were recruiting members with the goal of establishing a caliphate. The defence claimed the accused only taught martial arts for self-defence and had no militant links.

According to case documents, six people were detained in a raid on July 5 at a sandy ground in Jatrabari's Mini Cox's Bazar area, and another was arrested later in Jessore based on information from them.

Police have filed a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009 against 16 people in connection with the incident.