Police to investigate Jamaat’s militant link 

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman's son Rafat Sadik Saifullah and his associate were placed on a three-day remand on Thursday for interrogation over their alleged involvement in extremism.

Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) produced the two arrested before a Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court seeking a 10-day remand. But the court granted a three-day remand for interrogation under the CTTC, said the unit's Deputy Police Commissioner Mishuk Chakma.

Rafat, and his associate Arif, were arrested from Sylhet on Wednesday by a team of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

Briefing reporters on Thursday, CTTC Chief and Additional Commissioner of DMP, Md Asaduzzaman, said that Rafat has been leading an extremist outfit in Sylhet. He also sends many youths to Chattogram Hill Tracts for armed training.

Rafat encourages youths into extremism in the guise of teaching the Holy Quran, said Asaduzzaman.

Asked about whether Jamaat has any connection with the newly formed extremist outfit or whether they have been patronising it, the CTTC chief said that they were yet to be confirmed about the connection, but would investigate it.

Rafat completed his medical studies at Ragib Rabeya Medical College in Sylhet and now has been working as an intern doctor there.

Rafat's name emerged during the interrogation of three militants arrested from Dhaka's Jatrabari recently, according to CTTC officials.

Last year, Rafat had travelled to the CHT and has been in regular contact with the other leaders of the militant outfit, Asaduzzaman said.

The CTTC officials said that Rafat is a leader of the newly formed extremist organisation "Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya" and he has encouraged many youths into extremism since 2021.