Ansarullah Bangla Team member arrested from Pallabi
In primary interrogation, Shanto has confessed his involvement in militancy
The Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) of police detained a member of the banned outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) from the capital’s Pallabi on Friday midnight.
The arrestee Mahadi Hasan alias Shanto was closely connected with a Roopnagar family that was arrested earlier in July this year for their alleged involvement with another banned militant outfit Ansar-al-Islam.
“In primary interrogation, Shanto has confessed his involvement in militancy,” Md Mahiduzzaman, superintendent of police (Legal and Media) of ATU, told The Business Standard.
“He used to collect money from previously arrested Sonali Bank officer Abu Mohammad Zakaria to buy arms,” SP Mahiduzzaman said.
Shanto used to communicate with other militants through a secure channel, the SP added.
The ATU seized two sharp weapons, mobile phones and militant booklets from his possession during the arrest.
According to ATU sources, Shanto was trying to collect digital currency Bitcoin to use for ABT’s training, purchasing arms, printing militant booklets and online campaigns.
On July 27, five members of a family were arrested for their alleged link with Ansar-al-Islam from Roopnagar. The detainees included a senior principal officer of the state-owned Sonali Bank. Police claimed that the family had been involved with militant activities for long.