Suspected Terrorist Held

Photo: Collected Suspected terrorist Rumel who has been arrested

Suspected terrorist held from Chittagong book fair

The court granted a two-day remand to Md. Rumel (20), who is an active member of Ansar al-Islam, according to police. Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Deb passed the order on Wednesday (February 23).

Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of the city police, Kamrul Hasan, said the investigating officer had applied for a seven-day remand for questioning. Following the hearing, the court granted a two-day remand.

The Counter Terrorism Unit of the city police arrested Rumel in front of the CJKS Jame Mosque near the book fair around 1.30 pm on Tuesday. At that time, various extremist and religious conflicting publications were seized from his possession.

Rumel is from Narsingdi's Belabo Police Station area. His father's name is Md. Quddus Mia. He is currently living in an area adjacent to Jinnat Ali Talukder Mosque of Chandgaon Police Station in Chittagong city.

According to the police, they got intel that some active members of Ansar Al Islam could attempt sabotage activities around the book fair. Later, intelligence surveillance was intensified in the area. Later, Rumel was arrested Tuesday afternoon.

Earlier on Sunday (Feb 20), the 19-day-long book fair started at the gymnasium ground in Chittagong. In the afternoon, Mayor of Chittagong City Corporation brave freedom fighter M Rezaul Karim inaugurated the fair. In his inaugural address, he said that the sale of anti-independence books would be closely monitored as militancy was rampant at the fair.

Meanwhile, since the start of the fair, the sale of Islamic books at the book fair in Chittagong has been banned - such claims are being made on various online platforms including Facebook. Demands for boycott of the book fair are also being made from various parts. However, rejecting the claim, the organizers have called it a propaganda and misleading information.