A court in Chittagong yesterday placed the seven suspected militants, who were arrested by Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) on Friday, on a two-day remand in a case filed with Kotwali Police Station under Anti-Terrorism Act.

The court of Metropolitan Magistrate Al Emran passed the order after the seven suspected operatives of “Deen Force Extreme” were produced before the court with a ten-day remand prayer by police, said Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) (Prosecution) Nirmalendu Bikash Chawkrabarty of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP).

The accused are: Md Muntasirul Meher, 26; Md Ajfar Hossen, 21; Md Imran Khan, 27; Chowdhury Mohammed Ridwan, 27; SM Jawad Jafar, 26; Md Dawud Nabi alias Polash, 28; and Md Mohiuddin Tamim, 29.

They were arrested on Friday evening from Hafez Mohammed Sadeq Wakf Stand Mosque in Nasiman Bhaban area of the city's Kazir Dewri while holding a clandestine meeting after Asr prayers, said Lt Commander Ashequr Rahman, deputy director (DD) of Rab-7, at a press conference at Rab-7 Headquarters in the city's Patenga on Saturday.

He claimed the arrestees, who are well-educated, used to share jihadi videos on two WhatsApp groups -- "Deen Force Extreme" and "Ikhwan".

Though RAB DD claimed the arrestees are "ideological follower" of Islamic State (IS) during the press conference, it is not mentioned in the case statement.

The Daily Star received a copy of the case statement.

AJFAR'S FAMILY DENY MILITANT LINK

The family of one of the arrestees Ajfar have denied the Rab claim that he has any militant link. Ajfar's father Nur Hossen, senior assistant secretary (OSD) of public administration ministry, said, “My son is innocent and he is a religious person. There is definitely a mistake in Rab's claim.” “After searching my residence, Rab did not find any suspicious materials except for religious books,” Nur claimed.