Counter-terrorism officials yesterday claimed to have arrested chief of the female wing of militant group “neo-JMB” from the city’s Kamalapur area on Tuesday afternoon.

Arrestee Asmani Khatun alias Asma (28) communicated with fellow militants online using different pseudonyms like Bandi Jibona and Nikhoj Alo, said SK Imran Hossain, assistant commissioner of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

The CTTC official said Asma had been secretly recruiting female members online for a long time. Many operatives who left home for so-called jihad in her persuasion were arrested earlier, the official said.

She was also linked with top “neo-JMB” leaders including Islam Al Hindi, Abu Dujana and Abu Mohammed online, police claimed. 

CTTC officials said Asma -- accompanied by a four to five unknown others -- gathered at Kamalapur on that day as part of a plot to carry out destructive activities and destroy public property.

A drive is underway to arrested the Asma’s accomplices who are still on the run, they said.

A case was filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act with Motijheel Police Station in this regard.

A Dhaka Court yesterday placed her on three-day remand after police produced her before it with a 10-day remand prayer.