The elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested a youth from Tangail at about 5:30 am on Tuesday on the charge of circulating the message of al-Qaeda head Ayman al-Zawahiri for creating unrest in Bangladesh.
The accused has been identified as Rasel-bin-Sattar, 21, a final year student of Tangail Textile Institute circulated the message of al-Qaeda head Ayman al-Zawahiri in order to create unrest in Bangladesh.
Director (media and legal wing) of the RAB headquarters Wing Commander Habibur Rahman disclosed this to the journalists.
In a press briefing after the arrest, the RAB director said that they had picked up Rasel-bin-Sattar, 21, a final year student of Tangail Textile Institute, from Majhipara in sadar upazila of Tangail.
Habibur Rahman said that a first hand investigation unearthed the involvement of the youth in circulating the audiovisual message. The accused is a blogger and also work as a web developer .
Nonetheless, Rasel told the reporters that he had posted ‘like’ on a facebook page and thus the audiovisual message was circulated. “I have not done anything with evil motto”, he claimed.
The audiovisual message, believed to be of al-Qaeda head Ayman al-Zawahiri, called upon Bangladeshi Muslims to join jihad against the against the enemies of Islam. The unconfirmed message was published by the Jihadology.net.
“To the best of my knowledge, he holds connections with al-Qaeda. He is the one, who uploaded the clip. We are analysing the information,” said RAB Additional Director General Col Ziaul Ahsan.
“Rasel is also an administrator of the controversial Facebook page “Basher Kella”, Ahsan said. Three cell phones, two laptops and a huge number of Jihadi literature were seized from Rasel, Ahsan said. An audio message with a still photo of al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri laced with videos of police action in Bangladesh has been circulating on the Internet since last weekend.
In the message, Al-Zawahiri is seen calling Bangladeshi Muslims to start an ‘intifada’ (uprising) against the enemies of Islam.
The issue has, meanwhile, created countrywide sensation. The ruling Awami League has been accusing the BNP and its political alliance Jamaat-e-Islam of pushing the country to unrest and disorder. The audio message with a still photo of al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri is the evidence. On the other hand, the BNP leaders are saying that the government is trying to exploit the so-called message of the al-Qaeda chief to get the USA by its side.
