Brought to court after 'missing' for 3 yrs

Bangladeshi origin British citizen Yasin Mohammad Abdus Samad, who went missing from Banani in Dhaka about three years ago, was all of a sudden produced before Dhaka chief metropolitan magistrate court by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Friday

Police sought a 10-day remand of Yasin, 37, who was shown arrested in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act with Gulshan police station in 2013. The court fixed 22 May for hearing of the remand prayer.

Yasin’s mother Suraiya Parveen told Prothom Alo on Monday that police did not inform them that Yasin was produced before the court on Friday. A lawyer apprised them of the matter. She also said it is not true that her son is involved in militancy as police claimed.

After about three years, DMP’s Detective Branch said Yasin Samad was arrested in front of Gausul Azam Mosque of Banani on Friday, 17 May 2019. DB also claimed he is the ‘direct patron’ of the foundation of militant organisation Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen.

Yasin’s family has a house at Banani DOHS. His father, who was a physician, is dead. Yasin was picked up in a microbus in front of Banani railway station on 14 July 2016. His physician mother Suraiya Parvin filed a general diary with Banani police station on the same day. In the general diary, she mentioned Yasin was picked up near Banani railway station. A ticket seller of the railway station informed them that some plainclothesmen picked him up in a microbus.

A person introducing himself as a ‘source’ of the law enforcement agency, coerced the family into paying Tk 5 million with a threat of ‘crossfire’, the family alleged.

Haji Alam took the money from Yasin’s family.

A investigative report titled ‘Bangladeshi origin British citizen missing for 4 months, Tk 5 million taken under threat of crossfire' was published on 5 November 2016.

Following the report, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) detained Alam.

At that time Suraiya Parveen told Prothom Alo that she heard her son was arrested in connection with militancy. She claimed her son is religious but he has no connection with militancy.

Tehzeeb Karim, 34, who also remained missing since 17 May 2016, was also shown in the same case. Police also sought a 10-day remand of Tehzeeb Karim.

In the remand prayer, DB (South) division’s Dhanmondi zonal team police inspector Rabiul Alam said under the patronisation of Yasin and Tehzeeb, pro Al Qaida militant organisaion Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen was established for the first time in Bangladesh. The militant activities are in operation in 17 countries including Bangladesh. Tehzeeb is an active member of Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen. He is an ex teacher of Lakehead Grammar School. He went to meet militant leader Anwar Al Awlaqi in Yemen in 2010 and he was jailed for ten months.

Instigated by Tehzeeb Karim, his elder brother Rajib Karim became follower of Al Qaida and planner of attack on British Airways. He was jailed for 30 years and he is now in jail in London.

Yasin is an ameer of Ansarullah Bangla Team and follower of Mufti Jasim Uddin Rahmani who was also arrested in the same case.

According to remand prayer, Yasin was close to Rizwan Haroon who was involved in militancy and was arrested in the same case. The activities of Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen were detected by the law enforcement in 2005. Under the banner of an NGO, Research Centre for Unity Development (RCUD) was established to recruit collect members and promote militant activities.

About showing the arrest after three years, Tehzeeb’s father Joynul Karim could not be contacted on Monday. In 2016, he had told Prothom Alo that Tehzeeb went missing from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on 17 May 2016 he arrived after completing a course on teaching in English medium in Thailand.

Tehzeeb’s family lawyer Mursheda Begum told Prothom Alo, “Tehzeeb’s mother told me on Friday that she talked to Tehzeeb.”

When asked about the arrest, DB Dhanmondi zonal team additional deputy commissioner Ahsan Khan told Prothom Alo that there are allegations of militancy against both of them.

*This report, originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten in English by Rabiul Islam