Even as Bangladeshi intelligence officials began interrogating three persons who were recently arrested and then deported from Malaysia for alleged links with the terror organisation Islamic State, a delegation of Islami Andolan leaders was feted by Pakistan Occupied Kashmir Premier Chaudhary Anwar ul Haq on July 3.
Soon after landing at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on July 3, the three deported Bangladeshi nationals, who originally hail from Cox’s Bazar and Nagaon, were quietly handed over to officials from the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence’s Counter-Terrorism Intelligence Bureau (CT-IB) unit for interrogation.
While two of the militants, identified as Nazrul Islam Sohag and Mohammad Redwanul Islam flew (Air Asia flight number AK-71) under the watchful eyes of two Malaysian security officials, the third person, named Zahid Ahmed arrived in Dhaka on Batik Air flight number OD-162, also under Malaysian escort.
Both flights landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport past midnight on July 3. The three Bangladeshi nationals were quickly handed over to waiting CT-IB officials who conducted an initial round of interrogation before allowing the Airport police to take over their custody.
While more Bangladeshi nationals arrested by the Malaysian Defence Intelligence Organisation in the agency’s more than a month-long operation in Selangor and Johor state continue to be interrogated by that country’s police and security officials, the meeting between the PoK premier and Islami Andolan Bangladesh representatives is being watched carefully by Indian and Bangladeshi security agencies.
The Islami Andolan Bangladesh delegation comprised Pir Syed Muhammad Ishaq Abu al-Khair, son of the Charmnai pir and Joint Secretary of the Islamic Andolan, Muhammad Khalid, Zakir Hussain and Maulana Mohiuddin. PoK Information Minister Pir Muhammad Mazhar Saeed Shah was also present in the meeting.
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During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, including the rapidly changing regional and global scenario, with a particular focus on Kashmir, were discussed. The IAB delegation reportedly expressed solidarity with the Kashmiri people.
