On Sunday (July 27), Sub-Inspector (SI) Ripon of Damudya Police Station filed a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009. Aftab was presented in the Shariatpur Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, where he provided a confessional statement. He was then sent to Shariatpur District Jail.
Shariatpur Police Superintendent Nazrul Islam stated that Aftab admitted to police that he was self-motivated toward militancy through online platforms. “He was planning to carry out some activities, but we apprehended him beforehand,” Nazrul told Prothom Alo. “We have not confirmed any direct connection with ISIS, though he claimed to be inspired by them. The matter is under investigation.”
According to Damudya Police Station sources, Aftab Uddin is a resident of Bishakuri in Ward No. 2 of Damudya municipality. He was appearing for the ongoing HSC examinations from East Damudya Government College. His father, Abdul Malek Hawladar, a primary school teacher, passed away a few years ago.
Efforts to contact Aftab’s family members for comments were unsuccessful, as they declined to speak on the matter.
Damudya Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Hafizur Rahman told Prothom Alo, “Based on confidential information, we detained Aftab Uddin. A search of his residence led to the recovery of bomb-making materials. He provided a confessional statement in court under the Anti-Terrorism Act case. For the sake of the investigation, details of his statement cannot be disclosed at this time.”
