A Dhaka court on Thursday placed Masudur Rahman on a two-day remand after he was detained in Malaysia over alleged extremist-related posts on social media.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana passed the order after Airport Police Station Sub-Inspector Md Aminul Islam, also the investigation officer, produced the accused before the court seeking a five-day remand. The court granted a two-day remand instead.
According to the remand petition, Masudur was detained by Malaysian police on suspicion of extremism for allegedly posting videos related to Al-Qaeda, Hamas and the Taliban on Facebook while staying in Malaysia. He was handed over to Bangladeshi authorities on Wednesday evening and later detained by Immigration Police at the airport.
The investigation officer subsequently showed him arrested under Section 54 and produced him before the court with a remand plea.
During the hearing, Additional Public Prosecutor Md Harun Or Rashid told the court that detailed documents would be obtained from Malaysian authorities.
He said remand was necessary to determine whether the accused had any local or international extremist links, the devices used for the posts, and whether any financiers were involved.
The prosecution also argued that such activities could tarnish Bangladesh’s image abroad, particularly in Malaysia, where many Bangladeshi expatriates are employed.
In his statement before the court, the accused said he worked at a colour printing company in Malaysia and made the posts because he liked the religious content. He added that he would not have shared them had he known the consequences.