French NGO worker Puemo Tchantchuing, who prefers to be known as Moussa Ibn Yacoub since his reported conversion to Islam, has been kept under police custody since December 22 for his activities with the Rohingyas.
He used to work for France-based NGO Baraka City in Cox’s Bazar and visited Myanmar through Bangladesh five to six times, police said, adding that the NGO was not registered in Bangladesh.
Police have filed a petition seeking his three-day remand, but the hearing is yet to be held. On the other hand, Baraka City has demanded that Moussa be released immediately.
“Moussa used to come to Bangladesh in tourist visa. He carried out various activities at the Rohingya camps. He identifies himself as a Muslim and also carries a Muslim name. He hid his identity in the passport,” said Md Ataur Rahman Khandaker, OC of Teknaf police.
Investigating Officer Gautam Roy Sarker, second officer of the police station, said that they were investigating Moussa’s activities. “A case will be filed once we are certain about his offences. He was shown arrested under section 54 [of the Code of Criminal Procedure] and now kept at Cox’s Bazar jail.” Gautam said that Moussa is a Cameroon-born French citizen and he speaks in Arabic.
The NGO worker was arrested on December 22 at a checkpoint of the Border Guard Bangladesh in Teknaf’s Habibchhara area with his associate Maulana Abdus Salam.
Teknaf 2 BGB Battalion Commander Lt Col Abujar Al Jahid said that the duo had been questioned by members of several intelligence agencies since the arrest.
Baraka City, which was founded by strict Salafist Muslims, manages a budget of several million euros, according to French newspaper RFI. French police searched its premises several times and its bank accounts were closed on more than one occasion, but no connection to terrorist groups has ever been established.
Meanwhile, Baraka City has launched a petition demanding Moussa’s release. It was signed by over 3,25,000 people until last night.
In 2012, the government banned the activities of France’s Doctors without Borders (MSF), Actions against Hunger (ACF), and the UK’s Muslim Aid in Teknaf and Ukhiya for unauthorised activities.
