DHAKA, Aug 29, 2021 (BSS)–The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) in a special drive arrested a female member of the banned militant outfit Ansar Al Islam.

“She was identified as Zobaida Siddique Nabila, who is an active member of the militant organisation and worked for conducting activities on virtual platforms,” CTTC Chief and Additional Commissioner of DMP Md Asaduzzaman said at a press briefing at the DMP's media center today.

He said she opened a fake Facebook account under a pseudonym in early 2020, hiding her identity. Later she found Ansar Al-Islam's official Facebook page-Titumir Media- and joined there to gain knowledge about the militancy activities like videos, audios and articles of extremism.

Nabila contacted with the admin of the page of “Titumir Media” and got links of Ansar Al-Islam's official websites and extremist jihadist contents, Asaduzzaman added.

He said that the CTTC’s City-Intelligence Analysis Division also seized mobile phones, SIM cards and memory cards used in militancy from her possession.

The arrested woman militant opened multiple accounts under various pseudonyms on Facebook, Telegram and online platforms called "Chirpwire".

The CTTC chief said the initial investigation found information on two fake Facebook accounts, one "Chirpwire" and four Telegram accounts for militant propaganda.

Replying to a question, Asaduzzaman said Nabila used the Telegram extensively to propagate the ideology of Ansar Al-Islam.

She also used Encrypted Secured Apps Telegram to open four accounts and manage more than 15 channels through the Telegram account, he said.

“On these channels, she shared various violent videos, audios, pictures and files of Ansar Al-Islam. It has an estimated 25,000 subscribers to all its own Telegram channels, who regularly follow its channels,” the CTTC chief added.

Nabila described about militancy, jihad, kitabul jihad, lone wolf the lone hunter, prevent intelligence in sniper cells, silent killing strategy, enemy of police shariah, lone wolf-balakot-media- hq, Al Ansar magazine issue, general directions of jihad and declaration of liberation against the rule of Taghut, etc on the online platforms, he said.

Asaduzzaman added that the arrested Nabila received instructions to open an account on the encrypted social media "Chirpwire" from the official website of Ansar Al-Islam and was also carrying out extremist propaganda there.

A regular case was filed against her with Badda police station in this regard. She is in police custody on a five-day remand.