16-year-old held over involvement with Neo-JMB, police say

The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has arrested a 16-year-old boy on suspicion of involvement with the banned militant outfit Neo-JMB.

According to CTTC sources, the teenager was detained during a drive conducted around 2:30pm on Thursday in Sadar upazila of Habiganj, said a press release signed by Arifa Akhter Priti, assistant commissioner of the Media and Public Relations Division of DMP.

The boy had a connection with the accused, including Ahsan Zahir Khan, Daniyel Islam Hasan, and Russel alias Palash alias Abu Bacher Al Faruqi, in a case filed under Anti-Terrorism Act with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station in Dhaka recently.

CTTC officials said the boy was highly active online, where he allegedly shared extremist content and attempted to recruit members. He is also accused of distributing PDF manuals on bomb-making and inciting close associates to plan attacks on Shia mosques and police checkpoints.

He has been produced before a court in accordance with legal provisions, the officials said.