Dhaka attackers followed Indian Islamic preacher Zakir Naik

Two of the five Bangladeshi militants who hacked to death 20 people at a restaurant in Dhaka’s diplomatic zone used to follow three controversial Islamists, including Indian Islamic preacher Zakir Nayek.

Militant Rohan Imtiaz, son of an Awami League leader, propagated on Facebook last year quoting Peace TV’s controversial preacher Nayek “urging all Muslims to be terrorists”, the Daily Star reported.

Nayek, a popular but controversial Islamic orator and founder of Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation, is banned in UK and Canada for his hate speech aimed against other religions. He is among 16 banned Islamic scholars in Malaysia.

He is wildly popular in Bangladesh through his Peace TV although his preaching often demeans other religions and even other Muslim sects, the report said.

Another Dhaka attacker Nibras Islam, 22, used to follow two alleged suspected recruiters of Islamic State — Anjem Choudary and Shami Witness — on Twitter in 2014.

Fresh arrests
Meanwhile, two persons were arrested on Monday in connection with the Dhaka cafe terror attack, as authorities stepped up probe into the international links of the hostage-takers.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque, however, did not disclose the identities of either of the detainees or where they were being kept.

He said they were both physically unwell and will be quizzed after their condition improves.

Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Bangladesh Army had said one terrorist was captured alive from the site of the attack. However, his identity was not disclosed.