5 arrested for spreading anti-state propaganda: Rab

The Rapid Action Battalion has arrested five persons from the capital's Shamibagh last night on charges of spreading anti-state propaganda.

The arrestees are Md Abdullah Al Mahmud (29), Md Wayez Kuruni (27), Md Touhidul Islam (26), Md Gazi Sakhawat (29), and Md Habibur Rahman (30), said aRab media release today.

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Several laptops, portable hard disks, and anti-national, sabotage, and provocative leaflets were seized during the arrests made.

During primary interrogation, all of them confessed to their involvements in anti-state conspiracies and sabotage activities during the preliminary interrogation, said the release.

During interrogation, the arrested said that they used social media to form closed groups under various names with the intention of spreading anti-state rumours. They portrayed law enforcement and government activities as negative and spread this message in the virtual world, added the release.

Their laptops contained a variety of files and they also attempted to destabilise the country's communal harmony by editing, producing, and disseminating various audio-visual contents.

The arrestees reportedly sent fabricated information to various agencies outside the country as part of their propaganda against law enforcement agencies. They attempted to carry out their criminal intentions by capitalising on the "We want safe roads" movement in recent times. They attempted to create a chaotic situation by inciting the movement.

Multiple cases have been filed against Abdullah Al Mahmud and Touhidul Islam in various police stations under anti-state, sabotage, anti-terrorism, and explosives laws.

Legal action is being taken against those arrested, added the release.