Controversial Islamic speaker Mufti Amir Hamza yesterday confessed to a magistrate that he used to misinterpret religion and spread extremism in his sermons.

He made the confessional statement on completion of his five-day remand.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Morshed Al Mamun Bhuiyan recorded the statement at his office after the accused was taken there by Inspector Kazi Mizanur Rahman of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of police.

Hamza was later sent to Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj.

He told the magistrate that he made provocative speeches at Islamic congregations and videos of the speeches are available on YouTube and Facebook.

Three militant suspects arrested last month while planning to attack the parliament told investigators that they were inspired by Hamza's provocative speeches.

Hamza said he never directly asked anyone to attack the Jatiya Sangsad, according to a court official.

CTTC officers arrested Hamza on May 24 in Kushtia.

Of the three militant suspects, Al Sakib was arrested in the capital's Sher-e Bangla Nagar area on May 5. A case was filed against Al Sakib under the Anti-Terrorism Act that day.

His phone contained video clips of speeches by Hamza, Ali Hasan Osama, who also got arrested, and two other Islamic preachers.