Preacher held over controversial remarks
Detectives yesterday detained Mufti Kazi Ibrahim, an Islamic preacher known for his controversial speeches, from his home in the capital's Mohammadpur.
A team of the Detective Branch of police picked him up for interrogation regarding his recent speeches, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Shafiqul Islam told The Daily Star.
When the DB team reached Ibrahim's residence early yesterday, he went live on Facebook and said some plainclothes men were knocking on his door to take him away.
He also claimed that Indian intelligence agency "RAW came to take him away" and a conspiracy was afoot to "turn the country into Hindustan".
Ibrahim recently drew the attention of people for delivering controversial speeches which went viral on social media. He came up with unscientific methods of Covid-19 medication and spread propaganda about Covid vaccines.
"We will interrogate him about how he knew that a male will transform into a female if he gets a Covid vaccine and how a female will grow beards if she is vaccinated against Covid," Muhammad Harun Or Rashid, joint commissioner of the cyber and special crime unit of DB (north) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told journalists.
He said Ibrahim used digital platforms to spread misleading information about religion and his speeches sparked controversies.
Harun said Ibrahim often said the country is "filled with Hindustanis and RAW agents".
"We will ask him who are those Hindustanis and RAW agents."
Police said Ibrahim was being interrogated about his anti-state remarks and legal actions would be taken against him if he failed to respond to questions properly.
A police officer said procedures were underway to file a case against Ibrahim under the Digital Security Act.
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