Bangladeshi radicals met weekly, sought to recruit more members

SINGAPORE — All but one of the 27 arrested Bangladeshi workers belonged to a religious study group that subscribed to extremist teachings, and took measures to avoid detection by the authorities as they shared jihadi-related material “discreetly” among themselves. 

Since 2013, the study group had been holding weekly meetings and gatherings, where they discussed armed jihad and conflicts that involved Muslims. They also “carefully targeted” the recruitment of other Bangladeshi nationals to grow their membership”, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) today (Jan 20). 

Found in their possession were a “significant amount” of radical and jihadi-related material such as books and videos, which included footage of children undergoing training in what appeared to be terrorist military camps. 

Several members of the group also had a shared document containing graphic images and instruction details on how to conduct “silent killings” using different methods and weapons.  

Last month, Bangladeshi media reported that 14 of these Bangladeshi workers were sent back to their home country and were sentenced to jail by the local courts. Citing court documents and the Bangladeshi police, the New Age newspaper said the group met inside Angullia Mosque in Little India every Sunday, where they distributed books and leaflets promoting militancy. They also used the mosque in Serangoon Road as a venue to recruit members and raise funds.

TODAY visited the mosque this evening, and none of the mosque-goers this newspaper spoke to recognised any of the 27 men. 

Singaporean student Muhd Nafis, 25, who frequents Angullia Mosque, told TODAY: “The mosque is a place to pray and to do good, not a place to gather and plan for evil actions.” 

In response to media queries, the MHA said the arrested workers used the premises of a few local mosques located near where some of them were staying.

 Mr AKM Mohsin, editor of Banglar Kantha, an influential newspaper for the Bangladeshi community here, said a mosque near Aljunied MRT station was also a known gathering spot for the group. The 14 workers were sent back to Bangladesh on Dec 20, said Mr Mohsin, whose newspaper also reported on the case. 

Mr Mohsin had heard that some of his fellow countrymen working here were involved in political activities and were supportive of the Islamic party in Bangladesh. They would meet regularly during the weekends and try to canvas for funds or recruit new members, he said. Last month, several workers had come to him saying some of their friends were uncontactable, he added. 

“I’ve always told the community to not get involved in these kinds of political activities in a foreign land,” he said. “They are just simple people who come here to work, and (don’t) try to cause trouble (to Singapore) … Maybe they were just confused by some bad people’s (ideology).” ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY TOH EE MING