Banned militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) is collecting firearms from criminal groups across the country in exchange for a lump sum amount of money for using them (arms) to ensure its member's safe escape after killing their targets.

Arrested ABT operative Shariful Islam Shihab told these to detectives during a three-day remand, said a detective branch (BD) official of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) yesterday. 

Shihab was arrested on Saturday in Kushtia for supplying a firearm to the killers of USAID employee Xulhaz Mannan and his friend Khandakar Mahbub Rabbi Tonoy, claimed the DB officials.

On April 25, Xulhaz and Tonoy were hacked to death in the former's flat at the capital's Uttar Dhanmondi.

Police recovered two firearms from the spot from a bag abandoned by the killers.

According to police, Shihab supplied one of the two firearms.

As his remand period ended yesterday, police will produce him before a court today seeking fresh remand for further interrogation, said Mashruqure Rahman Khaled, deputy commissioner of DB (South Division) of DMP.