3 lawyers deny terror link

The three lawyers, who were arrested for their alleged involvement in financing militancy, denied their involvement in any terror activities before a Chittagong court today.

In a statement under Section 23 of Anti–Terrorism Act 2009, the lawyers denied their involvement in any activities of terrorism, Advocate Abdus Sattar, a defence lawyer told The Daily Star this afternoon.

They gave the money back to their clients which they had taken, the defence lawyer said.

Senior Judicial Magistrate Shahidul Islam recorded their statement from 1:00pm to 2:20pm after Rab members produced them before the court following their remand, our Chittagong correspondent reports.

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab)-7 members detained the three lawyers, including a Supreme Court barrister Shakila Farzana, from the capital's Dhanmondi area on August 18 on charges of financing Shaheed Hamja Brigade, a Chittagong-based militant outfit.

Later, they three were shown arrested in a case filed with Banskhali Police Station in connection with a raid on another training camp of the outfit at Lotmoni hill area in Banshkhali upazila.