Militant linked to Avijit murder held: Cops

Counter-terrorism officials today claimed to have arrested a top leader of banned militant outfit Ansar al-Islam from Chittagong who is linked to the murder of blogger and writer Avijit Roy.

Sheikh Abdullah, 27, a Majlish-e-Sura member of the outfit, was involved in the killing of writer Avijit Roy, said Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner (Media), of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

Abdullah used to carry out militant activities under different pseudonyms like Zubair, Jayed, Jabed and Abu Omayer. He was held from Chittagong Medical College Hospital yesterday afternoon.

Abdullah, who joined the terror group in 2013, used to invite youths to their ideology in Chittagong and elsewhere, they said.

In primary interrogation, he has given information regarding the murder of Avijit, Jagannath University student Nazim Uddin Samad and LGBT activist Xulhaz Mannan, the officials said.