ISD detains eight more radicalised Bangladeshi nationals

The Internal Security Department (ISD) has detained eight radicalised Bangladeshi nationals who had identified targets in their homeland as part of a plan to overthrow the government.

The eight were detained in April and are still being held for investigation, according to a statement released on Tuesday (May 3) by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

This is the second batch of foreign workers from Bangladesh detained by the ISD in the last six months. In January, MHA said that 27 radicalised workers had been arrested in November and December last year.

The men, who were workers in the construction and marine industries here, were part of a group called the Islamic State in Bangladesh (ISB) which was set up in March 2016 by leader Rahman Miznaur, 31 (pictured below).

PHOTO: MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

When the group realised the difficulties of travelling to Syria to link up with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the men focused their attention on overthrowing the Bangladeshi government to establish their own Islamic State there under the command of ISIS.

They were using Singapore as a base to recruit other Bangladeshi nationals to their cause as well as to raise money to fund the attacks they were planning.

The funds that were raised have since been seized.

Documents seized from Rahman, which included weapons manuals and bomb-making instructions, contained a list of potential government and military targets that the group had planned to attack in Bangladesh.

Documents seized from ISB leader Rahman Miznaur included a list of government and military targets, a sniper rifle manual and bomb-making instructions in Bengali. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

While police found no evidence that the group were planning an attack on Singapore soil, the group posed a security threat due to their willingness to commit violence overseas while Rahman had previously indicated that he was willing to conduct an attack anywhere as commanded by ISIS.

In the same statement, MHA said that its investigations led to the arrest and repatriation of five other radicalised workers who were not part of ISB.

"The Singapore Government takes a very serious view of any form of support for terrorism," it read.

"Any person, foreigner or otherwise, who engages in any activity that is inimical to Singapore's national security and racial and religious harmony will be firmly dealt with under the law.

"In this connection, foreigners should not import their own domestic political agenda into Singapore and carry out activities here in pursuit of such an agenda."

MHA said that anyone who knows or suspects that a person has been radicalised, or is engaging in terrorist activities or propagating extremist teachings, should promptly inform the Internal Security Department (1800-2626-473) or the Police (999).