KUALA LUMPUR: A Bangladeshi militant group recently apprehended had been collecting funds to support Islamic State (IS) cells in Syria and Bangladesh, according to Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail.

The Inspector-General of Police stated that intelligence gathering and investigations by the Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division (E8) revealed that the group had amassed funds for IS activities in these countries.

“We are still investigating the total funds collected by the group. We believe they collected funds through membership fees and donations from members,” he told reporters in Bukit Aman on Friday (July 4).

The group, known as “Gerakan Militan Radical Bangladesh” (GMRB), spread their teachings and recruited members via social media and messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram.

“We believe they have between 100 to 150 members in their WhatsApp group. Initial investigations revealed each member is required to pay a RM500 yearly membership fee. However, the amount of donations given is up to the members,” he added.

When asked if the terror cell had links to other IS cells in neighbouring countries or elsewhere, Mohd Khalid said it is still under investigation.

“We are working with our counterparts in other countries as well as Interpol to uncover their terror network,” he said.

The terror cell recruited members primarily among Bangladeshi migrants in the country.

“Their members are recruited among Bangladeshi labourers, factory workers, and other sectors. Each member is required to perform the ‘bai’ah’ (oath taking) before being accepted into the terror cell.

“However, each member was carefully screened before the bai’ah could be performed,” he added.

The IGP noted that the action taken by the E8 was necessary to prevent Malaysia from becoming a logistic and transit hub for foreign militants.

“Extreme ideologies spread among the migrant community could eventually lead to subversive activities,” he said.

Mohd Khalid stated that the group was dismantled in a massive operation by E8 in three phases between April 28 and June 21.

“Thirty-six Bangladeshi men aged between 25 and 35 were detained in raids conducted in Johor and Selangor, including the cell leader.

“We discovered they were not planning any terror attack in Malaysia but were instead focused on recruiting members and spreading IS beliefs and ideologies.

“Five of them have been charged, 15 have been handed over to the Immigration Department, and the remaining 16 are still being investigated under Sosma,” he said.