Controversial Bangladeshi Islamic preacher Ataur Rahman Bikrampuri, known for his provocative online sermons and past links to militant outfits, was arrested on December 23, 2025. He was reportedly arrested by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DB) based on a request from the Gazipur Metropolitan Police, which had received instructions from the Home Ministry for his arrest. However, the exact reason for the arrest is not known, but reports say there was an arrest warrant against him from the Home Ministry. Rahman was sent to Kashimpur Central Jail from Tongi East Police Station.
However, before his arrest, he made shocking claims in a Facebook Live session shortly before his detention by Bangladeshi authorities. In the widely circulated video, Bikrampuri directly accused student leaders from the National Citizen Party (NCP) and members of Jamaat-e-Islami of orchestrating terrorist activities and fuelling widespread unrest across Bangladesh. He claimed these groups were the masterminds behind various acts of violence and instability in the country.
Ataur Rahman Bikrampuri agreed that he had posted provocative comments on social media, and offered to get arrested. But he added that he made the posts after seeing similar posts by NCP leaders like Nasiruddin Patwary, Hasnat Abdullah, Sarjis Alam, Sadikur Rahman etc, adding that if he is arrested, these student leaders turned politicians also should be arrested.
He claimed that just like he made inflammatory statements, the NCP leaders also made similar statements. He blamed the NCP leaders for the recent violence in the country following the murder of student leader Sharif Osman Bin Hadi.
Bikrampuri, who has a history of inflammatory statements, including reportedly labelling democracy-supporting Muslims as “kafirs,” inciting violence against atheists, and endorsing groups like Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, was arrested by the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police in Narsingdi late on December 23. He was subsequently transferred to Gazipur police and sent to Kashimpur High Security Central Jail under a 90-day detention order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, citing the need to maintain law and order under the Special Powers Act, 1974.
