Mumbai-based Islamic preacher Zakir Naik under NIA scanner after Dhaka terror attack

Zakir Naik is banned in the UK and Canada.

New Delhi: Founder of Islamic Research Foundation, Zakir Naik has been hogging the headlines, after it was revealed that one of the five young militants, who slaughtered 20 innocent people at the Holey Artisan Bakery in the Bangladesh capital Dhaka, used to follow the Mumbai-based preacher.

The National Investigating Agency (NIA) has started examining the speeches of Zakir Naik. The officials have been asked to be extra cautious and be very specific with the facts regarding the popular Mumbai-based preacher, a report said on Wednesday.

A senior government official told 'The Times of India' that the NIA sleuths have been directed to investigate whether Naik advocates any terrorist outfit or justifies terrorism with his speeches.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said, it is not wise on the part of a minister to make announcement on banning controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik.

"It's not wise on the part of a minister to make an announcement on what actions are likely to be taken. These are matter of the law and agencies who are dealing with it. We will give all kinds of support in dealing with terrorism," Rijiju told the media here.

Peace TV’s controversial preacher Naik is banned in the UK and Canada.

Terrorist Rohan Imtiaz, son of an Awami League leader, propagated on Facebook last year quoting Naik “urging all Muslims to be terrorists”, the Daily Star reported.

50-year-old Naik, a doctor, had refused to describe Osama bin Laden as a terrorist. The United Kingdom, Malaysia and Canada has banned him from entering their territory.

In 2010, while answering a question about why he was banned from entering Britain, Naik had said it was because he exhorts all Muslims to be terrorists.

Islamist gunmen killed 20 hostages, mainly foreigners, and two policemen during the bloody siege at the Holey Artisan Bakery on July 1. Six gunmen were shot dead and one was captured by security forces.