The suspect, Sheikh Kazi Al Amin, 24, son of Abdul Hamid from Katha-Salanga village of Kalmakanda upazila in Netrakona, was picked up by the police from a slum near the railway station the day after bombs were exploded in railway stations in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet.

While visiting Al Amin's home at Salanga village, this correspondent had candid conversations with his parents and the officer in charge (OC) of Kalmakanda Police Station (PS).

His father, Abdul Hamid, is a starving herbal medicine (ayurvedic) practitioner (locally known as 'Kabiraj'). Al Amin is fourth among his nine children -- six sons and three daughters.

Hamid did not know about Al Amin's arrest until this correspondent broke out the news to him.

Al Amin was enrolled at Biswanathpur Fazil Madrasa in Sylhet city three years back. Prior to that, he was a student at Uradighi Hafizia Madrasa of Barhatta upazila in Netrakona, said the father.

The last time Al Amin came home was a couple of years back when he was studying at Biswanathpur madrasa. His son during his visit back then told the parents, "Don't worry about me, for I am headed for the path of Allah now."

After learning about her son's arrest, Al Amin's tearful mother said, "We would never send Al Amin for madrasa education if we ever knew that he would turn out to be a militant."

The last communication they had with their son was last year in the first week of November when Al Amin sent them a mail. They have not heard from him ever since, said his father.

Amirul Islam Dewan, OC of Kalmakanda PS, told this correspondent that he only came to know about Al Amin's arrest from news in various electronic and print media.

The OC also said since Abdul Hamid is a poor Kabiraj without any arable land of his own, he should not be able to bear Al Amin's educational expenses. "It is likely that militant outfit Jadid al-Qaeda exploited Al Amin in return for bearing his educational expenses."