Dhaka has no knowledge of a Military Institute of Science and Technology student allegedly joining Islami State after crossing into Syria from Turkey after departing on February 21 without informing his family to, as he claimed, attend a conference.

"The foreign ministry does not have any such information," State Minister Md Shahriar Alam told The Daily Star yesterday.

Media reports quoting a foreign ministry letter say Ashequr Rahman was supposed to return on February 27 but disappeared.

Two top officials of Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police said they believe Ashequr had indeed joined IS.