Bangladesh today banned extremist group Ansar Al-Islam blamed for the brutal murders of several secular activists and atheist bloggers in the Muslim-majority country.
A Home Ministry spokesman said an order was issued banning the militant outfit as the group is involved in anti-state activities. The radical group has claimed responsibility for a spate of gruesome murders of secular activists and atheist bloggers in the Bangladesh that sparked a security crackdown on extremists.
The Ansar Al-Islam has also claimed links to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent. It is the seventh radical extremist organisation, whose activities have so far been banned in Bangladesh.
The six other groups already banned are Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB), Harkat ul-Jehad al-Islami Bangladesh (HUJI-B), Hizb ut-Tahrir and Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT).