Bangladesh bans extremist group Ansar-al-Islam

Bangladesh has banned extremist group Ansar Al-Islam blamed for the brutal murders of several secular activists and atheist bloggers in the country. A Bangla Home Ministry spokesman said the order was issued as the group is involved in anti-state activities. It is the seventh radical extremist organisation, whose activities have so far been banned in Bangladesh. 

Ansar al-Islam, which claims links to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, has



claimed responsibility for a spate of gruesome murders of secular activists and atheist bloggers in Bangladesh that sparked a security crackdown on extremists. 

The Ministry said members of previously outlawed Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) regrouped under the banner of Ansar al-Islam. ABT was banned in May 2015 when one of its leaders was arrested and two members were sentenced to death for the murder of an atheist blogger.