7 militants, 3 separatists held from CHT: RAB

Some 10 people including seven members of a newly surfaced militant group Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya have been arrested from different areas in Bandarban and Rangamati, claimed Rapid Action Battalion or RAB.

The rest are three alleged members of a separatist organisation, it said, adding that a large cache of firearms and ammunition were recovered from their possession.

Of them, three belong to separatist groups of hills, said the elite  force's Legal and Media Wing Director Khandaker Al Moin on Thursday.

On Wednesday, RAB said significant progress had been made in the joint operation in the Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) to locate and detain Islamist militants nurtured by tribal seperatist groups.

On October 18, the local administrations of Ruma and Rowangchhari in Bandarban off-limits to the tourists due to security risks amid the operation launched on October 10.

The drives began in Rangamati and Bandarban areas last week after media reports suggested that a new militant group, named “Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya”, was working with Myanmar-based separatist group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF). Due to the operation, the youths who had joined the KNF went into hiding.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal recently said any separatist or militant organization found in Bangladesh was being removed. 

Asked whether there was a link between local militant organizations and separatists, the minister said: “These matters are being investigated. If we find a connection, we will take action accordingly. We are assuming that some members of militant organizations were stationed next to a KNF camp. We have identified some people, and they will be interrogated after they are captured.”