Police arrest 36 members of banned Hizb-ut Tahrir group in Dhaka

In a series of raids since Friday, police in Bangladesh have arrested 36 members of Hizb-ut Tahrir (HT), a banned militant group.

Among those detained is Saiful Islam, a prominent organizer of the group, which has been outlawed in the country since 2009 due to its anti-state activities.

The arrests come after the group held a rally outside the Baitul Mukarram Mosque in Dhaka, an event deemed illegal by the authorities. 

Police are now in the process of identifying and locating additional members of Hizb-ut Tahrir who participated in the rally.

"We are analysing the video footage of the rally. We have identified many members of HT, and they will be arrested for joining a political program of a banned organisation," said Inspector General of Police, Baharul Alam.

The police have filed several cases under Bangladesh‍‍`s anti-terrorism laws in connection with the arrests. 

Hizb-ut Tahrir has long been considered a threat to national security due to its call for the establishment of an Islamic caliphate and its continued promotion of anti-government rhetoric.

Authorities have vowed to continue their efforts to apprehend more individuals associated with the group, signaling their commitment to tackling extremism within the country.

The arrests mark a significant step in Bangladesh’s ongoing efforts to combat the activities of banned and extremist groups, sending a strong message that such rallies and organizations will not be tolerated.