Over 5,000 detained in 2 days of Bangladesh anti-militant crackdown

Dhaka: Bangladesh police have detained over 5,000 persons, including many belonging to Islamist parties, in the first two days of an ongoing week-long nationwide anti-militant crackdown which began on Friday.

At least 2,132 people, including 48 militants, across the country were detained as part of the drive in the last 24 hours till 6 a.m. (local time) on Sunday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Police earlier detained 3,192 people, including 37 suspects in the first 24 hours of the clampdown against militants.

Among the militants arrested on the second day, 47 are reportedly members of banned militant outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) while one belongs to Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT).

The week-long clampdown was aimed at dismantling all terrorist outfits and their networks in the country, an official said.

Bangladesh has been witnessing a surge in violent attacks in recent years.

A number of secularist writers, bloggers and publishers have been killed or seriously injured in attacks carried out by extremists since 2013.