Bangladesh bans militant Islamic group

Dhaka - Bangladesh has banned Hizb-ut-Tahrir, an Islamic group allegedly involved in subversive activities, on security grounds, media reports said Friday. The Home Ministry issued an order Thursday outlawing the international outfit, already banned in some other countries including Pakistan and the US for suspected links with militants.

"The operation of Hizb-ut-Tahrir in Bangladesh has been banned," Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder was quoted as saying by the New Age newspaper.

The ban came a day after an unidentified group carried out a bomb attack targeting a ruling party lawmaker, Fazle Noor Tapas, who escaped unhurt.

Police on Friday prevented a press briefing called by chief coordinator of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Bangladesh, Mohiuddin Ahmed, following the ban.

The government earlier banned four Islamist outfits - Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh, Harkatul Jihad al Islami, Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh and Shahadat-e al Hikma for their suspected militant connections.