Bangladesh police have arrested three members of a banned Islamist militant group suspected to be involved with the murders of secular bloggers Avijit Roy and Ananta Bijoy Das, officials said on Friday.
Militant group Ansarullah Bangla Team's chief Abul Bashar and two of its media wing members -- Julhas Biswas, Jafran Al Hasan -- were arrested in Dhaka on Thursday evening, bdnews24 reported.
Avijit Roy, who wrote against religious extremism, was hacked to death near Dhaka University on February 26.
On May 12, blogger Ananta Bijoy Das was killed in the same manner in Sylhet.
Law enforcers suspected Ansarullah Bangla Team's involvement in the murders from the start.
Police claimed a five-man hit squad of the banned militant outfit carried out the murders.
Bangladeshi-origin British citizen Touhidur Rahman, Aminul Mallik, Ariful Islam, Jakirul Prokash and Sadek Ali Mithu, all detained in jail, are suspected to have been on the team.
Rahman was allegedly the mastermind behind the operations, police added.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app