Police arrested JMB (Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh) chief Maulana Saidur Rahman, his wife and three other top leaders of the banned Islamist outfit. They made the arrests in the capital and Narayanganj this week.

Inspector General of Police Nur Mohammad said to media several militant organizations are still operative in the country and they might have an alliance. He also said that since militancy is now a global phenomenon, Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh might have connections with militant groups in neighboring countries.

Since the serial blasts across the country in 2005, the law enforcers arrested over 600 JMB leaders and activists. Of them, Shaekh Abdur Rahman, his deputy Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai, Rahman’s brother Ataur Rahman Sunny, brother-in-law Abdul Awal, suicide bomber Iftekhar Hasan Mamun and Majlis-e-Shura member Khaled Saifullah were executed on March 29, 2008 for killing two Jhalakathi judges on November 14, 2005.