HuJI leader Abu Bakar arrested in Bangladesh

DHAKA: A key operative of outlawed Islamist militant outfit HuJI, who was sentenced to death in absentia for a deadly blast here, has been arrested in Bangladesh.

Abu Bakar was arrested from Dhaka's Kernaiganj area last night by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

Bakar is also charged for grenade attack at an Awami League rally in Dhaka in 2004.

He is said to be one of the closest associates of Harkat-ul Jihad Al-Islami's top leader Mufti Hannan, bdnews24 reported.

The 2001 explosions at Dhaka's Ramna Park left 10 people dead. In June this year, the court sentenced Bakar and Hannan to death and six others from the terror group were sentenced to life for the blasts during the Bangla New Year celebrations.

The HuJI is a Pakistan-based militant group with an affiliate in Bangladesh.

Another key operative of HuJi, who received training on arms handling in Pakistan, was arrested in Bangladesh on Tuesday.

Bangladesh police had arrested four suspected operatives of outlawed HuJI militant outfit and busted two laboratories used for making bombs late last month.