DHAKA, Bangladesh – More than 5,000 people were arrested in Bangladesh after police launched a crackdown on Islamic militants after recurring attacks, claimed by radical Islamists, officials said Sunday.
Eighty-five of them were arrested for their alleged links with banned Islamist organizations while the rest are wanted for various crimes, police spokesman Kamrul Hasan said.
Police began the arrests Friday after the number of murders of members of religious minorities, secular bloggers, gay rights activists and academics reached around 40 since 2013.
The lawmen picked up 2,132 people Saturday raising the total number of detainees to 5,324 as of Sunday, according to the police counts.
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said authorities would stop the killings of religious minorities and atheist campaigners in the country.
She said Saturday the authorities “will do whatever is needed to stop the secret killings,” which she blamed on a plot by opposition Islamist group Jamaat-e-Islami.
The nationwide crackdown will continue until Thursday, said Inspector General of Police Shahidul Hoque .
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