DHAKA, Oct 17: Bangladesh on Monday banned Harkatul Jihad Al Islami, the third Islamic militant group to be outlawed this year, branding it a “self-confessed terrorist outfit”.

“Based on the existing information, the Bangladesh government has banned Harkatul Jihad Al Islami,” the home ministry said in a statement.

“Harkatul Jihad Al Islamic is a self-confessed terrorist outfit. Its activities are very sensitive and it is identified as a terrorist outfit,” it added.

The ban follows the Oct 1 arrest of alleged leader of the organisation Mufti Abdul Hannan from a residence in the Bangladesh capital Dhaka.

Hannan fought in Afghanistan against the Soviet invasion during the 1980s and was alleged to have been involved in a plot to blow up former prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed in 2000.

He is also being questioned about nationwide explosions on August 17, which killed three and wounded more than 100.

Bangladesh police said they were also looking for “mujahedin” who fought in Afghanistan with Mufti Abdul Hannan.

Afghan war veterans form the leading ranks of Harkatul Jihad and are suspected of involvement in bomb explosions at three separate courts on October 3 in Bangladesh.—AFP