In recent days an elderly
Hindu priest was found nearly decapitated in a rice field and a Christian
grocer was hacked to death near a church.
Islamist militants are
claiming responsibility for the murders, but this is disputed by the Jamayetul
Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) militant group.
The Bangladesh police have
arrested 5,324 people over the weekend following a spate of gruesome murders.
The nationwide operation
came as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina vowed to catch "each and every
killer".
Religious minorities,
secular thinkers and liberal activists have been the prime targets of the
killings.
Among those detained are 85
suspected islamic radicals.
Hundreds of potential
criminals who previously had warrants against them have also been rounded up.
Prime Minister Hasina told
a meeting of her ruling Awami League party: "It may take time, but God
willing, we will be able to bring them under control.
"Where will the
criminals hide? Each and every killer will be brought to book."
However, members of Bangladesh's
opposition claim the crackdown is being used to suppress political dissent -
accusing police of arresting hundreds of activists.
One of those arrested -
Shahjahan Robin - is a suspect in the murder of Mahmuda Begum, the wife of a
top anti-terror officer who was stabbed and shot last weekend.
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