"I was pleased to hear of the arrest by the authorities in Bangladesh of Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai on March 6. This follows the capture of Shaekh Abdur Rahman last week and large scale clampdown on extremists over recent months in Bangladesh," he said in a statement yesterday.

Howells said "This is excellent news for the people of Bangladesh, who will be relieved at these arrests. This is a significant advance in the counter-terrorism activities of the Government of Bangladesh and an important part of wider efforts to combat international terrorism. The Bangladeshi authorities are to be congratulated. "He said experience shows clearly that combating terror requires a sustained effort and support from the Bangladeshi people across the political spectrum.

"I encourage the Government of Bangladesh to continue its efforts to deal with the extremist threat without compromising respect for human rights and the rule of law. The UK stands ready to work with the Government of Bangladesh to achieve this," Howells said.