2 Huji leaders arrested in Dhaka, says Rab

The Rapid Action Battalion claimed to have arrested two leaders of the banned militant outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami (Huji) in Dhaka's Malibagh area last night.

The arrestees are Abdul Kuddus, 57, and Sirajul Islam alias Salahuddin, 35, both from Jashore.

Of the arrestees, Kuddus is the regional commander of the outfit in Jashore and Salahuddin a recruiter, said Farjana Haque, media officer of Rab-3.

Once a madrasa teacher, Kuddus was awarded life term in a case filed with Jhenidah Sadar Police Station under the Anti-Terrorism Act in 2007. After serving 10 years, he was out on bail and engaged in the militant group's activities again, according to Rab officials said.

Sirajul, a former nightguard at a cold storage in Jashore, joined the militant group in 2001. He was arrested in 2011 in a case filed with Jashore's Kotwali Police Station in 2010. One year later, he was out on bail and went into hiding, they said.

According to a press release sent by Rab, the two arrestees along with others were planning to carry out a major militant attack in the country. Rab members arrested them yesterday as they gathered in Malibagh area to hold a secret meeting.