Rapid Action Battalion arrested five members of new militant outfit Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya following a gunfight in Bandarban's Thanchi upazila this morning.

Nine Rab members were also injured during the incident, Rab Director General M Khurshid Hossain told a press briefing at Thanchi this afternoon.

The Rab chief said they carried out the drive in Remacri bridge area on tip-off that the militants were passing through the area early in the morning.

"The exchange of fire is still continuing intermittently between Rab and militants," he said during the briefing around 3:30pm.

Earlier, around 7:45am today, Rab said a fire exchange between Rab and militants was going on.

Khurshid also said they were tactically taking time in the operations as they want to capture the militants unharmed once stocks of their bullets end.

Earlier on January 23, Rab members arrested two leaders of new militant group "Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya" after a "gunfight" near Rohingya camp in Ukhia upazila of Cox's Bazar.