5,000 terrorist suspects arrested in Bangladesh

'It may take time, but God willing, we will be able to bring them under control.'

Over the course of a single week, a series of police raids resulted in the arrest of over 5,000 known and suspected Islamist militants.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - After a police superintendent lost his wife to a machete attack, the Bangladesh police have killed five militants in shootouts and decided to take a more active approach to fight the Islamic State.

According to Sky News, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina vowed to catch "each and every killer," adding: "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."

Those who have been arrested are believed to be responsible for several of the attacks on minority communities, particularly to the Christian, atheist and Hindu peoples.

Many of the murders in these communities were linked to people riding motorcycles and thje Bangladesh authorities have seized nearly 1,000 motorcycles along with the arrested people.

Shahriar Kabir, the general secretary of the South Asian People's Union Against Fundamentalism and Communalism, stated action against the Islamic State should have taken place years ago.

"I welcome this special drive," Kabir explained, "It should have been taken much earlier."

Despite the relief to minority groups, critics believe government officials are using the sweeps as an excuse to target anti-government factions.

"In the name of an antimilitant drive, the government is arresting opposition activists, including BNP [Bangladesh Nationalist Party] and other antigovernment people," Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, of the BNP, stated.

Whether Rizvi's statement holds truth has yet to be seen but Bangladesh authorities appear to have swept their nation accurately and effectively.

No information on how authorities will be processing the suspects have been released, nor have possible punishments been reported.

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