Bangladesh alert over militants

A failed plot to kill former PM Sheikh Hasina brought Huji into the limelight

The government of Bangladesh says it is working to curb the activities of an Islamic organisation one day after the US designated it as a terrorist group.

Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (Huji) has been categorised as a "specially designated global terrorist" by an executive order in Washington.

India has also accused the extremist group of carrying out cross-border attacks and blasts.

Dhaka banned the group in October 2005 and its leader is currently in prison.

Bangladeshi officials say there is no known operational activity by the group in Bangladesh but security agencies have been put on alert.

Huji was banned after police arrested its alleged chief, Mufti Abdul Hannan, who once fought against Soviet troops in Afghanistan.

The group came into the limelight after a plot to kill Bangladesh's former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was foiled about seven years ago.

Investigators said they believed that Huji was also behind two bomb attacks in the country in 2005.

In September 2005, the group was among 15 international organisations UK Home Secretary Charles Clarke had named in parliament, calling for a ban on them.