Bangladesh police round up 900 suspected Islamist extremists

900 suspected militants were detained in Bangladesh following a series of attacks on minority and secular citizens.

Police launched operations overnight against Islamist extremists suspected of involvement in the attacks.

About 40 people, including secular bloggers, academics and members of religious minorities, have been killed in attacks in the past few years.

Earlier on Friday, a Hindu monastery worker was hacked to death in Pabna district.

Nityaranjan Pande, who was in his 60s, died on the spot after several people attacked him, reports said.

In the past week alone, a Hindu priest, a Christian grocer, and the wife of an anti-terror police officer were all killed in attacks by suspected militants.

Secular bloggers, academics, gay rights activists, and other members of religious minorities are also among those to have been killed in recent months.

Police have made a list of suspects wanted for more than 40 targeted killings over the past three years, based on intelligence reports.

About 900 suspects had been arrested and the number could increase further.

Bangladesh has a majority Muslim population with Hindus making up about 8%.