At least 36 members belonging to the banned militant outfit Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT) were arrested by Bangladeshi police on Friday while conducting a nationwide search operation to nab them.

They were arrested following a rally organised by the banned outfit in Dhaka last week.

"We are analysing the video footage of the rally. We have identified many members of HT, and they will be arrested for joining a political programme of a banned organisation," Baharul Alam, inspector general of police, told The Daily Star.

A key leader of the group, who was identified as Saiful Islam, was among those arrested by the police.

Police have registered several cases under the anti-terrorism act against the members of the group.

Police Clash With HT Members

Bangladesh police baton charged and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse a procession taken out by members of banned outfit Hizb ut-Tahrir in Dhaka city on Friday.

The procession was taken out in Baitul Mukarram area of Dhaka when some members of the banned group reportedly clashed with the police.

The police resorted to a lathicharge after the procession moved from Paltan towards Bijoynagar.

The Hizb ut-Tahrir activists tried to regroup and begin the procession once again, but the police dispersed them.

A sense of panic gripped the region during the procession.

The Bangladesh government banned Hizb ut-Tahrir on October 22, 2009.

The group was considered a threat to public security.

If any banned outfit, including Hizb ut-Tahrir, attempts to hold meetings, rallies, or engage in any form of publicity, necessary legal action will be taken, read the statement issued by Muhammad Talebur Rahman PPM, deputy commissioner (media) of DMP as quoted by The Daily Star.

Bangladesh have launched a crackdown against the group in recent times.