Bangladesh reduces number of missing people suspected of being involved in militant activities

Bangladesh's anti-crime elite force Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) have reduced the number of missing people suspected of being involved in militant activities from 262 to 68.

On Monday night, RAB published the updated list of 68 people of ages from 15 to 40 and called on citizens to report the whereabouts of the missing.

In the wake of the two major terror attacks that occurred here, including the July 1 siege staged by militants who were missing for months in advance of the attack, RAB on July 20 published a list of 262 missing people suspected of being involved in militant activities.

RAB in a statement on Monday said it revised the list after some of them who were earlier reported missing returned home.

"RAB's latest searches and investigations found 68 people still remained missing,"said the statement.

It said the list will constantly be updated.

The statement, however, asked the families of the 68 missing persons to contact the security force if any of them returns.

Before the wounds of the July 1 deadly terror attack at a Spanish restaurant in Dhaka, that left 22 people, including 18 foreigners and two police officers dead, had even begun to heal, Bangladesh suffered a fresh blow on July 7 when terrorists attacked Muslims' Eid prayers.

At least four people were killed, including two police officers and one of the attackers, after several explosions and gunfire took place at the entrance of the country's largest Sholakia Eid prayer venue in Kishoreganj district, some 117 km northeast of Dhaka, on the morning of July 7. Endit