Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) claimed to have arrested seven members of new militant outfit Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya and three of a separatist organisation from Bandarban and Rangamati Thursday night.

During the operation by RAB against suspected militants in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), a large number of weapons and ammunition were also seized, ASP Imran Khan of RAB Headquarters (media wing), said.

On October 17, the government announced a ban on tourists travelling to the country's mountainous region bordering India and Myanmar after launching the anti-militancy operation of RAB and Bangladesh Army.

Read: Temporary ban on tourism at Rowangchhari and Ruma to fight ‘militants and criminals’

Multiple separatist groups in the CHT may have been harbouring members of Jama'atul Ansar and allowing them to use the area to train recruits.

RAB said this on October 10 after arresting 12 suspected members of the new militant outfit, formed by former members of banned Islamist groups Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh, Harkat-ul Jihad al-Islami Bangladesh and Ansar Al Islam.