Dhaka: Two members of Bangladesh's banned extremist Islamic outfit Shahadat-e-al- Hikma, funded by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, have been arrested.

Police in bordering Rajshahi town on February 18 night arrested one Rahmat Ali Sarkar, said to be group's treasurer from Harogram Natunpara area from where he was allegedly carrying out the outfit's activities, the 'Daily Star' reported.

Shamim Uddin, one of the founder members of Shahadat-e-al-Hikma was arrested carrying arms on February 15 and was sent to two-day police remand on February 18 by a Rajshahi magistrate court, it said.

However, the authorities in Rajshahi district, the birthplace of Shahadat-e-al- Hikma, could not file treason charges against the outfit as the order of proscription failed to reach them so far, the 'Janakanta' daily reported.

"After observing activities of al-Hikma, it was found to be threat to peace and security of the country and that's why the decision has been taken to ban it," Bangladesh Home Minister Altaf Hussain Chowdhury had told the Parliament on February 16.

Kawsar Hossain Siddique, convenor of al-Hikma, while announcing its launching on February 8, had said the outfit was financed by Dawood Ibrahim, who heads the list of most-wanted terrorists in India and is the prime accused in the Mumbai blasts case.

PTI