Four members of the banned militant organization, Hizb ut-Tahrir, were arrested in Dhaka, Bangladesh on May 3, 2012. The arrestees, all male university students, were taken to the Shahbahg police station.
The men were arrested after starting a procession in central Dhaka, protesting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's upcoming visit, scheduled for May 5. The protests attracted around 25 Tahrir demonstrators, who also demanded the release of members of the organization, who remain in prison.
Hizb ut-Tahrir is a political party that calls for the application of Islam in every aspect of life. The party remains controversial, as some suspect a connection between the organization and terrorism. Hizb ut-Tahrir however, emphasizes its official commitment to non-violent forms of change.
The organization was banned in Bangladesh in October 2002, after the country's Home Minister accused its members of destabilizing the country. Hizb ut-Tahrir was also recently accused of staging an attempted coup agains the Bangaldeshi government in December 2011.