A total of 21 suspected militants were arrested during a special crackdown throughout the country through yesterday, police headquarters said today.

Of the arrestees, 17 are alleged members of banned militant group Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), two of the banned Ansarullah Bangla Team, one each of Hizb ut-Tahrir and Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami (Huji).

The suspected militants were detained in crackdown till 6:00am today.

Police headquarters on Friday launched a seven-day crackdown after the law enforcers took the decision in the wake of a string of targeted killings recently, especially the gruesome murder of SP Babul Akter's wife Mahmuda Khanam Mitu.

As part of the drive, police arrested 11,684 people, including 145 suspected militants, till yesterday morning.