1,600 detained in Bangladesh in sweep against wave of attacks

DHAKA, Bangladesh — Authorities have rounded up about 1,600 criminal suspects, including a few dozen believed to be Islamic radicals, in a nationwide crackdown aimed at halting a wave of brutal attacks on minorities and activists in Bangladesh, police said Saturday.

The attacks — including upon two Hindus in the last week — have alarmed the international community and raised questions about whether Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s secular government can maintain security for minorities in the Sunni Muslim-majority country.

Only 37 of them are suspected to be radical Islamic militants, according to police spokesman Kamrul Islam.

Victims include atheist bloggers, foreign aid workers, university professors, gay rights activists and religious minorities including Hindus, Christians and Shiite Muslims.

Hasina had announced the anti-militancy campaign after the wife of a police superintendent was shot and stabbed to death on June 5 as she was waiting with her son at a bus stop.