Bangladesh today banned extremist group Ansar Al-Islam blamed for the brutal murders of several secular activists and atheist bloggers in the Muslim-majority country. <br/><br/>A Home Ministry spokesman said an order was issued banning the militant outfit as the group is involved in anti-state activities. The radical group has claimed responsibility for a spate of gruesome murders of secular activists and atheist bloggers in the Bangladesh that sparked a security crackdown on extremists. <br/><br/>The Ansar Al-Islam has also claimed links to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent. It is the seventh radical extremist organisation, whose activities have so far been banned in Bangladesh. <br/><br/>The six other groups already banned are Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB), Harkat ul-Jehad al-Islami Bangladesh (HUJI-B), Hizb ut-Tahrir and Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT).<br/><br/>