ANALYSIS - Bangladesh struggles to tame violent militants

By Anis Ahmed

DHAKA (Reuters) - Violent militants in Afghanistan and Pakistan get more attention, but militant groups also challenge South Asia's other Muslim nation, Bangladesh, worrying neighbours and countries with Bangladeshi workers or immigrants.

Militants in the low-lying nation of some 150 million people threaten its young democratic government's efforts to achieve stability, and raise fears the groups will connect with and strengthen extremist international networks.

The violent Islamists' presence also discourages much needed aid and investment.

Nearby India has expressed its concern, and last weekend Britain's security minister Lord West visited Dhaka to strengthen bilateral efforts on the issue.

"The governments must cooperate with each other against terrorism as the terrorists of different countries are gaining strength through mutual assistance," he told reporters.

Harkatul Jihad Islami (HUJI) Bangladesh, one of more than a dozen outlawed Islamist groups seeking to turn Bangladesh into a sharia-based Islamic state, was blamed for attempting to kill then British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury in May 2005.

Police also linked Huji to a 2004 attempt to kill Sheikh Hasina, then the opposition leader. She narrowly escaped but 23 others died when grenades exploded at a rally she was addressing.

Authorities say another group, Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), was behind deadly bombings in late 2005. Victims included judges, lawyers, police and others.