Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on July 15 arrested Mahmudul Hasan Gunobi alias Hasan (36), a ‘spiritual leader’ of pro-al Qaeda militant outfit Ansar al-Islam, from Shah Ali Beribandh area of Dhaka city in Dhaka District of Dhaka Division, reports The Daily Star. Gunobi used to deliver religious speeches at different madrasas to identify a target group, lure them into militancy and train them in secret dens in the country's hilly areas, said RAB officials. After becoming acquainted with another Ansar al-Islam ‘spiritual leader’ Jashim Uddin Rahmani, Gunobi became involved with the banned militant outfit. He established himself as a propagandist of extremism after the arrest of Rahmani, claimed RAB. Gunobi played a special role in the invitation and training programmes of Ansar al-Islam, said RAB.