However, the police implicated 10 of them in two murder cases after the 11th militant -- Mozammel Haque -- was released on bail.

The militants including two followers of Dr Asadullah Galib and Bangla Bhai were arrested under Section 54 on July 19 in Mozammel's house at Puthiapara in Paba.

Mozammel sheltered the other militants at his house where they grouped to obtain combat training.

The 10 militants now behind bars are likely to face more murder cases as the police believe implicating them in the cases is the 'best way while waiting for the home ministry nod'.

"Rules don't allow us to imprison anyone arrested under Section 54 for more than 15 days without proper reason," said a police official.

The militants were quizzed at the Joint Interrogation Cell in the capital. They are now to face the sedition charge for keeping detailed notes on exclusive combat training for arms, ammunition and detonators with ulterior motive against the state.

The police acting on a JIC recommendation sent a letter to the home ministry on July 27, seeking immediate clearance for bringing sedition charges against them.

"Once the home ministry gives the nod, we will file a sedition case against them," said a police official, who expects the order in a few weeks.

"But the case, if filed, won't be a strong one as we don't have any firm evidence against them," said another investigator.

The police have only a few notes on combat lessons as evidence against their anti-state activities, he explained.

"Discussing religion indoors is virtually no offence," said the investigator.

The sedition case will keep the militants behind bars for a certain time and soon they would be released on less severe punishment, sources said.

The JIC however also asked the police to continue investigation about the arrested militants.

But the police have a little time as they are busy dealing with the daily incidents, said several police officials.

On August 14, Mozammel obtained bail from the Court of District and Sessions Judge.

The police on August 18 showed the rest arrested in two cases for killing an unknown man in Puthia on June 10 and Dipankar in Bagmara on April 26 last year. The court rejected their bail petition the same day.

Four of them -- Rajshahi University Arabic student Ibrahim Hossain, madrasa student Merajul Islam, Tutul and Mansur Rahman -- were also implicated in Sadek Ali murder case.

Sadek, muezzin of Mohendra Jame Mosque in Puthia, was murdered on February 28 allegedly for protesting militant activities in the mosque.

Other arrestees are team leader and Jagrata Muslim Janata, Bangladesh adherent Enamul Haque, Galib's associate and RU student Golam Mustafa, madrasa teacher Jaharul Islam, Biplab Hossain, Abu Zafar, and madrasa student Shah Waliullah.