Bangladesh issued an order to verify whether al-Qaeda has established a group in the country after the a message came from the terrorist group allegedly announcing the formation of its Indian branch.

State Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said in his office on Thursday that India immediately issued a red alert after the message. Bangladesh considers this a serious matter, Kamal added.

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On Wednesday, international media reported about an online video showing al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri announcing the establishment of an Indian wing of the group. The minister said state officials are currently working to verify the authenticity of the video.

Bangladesh has been trying to deal with militant groups for a long time, Kamal said. His office will also issue an official statement regarding the matter soon.

Immediately after the release of the video, Bangladesh officials ordered a probe into the matter and increased surveillance in several Islamic seminaries that are reportedly run by Islamic militants.

Even with the heightened security on rebel outfits in Bangladesh and the capture of militant leaders, several followers of al-Qaeda still remain in Bangladesh, The Daily Star reported on Friday, citing unnamed intelligence officials.

The officials said the remaining al-Qaeda followers received their training in Afghanistanand and were part of terrorist attacks abroad.

The video showed Zahwari saying the formation of an Indian branch of the group will represent "glad tidings" for Muslims living in Bangladesh, Assam, Kashmir, Ahmedabad, Gujarat and Burma.

The al-Qaeda leader added that this new branch will protect the Muslims from "oppression  and injustice." He also said the Indian wing will help raise the flag of jihad.

However, several political analysts said that al-Zawahri's message is an attempt to get more followers to compete with the growing terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

TagsBangladesh, Al-qaeda, militants, militant group