Dhaka, Aug 18 - Five Indian separatists have been arrested from the wooded hills of Khagrachhari in Bangladesh's Chittagong Hill Tracts, an apparent indication of the growing cooperation between the two neighbours in curbing militancy.

Bangladesh Army and police personnel in a joint drive Monday arrested the five Indian nationals who they believe are members of the separatist National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) of India's Assam state.

Detained in a hilly area of Dighinala upazila in Khagrachhari, they were identified as Oadhish Narzari, 35, Pabitra Gowari, 25, Dhiren Khakori, 25, Jonatha Basumothari, 35, and Pradep, 30, the Daily Star reported.

Al Mamun Suman of Dighinala army zone and sub-inspector Rafiqullah of Dighinala police station arrested them in connection with illegal entry to the country.

Quoting the NDFB separatists, Dighinala Police Station officer-in-charge Suvash Chandra Paul told the newspaper that they had entered Bangladesh through a border with Tripura.