UK 'concern' over Bangladesh arms

Many people are educated by madrassas across Bangladesh

The British body responsible for overseeing charities says that it is "seriously concerned" over alleged UK links to an arms haul in Bangladesh.

The weapons cache was found in the south of the country at an Islamic school, or madrassa, allegedly run by a UK-based charity.

A spokesperson for the Charity Commission said they were investigating the "very serious" allegations.

Bangladeshi police say the arms were found in the coastal district of Bhola.

'Mini-ordnance factory'

They say that the arms cache - discovered earlier this week - included weapons, bomb-making equipment and bullets.

Police say that the madrassa is run by the Green Crescent charity based in England. No-one at the charity - based near Manchester - was available for comment on Wednesday.

"These reported activities said to be run under the auspices of a UK charity, Green Crescent Bangladesh UK, raise very serious concerns," the Charities Commission spokesman said.

"Terrorist activity is clearly under no circumstances acceptable for a charity. We are actively examining the information available."

The commission's website said that in 2008, Green crescent had a turnover approaching