Police in western Bangladesh said Wednesday they have armed villagers with bamboo sticks and whistles in an effort to deter Islamist militants from attacking people of minority faiths.

Officers said they wanted to empower people to act against militants who have killed dozens of secular activists, Hindus and other minorities across the country in recent years.

The move comes after a Hindu priest was found slaughtered in a rice field in western Bangladesh, the latest in a series of gruesome murders targeting secular campaigners and religious minorities in the mainly Muslim country.

‘We want to change the scenario. We want the people to be cautious, safe and united against militancy and other crimes,’ said Ehsan Ullah, police chief in the western district of Magura, which has a large Hindu population.

Ullah said the sticks and whistles were aimed partly at raising morale among local people.

‘Almost all recent (militant) attacks took place during a time when roads were empty and the local community was busy with farming or asleep,’ he told AFP.

Police denied the scheme could be open to abuse, despite concerns from some human rights activists that the move could trigger mob lynchings.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the Hindu priest's murder and other recent attacks.

But authorities instead blame homegrown militant groups and say IS and other international group have no presence in Bangladesh.

Last Friday the police launched a crackdown on militant groups in Bangladesh in the wake of the violence, arresting more than 11,000 people in recent days.