The Awami League general secretary confirmed the inclusion of BNP and its ally closest Jamaat in the committees on Thursday.
The confirmation came at a time Awami League leaders, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, have been blaming the two parties for the recent terror attacks.
The district-level committees were formed several years ago during a BNP-Jamaat movement to topple the Awami League government.
Now the government has decided to set the committees in motion after the Gulshan and Sholakia terror attacks. The prime minister has also asked that the panels be activate.
After the working session of his ministry during the annual conference of deputy commissioners, journalists asked Syed Ashraf whether elected candidates of or those backed by the BNP and Jamaat in the local government will be put on the panels.
“Of course, it will be done,” he replied.
He said all the local government bodies like city corporations, municipalities and union councils will be included in the panels.
“It will not be partisan... not an affiliate of any particular political party,” he said.
Asked whether representatives of the BNP and Jamaat will also be included in the ‘national unity’, the senior politician said, “I am not too keen on speaking about it as it (DC conference) is not a political platform.”
“You will surely get (information on the matter) tomorrow or the day after. The issue will be discussed,” he added.
On being asked whether someone from the BNP or Jamaat other than their public representatives can sit on the committees, Syed Ashraf said, “It’s yet to be decided whether (the committees) will be composed of political parties, or the administration, or union council members or municipality mayors.”
“The Awami League has issued an instruction on the issue that it will form such committees at the district or Upazila level.
“When it comes to the administration, the committees will be formed within the administration’s jurisdiction in the future.”
He also emphasised working at the grassroots level to tackle militancy.
“The most important thing is to disarm them (militants) locally. Taking decision by reviewing their movements – these things are best done at the grassroots,” the minister said.
After the session on his ministry during the DC conference on Wednesday, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said he had instructed the DCs to form anti-militancy committees with people from all levels of life in the districts down to union council.
Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam had earlier said there had been a government instruction to strengthen and make more effective the anti-militancy committees and core committees following the recent terror attacks.
The government formed the committees against terrorism, militancy and violence at metropolitan, district, Upazila, municipality, ward and union-level in 2013.
According to Secretary Shafiul, divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners head the core committees.
Deputy inspectors general, metropolitan police commissioners and other officials are called to the divisional core committee meetings.
Those who attend the meetings of the district-level core committees headed by deputy commissioners include superintendents of police, and representatives of Ansar and Border Guard Bangladesh.