'Distressed' by anti-terror crackdown, 'BNP is trying to save' militants, PM says

Those who suffer from ‘mental agony’ for the crackdown on militancy are 'trying to save the militants by misleading people', Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said in a veiled reference to BNP leaders' criticism about the drives against terrorists.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 27 March 2017, 04:36 PM
Updated : 27 March 2017, 04:36 PM

"You can clearly hear and see who are distressed when we conduct any drive against the militants," she told a discussion in Dhaka on Monday as the army has been neutralising a terror den in Sylhet since Thursday.

"Those who feel the pain are speaking again and again like playing a broken record. They are trying to save the militants by misleading the people," she added.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday expressed concern over the rise in recent militant activities. He alleged that the government was trying to use the issue for 'political gain'.

The BNP leader also criticised the ruling party leaders for blaming the BNP for various issues. "If you make such comments without investigation, and if those whom the government is connecting to this (militancy) are killed, then the truth will never be revealed."

The prime minister, speaking at the Awami League discussion at Krishibid Institute on Monday, blamed the anti-liberation forces for militancy and violence.

"The people resisted them when they started these in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Now it's time the people will prevent militancy, terrorism and such activities.

"There will be no place for militancy in Bangladesh. We will do whatever is necessary to ensure that," she said.

The prime minister urged the people to find those, who were getting involved in militancy, and try to bring them back from the wrong path.

She also asked the owners to be alert while renting houses.

Awami League leaders, including Matia Chowdhury and Sheikh Selim, blamed the BNP and its ally the Jamaat-e-Islami, for the rise of militancy during their tenure.

Speaking about the government's efforts to develop the country, Sheikh Hasina said, "When we are taking all sorts of measures to ensure security for the people and taking the country forward, it pains them much, and they launch propaganda to undermine Bangladesh in the international arena."

She also urged to drop the 'debate' over the proclamation of independence, pointing that the High Court in a verdict has made it clear that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman proclaimed independence. The BNP claims its founder Gen Ziaur Rahman proclaimed independence on the night of Mar 25.

Bangladesh has for the first time observed Mar 25 as Genocide Day nationally.

"But what we've seen? We've seen that a party or a group, they have not observed the Genocide Day. Their action makes it clear that they don't believe in Bangladesh's independence. And they consider those perpetrators of war crimes, genocide, lootings, arson attacks, and rapes, as people close to them.”

While speaking about development, the prime minister also mentioned the Bangladesh national cricket team's victory over Sri Lanka in a series-levelling Test and the first ODI.

"We are not making economic development only. We are also making progress in sports. We have defeated a team like Sri Lanka in a Test match as well as in the One Day," she said.