Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the parents and educational institutions to inform the law enforcing agencies about their missing children or students, to prevent them from going astray.
Published : 07 Jul 2016, 06:13 PM
Urging youths who have chosen terrorism in the name of Islam to return to normal life, she said, "This is not the way of Islam."
The prime minister was speaking at an event in her official residence, Ganabhaban, where she exchanged Eid greetings with the people on Thursday morning.
She said, "Terrorism will never be tolerated in Bangladesh. The government will do everything to establish peace."
Muslims in the country are celebrating the Eid-ul-Fitr this year with heavy hearts, grieving for the 22 people killed in a terrorist attack on an upscale cafe in Dhaka's Gulshan-2 five days ago.
One of the three youths featured on the video had been missing, too.
Parents of 10 youths, also missing for the past several months, appealed to them on Wednesday to return home.
The prime minister on Thursday urged parents and all educational institutions to provide the law enforcing agencies with the photos and lists of missing children and students.
"Don't sit back after filing a GD (general diary). Release the information and their photos."
Sheikh Hasina said the government would give every support, including the dissemination of information through all forms of media outlets, to help parents to trace their missing children and bring them home.
She also urged people to form anti-terror committees at district, Upazila, and union levels. "We are always beside you. Let us know who are linked to the militants."
'Enemies of Islam'
Hinting at the attack on the Gulshan cafe on Jul 1 evening, and at Sholakia moments before the main Eid prayer, the prime minister said, "They have killed people instead of offering their prayers at time for prayers. How can this be a way to protect Islam?"
"... those who carry out such heinous crimes, don’t believe in Islam in reality. They are the enemies of Islam."
She also spoke of the suicide bombing outside the Prophet Mohammad's Mosque in Saudi Arabia's Medina. "Some people commit such crimes in the name of Islam, tarnishing Islam's image."
Hasina said the militants claimed to be committed to establishing the Sharia law and oppose all man-made laws. "They won't abide by man-made laws. So why are they using manmade weapons, bombs, clothes, and technologies to achieve their goal?"
She asked everyone to be alert and inform the security forces about anyone trying to lure the youths towards militancy.
"Steps must be taken against such people who are involved in false preaching and pushing the youths towards death and hell."
Regarding the reported IS video released on Wednesday, the prime minister said, "I heard that they have criticised our government. They have no right to talk about us and our government. They have no right to hurt our religious sentiments."