Awami League capitalising on militancy, says BNP

In the wake of ministers blaming the BNP for the recent terror attacks, the party has shot back at the Awami League saying it is capitalising on the issue to cling on to power.

"The government is using militancy to gain political mileage; they are capitalising on it," senior leader Amir Khoshru Mahmud Chowdhury told a discussion on Saturday.

His remarks followed Awami League Secretary General Obaidul Quader's statement blaming the BNP for the recent militant activities.

BNP National Standing Committee Member Amir Khoshru claimed that the government was totally isolated from the people. "That's why they have gone for a number of anti-people initiatives and one of them is playing the militancy card."

He said since the government is using the issue, they have not responded to BNP chief Khaleda Zia's call to unite against militancy.

Senior BNP leader Amir Khoshru Mahmud Chowdhury's comments followed ruling party leaders' remarks that his party was patronising terrorists. File photo

After the Gulshan cafe attack in mid-2016, Khaleda called for national unity against terrorism, but Awami League leaders brushed it aside blaming the former prime minister for instigating militancy.

Following Thursday's raids on militant hideouts in Chittagong's, a suicide bomber blew himself up on Friday at the RAB barracks in the capital's Ashkona, injuring two RAB personnel.

Within a day of the attack on the Ashkona base, the RAB said it has foiled a possible suicide bombing at a check-post in the capital's Khilgaon early on Saturday, killing the suspected attacker.

After the attack on Friday, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader blamed the BNP for patronising terrorists and following Saturday's check-post assault he said the attacks will 'get in the way' of the next national election.