‘Zero tolerance policy against militancy’

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal MP, has said the present government has been following the zero tolerance policy in containing militancy and terrorism in the country. "We have kept militancy and terrorism under control though the menace is yet to be uprooted," the minister said at a press briefing held in the conference room of the deputy commissioner yesterday afternoon. Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Ministry Tipu Munshi MP, chaired the event to brief decisions taken in the 15th meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee of the 10th Jatiya Sangshad held earlier on Wednesday at the same venue. While briefing the media, Tipu Munshi who also chaired the 15th meeting of the Parliam-entary Standing Committee on Home Ministry, said a number of issues were discussed and some important decisions had been taken in the meeting.

"Among other decisions, the meeting has suggested to form a Counter Terrorism Agency that will specifically work against militancy and terrorism," Munshi said adding that long-term decision was also taken to save the young generations from drug abuse. He put special emphasis on creating mass public awareness against terrorism and militancy as efforts of the law enforcement agencies were not enough to permanently eliminate these menaces from society. "Following various effective steps taken by the government, militancy has been weakened throughout the country now," Munshi added. Answering to a question, Home Minister Asaduzz-aman Khan said the law enforcement agencies successfully unearthed motives and clues of all previous terrorist and militant attacks and killings and arrested the criminals worked behind.

"The motives and intentions behind brutal murder of Manzurul Islam Liton, MP, (Gaibandha-1 constituency) would also be unearthed soon, criminals be indentified and arrested to bring them under the law of the land," he said. He said the common people, including Imams, Olama-Mashaekhs and religious leaders, had already stood around altogether at the call of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to decisively eliminate terrorism and militancy from the
country. "We have challenged the militants and terrorists and the law enforcement agencies have been arresting them efficiently when many advanced countries could not achieve similar successes toward the directions like Bangladesh," the Minister said.

Members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Ministry Omar Faruk Chowdhury MP, Abul Kalam Azad MP, Fakhrul Imam MP, and Begum Kamrun Nahar Chowdhury MP, Home Secretary Dr Kamal Uddin Ahmed, Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh Major General Abul Hossain, Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque, Director General of Rapid Action Battalion Benazir Ahmed and high officials concerned attended the meeting. - BSS, Rangpur