The civil aviation and tourism minister, Rashed Khan Menon, on Tuesday said that the so-called ‘gunfight’ or ‘crossfire’ was not a solution for curbing militancy.
‘We are witnessing the militants are being killed in crossfire everyday. But it is not the solution to this
problem rather this is the failure and weakness of the law enforcement agencies,’ Menon told the House taking part in the budget discussion.
He said that there was no IS in the country, rather there were followers of them and they were involved in secret killings.
The minister criticised a section of government officials and police officers for issuing statements which indirectly justified militants’ wrong doing.
‘Whenever we see any blogger was killed, police officials find whether the blogger writes anything against religion. Authorities said any criticism against religion would not be tolerated… If such words are uttered after killing of anyone, the killing looks justified,’ Menon added.
Menon, also chief of Workers Party of Bangladesh, alleged that militant groups were formed in the country with the help of local and international financing.
‘They (militants) are involved in secret killings. Citing these killings, the USA and EU and other western countries are giving travel advisory to their citizens while they visit Bangladesh and asking them not to invest in Bangladesh,’ he added.
About recently concluded Union Parishad elections, Menon said, ‘We under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina have established peoples voting rights fighting against military government and BNP-Jamaat’s vote rigging. But this UP elections destroyed our achievement and the Election Commission has been watching this without taking any action.’ He said that democracy will be at stake if electoral reforms were not brought.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal lawmaker Moinuddin Khan Badal criticized the management of country’s financial sector for not taking action against the people responsible for the chaotic situation in the sector.
‘Everyday we talk about zero tolerance. But what actions are being taken against the financial criminals?’ he asked taking part in the budget discussion.
Religious affairs minister Motiur Rahman replying to a scripted query told the House that the government would undertake a project for intensifying anti-militancy campaigns throughout the country.
Responding to another question, the religious affairs minister said according to a survey conducted by Islamic Foundation in 2008, the number of total mosques in Dhaka city is 5,776.
Source: New Age