Describing terrorism and militancy as a threat to Bangladesh’s development and security, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said that militants who return from the wrong path will be rehabilitated in future.
“Arrangements for rehabilitation including providing legal aid to the derailed militants, who return to normal life, will be made in future,” she said while responding to a query from ruling party lawmaker Kamal Ahmed Mazumdar in the parliament.
Hasina said a significant number of militants have already surrendered to the law enforcement agencies due to promoting of social awareness through a anti-militancy campaign.
In this connection, she said an arrangement for rehabilitation of the militants, who have surrendered, is being made through motivation and
extending co-operation.
“Besides, a correct list of suspected missing persons and fugitive militants is being prepared,” she said, adding a massive campaign in the print and electronic media in this regard is underway.
Hasina said a significant number of missing persons have already been traced and many of them returned back home. “It’s one of the anti-militancy successes of the present government,” she said.
The prime minister also said preparing a time-befitting standard operating procedure (SOP) is under process to instantly combat terrorist and militant acts.
“The surveillance of the intelligence agencies towards the online-based campaign of the militant outfits will be stepped up further to check radicalisation among the people,” she said.
The PM said an arrangement for increasing technological efficiency and providing specialised training to the law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies is being made.
She said a mass resistance would be put up unitedly through a campaign against militancy and taking together with all political organisations, religious leaders, teachers, students guardians, intellectuals, businesspeople and professional bodies.
The premier said Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony and the people of the country hate communalism and militancy. “Terrorism, communalism and militancy are a threat to the balanced development and security,” she said.
Hasina said after coming to power, the Awami League government took effective measures and a plan to clamp down on militancy following the “zero tolerance” policy. “Bangladesh is now being considered as a role model in the whole world for curbing militancy,” she said.
The prime minister said in recent times, a number of important members of militant outfits including their top leaders were arrested and killed and huge quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered due to the successful drives of the law enforcement agencies.
Because of these operations, controlling militant acts has been possible to a great extent, she said, adding this success has further brightened the country’s image in the
international arena.
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