Drive against militancy to be strengthened: Asaduzzaman

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By Syed Shukur Ali Shuvo

DHAKA, Jan 2, 2019 (BSS) – The law-enforcement agencies have been asked to
remain alert against militancy and its network as the Awami League-led Mohajote is
celebrating the party’s landslide victory in the national election, Home Minister
Asaduzzaman Khan told BSS here today.

The nationwide anti-militancy drive will be strengthened further in line
with the government’s election pledges as well as ‘zero tolerance policy’
against any sort of terrorism, he said.

The home minister said the present government under the dynamic leadership
of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working for the welfare of the
people during the last ten years.

The law-enforcement agencies have been playing a supportive role in successful
implementation of the present government’s charter of change and Vision-2021
as the success of a government largely depends on the law and order situation
in the country, Asaduzzaman said.

He said a vested quarter has been trying to hamper the country’s progress
and prosperity by carrying out militant activities but the government adopted
‘zero tolerance policy against terrorism’.

Talking to BSS, Director General of RAB Benazir Ahmed said the law
enforcement agencies have been conducting drives against militancy, terrorism
and drugs.

Following the government’s zero tolerance policy against terrorism and
drugs, the anti-crime elite force is fully involved in campaign against
terrorism and drugs to make the country free from drugs, he added.

According to the ministry information, the government conducted 93 anti-
militancy drives from 2013 to January 2018 aimed at eliminating militants and
terrorists from the country.

During the anti-militancy drive, 58 militants were killed and 265
terrorists were arrested and the government launched a special service “999”
for police help in any necessary need, it said.

The ministry also revealed that during the BNP-Jammat regime militancy
activities was being patronized and its network was spread across the
country. With patronization of the BNP-Jamaat government, the heinous grenade
attack on Awami League rally on August 21, 2004, was carried out.

On August 17, 2005, bomb explosions occurred at 550 locations in 63 out of
the 64 districts in the country during the BNP-Jamaat alliance tenure, which
created a horrific situation, it said.

The home minister expressed his optimism that Bangladesh would become a
middle-income country by 2021 as the development spree of AL will continue in
the days to come.

“We have become role model for the rest of the world in curbing militancy
and terrorism due to successful drives against the menace by the law
enforcement agencies,” he said.

Asaduzzaman said under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister and Awami
League President Sheikh Hasina a huge development work has been going on
across the country, adding, “That is way Awami League was voted to power
again to continue the development works.”

He said the government established Counter Terrorism and Transnational
Crime Unit (CTTC), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), SWAT (Special Weapons and
Tactics) and bomb disposal team to ensure safety of the countrymen.

The CTTC unit has been dealing strictly against any ill attempt to create
anarchy in the country, the minister said adding, “The cyber crime unit of
police is also alert about this”.