150 organisations linked to militancy
Around 150 organisations are either connected to militant activities or they support militancy in Bangladesh, claims a “white paper” released yesterday by an enquiry commission investigating militancy and communal terrorism.
Militant activities are also run in at least 78 Qwami madrasas while some 19 newspapers, including dailies, weeklies, and monthlies, are serving the purpose of militant organisations, according to the paper.
The commission, which includes rights activists, academicians, writers and eminent citizens from different other professions, released the paper titled “800 days of militancy and communal terrorism in Bangladesh” at a programme in the capital.
Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee organised the programme at a city auditorium.
The commission prepared the paper on the basis of news reports run by 21 national dailies between November 1, 2013 and January 15, 2016 and speeches delivered by eminent citizens and the commission's findings through investigation during the time.
At the function, Shahriar Kabir, member-secretary of the commission, said the government should take immediate steps to infuse ideologies countering militancy into youths as “it is not possible to curb the menace by the efforts of law enforcement agencies alone”.
Noted academician Prof Ajoy Roy said socio-cultural movement, parents' surveillance on their children and public awareness on militancy are very crucial to fight the curse.
The enquiry commission's member Shyamoli Nasrin Chowdhury called for government's effective steps to cut all financial support to Jamaat and its like-minded organisations.
The enquiry commission chairman Justice Syed Amirul Islam chaired the programme, while several members of the commission and Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Ghatak Nirmul Committee members, among others, spoke.
The “white paper” also placed its 19 recommendations to combat terrorism in Bangladesh.
The recommendations include banning all activities of Jamaat-e-Islam and ensuring the organisation's trial for crimes against humanity committed in 1971 , formation of national minority commission to protect minorities' rights, stopping hate speeches against any religion, stopping political activities in all madrasas, and recruitment of at least 1 lakh more police members.
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