Special team formed to probe terror attacks:PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said a special investigation team, drawing members from all forces, has been formed to identify the militants, their patrons and the masterminds of the Gulshan and Sholakia terror attacks.
“I went through several video footage of the Gulshan attack today [yesterday]. It seems more people were there who acted as accomplices of the six militants [attackers],” she told parliament last night.
“I therefore have formed a special investigation team to identify all the perpetrators,” she said.
The PM was speaking on a discussion in the House initiated by ruling Awami League lawmaker Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, denouncing the recent terror attacks on a Gulshan café, near Sholakia Eidgah in Kishoreganj and on a crowd in Nice, France.
Twenty-four lawmakers participated in the four-hour discussion that started around 7:40pm.
In her speech, Hasina said her government is not taking the terror attacks lightly.
“We will root out the scourge of militancy. We will not stop our ongoing actions only after arresting and trying one or two militants.
“We will find out everything -- who are patronising them [militants], who are providing them with arms, money and other supports. We will find out who are misguiding young students misusing the name of Islam.”
The PM also said the government has already taken measures to wipe out the roots of militancy from Bangladesh.
“But we are not going to share all these [with you] for the sake of investigation.”
She said those who are killing innocent people in the hope of going to heaven and getting hur-pori (virgins in paradise) will not have any place even in hell.
She sought the assistance of people, including MPs, to find out terrorists and building awareness on the issue of militancy in the country.
Taking part in the discussion, most of the MPs blamed the BNP chief Khaleda Zia and Jamaat-e-Islami for the recent targeted killings and terror attacks in Bangladesh.
Opposition Leader Raushan Ershad criticised the government for not creating adequate employment opportunities, saying youths are choosing destructive paths for “lack of jobs”.
'FARAAZ A HERO'
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal MP Mayeen Uddin Khan Badal termed Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain, who was among the hostages killed in the Gulshan attack, a brave hero.
He said Faraaz set an example before the world by sacrificing his life trying to save his friends.
“Faraaz was told to walk away. But he chose to remain with his friends. This is the story of a brave young Bangladeshi who upheld country's pride before the world,” added Badal.
Some 22 people, including 17 foreign nationals, were killed in the grisly Gulshan attack on July 1 while two policemen and a woman were killed in the Sholakia attack six days later.
On Thursday, more than 80 people were killed as a lorry driver ploughed his vehicle through people celebrating Bastille Day at Nice in France.
'WAGE SOCIAL MOVEMENT'
Earlier in the day, PM Hasina urged all to wage a social movement against terrorism and militancy to supplement government efforts to eradicate this menace from the country, reports UNB
"We're investigating, we're arresting culprits, but this is not enough. A social movement has to be waged ... everybody has to be cautious ... all have to work together through adopting an anti-militancy and anti-terrorism attitude," she said.
The prime minister was speaking at the 30th raising ceremony of Special Security Force (SSF) at the International Conference Centre at her office.
She said her government will surely take action as much as needed against the culprits who are maligning Islam, the religion of peace.
"We can't allow anyone to malign our religion; we'll obviously take stern actions against those responsible, but global-level awareness is also needed in this regard."
Hasina said the people of this country are pious and they believe in religion. "Islam is the religion of peace, but these elements are putting the religion into question," she said pointing to the recent terror attacks at Gulshan in Dhaka and Sholakia in Kishoreganj.
Hasina laid emphasis on creating anti-terrorism and militancy movement from the grassroots level. "People's strength is the greatest strength; we have to resist terrorism and militancy taking people with us."
With incidents like the Gulshan and Sholakia attacks and secret killings, those who did not want the independence of Bangladesh and the development of the Bangalee nation are hatching conspiracies constantly, Hasina added.
She mentioned that terrorism and militancy have spread around the world. "At the ASEM Summit, I urged the global leaders to find out the root cause of this evil," Hasina added.
About the changing pattern of terrorism and militancy, she asked law enforcers to receive stronger trainings keeping this view in mind alongside adopting newer technologies.
"Each force has to take steps in this regard carefully," she directed.
Hasina urged all to take good care of their children, as this is the responsibility of all guardians.
The children of well-off families are getting derailed though their demands hardly remain unfulfilled, the prime minister said, adding, "It seems having no demand unfulfilled might have caused mental depression among them."
She asked the guardians to spend more time with their children and try to get more information about their children. "Alongside providing proper education, guardians will have to ensure they [kids] are getting the main message of religion."
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