Govt urged to take threat seriously

Speakers at a discussion yesterday urged the government to seriously consider the militant threat to the country following al-Qaeda's announcement of opening a South Asian branch, and allegation of Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh receiving Saradha scam money.  

The Indian media recently reported that crores of money from Saradha chit fund scam was funnelled to Jamaat to spark violence in Bangladesh last year.

Indian Bangla daily Anandabazar Patrika also reported that the money was sent with help from Ahmed Hassan Imran, a Rajya Sabha member from West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress.    

The speakers yesterday were addressing the discussion titled “South Asian and International Network of Bangladesh Jamaat and Militants”, organised by Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee at Women Voluntary Association (WVA) in the capital's Dhanmondi.    

"The government will be more alert if public consensus on this issue is raised," said Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq, also the chief guest of the programme.

Reminding the government of its 'Zero tolerance' position regarding militancy and extremism, Shahriar Kabir, acting president of the committee, asked why militants, who were arrested after the Jamaat-Hefajat unrest in 2013, are out on bail.

Barrister Tania Ameer and eminent historian Muntasir Mamun, among others, spoke.