Sudden rise of militancy raises questions: Khaleda

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia has said the “sudden rise” of militancy and “lack of transparency” in the anti-militancy drives have raised questions and created doubts in the public mind.

Khaleda said this in a press statement on Tuesday in which the former prime minister congratulated the armed forces for conducting a successful operation at the Sylhet “militant den”.

“It’s not possible to uproot militancy from the society only through anti-militancy drives. Absence of democracy, lack of accountability, corruption, absence of justice and unemployment are the primary reasons behind the rise of militancy in the predominantly Muslim country,” said Khaleda.

Terming present times “sensitive”, Khaleda, also the leader of the 20-party opposition alliance said, “The sudden rise of militancy in the present sensitive times and the lack of transparency in the anti-militancy drives have raised questions and created doubts in the public mind.”

Khaleda Zia called on the authorities concerned to defuse all doubts and questions regarding the anti-militancy drives from the public mind.

She termed militancy a national problem and said they never embarked on the politics of blame-game over this.

“We never raised questions why militancy rises whenever Awami League comes to the state power. It is a national problem, not of any government or any party.”

Apparently calling on her political rivals Bangladesh Awami League not resort to any blame-game over militancy, Khaleda said the problem of militancy and terrorism should be tackled nationally. “I am urging all to be united to resolve this problem.”