Some youths being killed branding them as militants, doubts BNP

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday aired a suspicion that some youths might have been killed branding them as militants after their detention by law enforcers to prove the emergence of militancy in the country.

‘Many youths are now being killed suspecting their involvement in militant acts, and the law enforcers and their family members are making conflicting statements about the incidents. Families are claiming the youths were picked up three to six months back, creating suspicion in public mind,’ he told a discussion, reports UNB.

Fakhrul further said, ‘If the family member’s allegations come out true, we can think the youths are being picked up as part of a deep-rooted conspiracy and then killed identifying them as militants. Whether the youths are being used to prove the existence of militancy? Now it’s a serious question.’

National People’s Party (NPP), one of the components of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, arranged the programme at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU).

The BNP leader also voiced concern that a new policy has been introduced that there will be no accountability if any one is picked up by law enforcers from any place anytime and then killed branding him or her as a militant.’

He alleged that the government has indulged in a dangerous game of using militancy issue to make its political gain. ‘We’re worried about its consequences. The USA and other countries have started indentifying Bangladesh as a militant country.’

Mentioning militancy is a dangerous menace for the country, Fakhrul said their party has long been calling for forging a national unity together with all parties to eliminate it.

He said the government did not respond to their call as it is not sincere to curb militancy and unearth the mystery behind the militant acts.

‘We would like to urge the government you please don’t play with the militancy issue. Carry out fair and neutral investigations into the militant acts and find out the real reason for its emergence to solve the problem,’ the BNP leader said.

He also called upon the government to take proper steps for tackling militancy with united efforts.