Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Saturday alleged that the government is not forging a national unity to eliminate militancy as it is trying to perpetuate its power by using the issue as its political capital.

“Being isolated from people, the government is indulging in various anti-people activities. You (people) have already seen they (govt) are trying to hang onto power by using militancy issue,” said BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury. 

He came up with the allegation while speaking at a discussion arranged by Jatiyatabadi Samaj-Kalyan Dal at Photojournalists Association auditorium in the city.

Referring to their party Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s call for forging a national unity to curb militancy, Khasru said the government turned it down outright only to keep alive militancy for taking its benefits. “They’re now using militancy as their political capital.”

He said the government usually brings the militancy issue in the limelight by carrying out any incident to hush up its failure, shirk responsibility and mislead people.

“We’re now hearing about it afresh ahead of the Prime Minister’s India tour. Now you (people) will be hearing about it for some days,” Khasru added.

Khasru said people now do not believe in such incidents. “So, we call upon the government not to play with a serious issue like militancy. A national unity is necessary to eliminate it.”

Describing militancy as the enemy of the country and its people and future development, he urged the government not to use the issue as its political capital to suppress its opponents.

The BNP leader said militancy has emerged in the country as a dangerous menace as the government obliterated democracy and snatched people’s all rights.

About the next general election, Khasru said it will not be possible to take BNP to polls only by scaring it of cancelling its registration with the Election Commission.

He said their party will surely join the election if it is held in a fair and credible manner under a neutral administration.

Talking to reporters in front of Jatiya Press Club after joining a programme, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the government is not sincere about eliminating militancy as it is making its political gain using the issue.

“Militant incidents have suddenly marked a rise at a time when India is pressing Bangladesh for signing a defence deal with it, raising question in public minds. It’s also a dubious matter. The government wants to keep militancy issue alive to stay in power creating a smoke screen.”