SA initiative against terrorism sought

South Asian countries should undertake comprehensive initiatives to combat militancy and terrorism in the region, said Sammilita Samajik Andolon, a citizens' body of pro-liberation and progressive forces.

Although fundamentalism and militancy are rising trends in Bangladesh as part of a global phenomenon, the government's role to prevent the nuisance is not firm enough, it viewed.

The platform announced this through a statement presented at a discussion, "Form resistance against chauvinistic religious communalism and fundamentalism", it organised in the capital's Liberation War Museum.

Reading out the statement, Liberation War Museum Trustee Ziauddin Tariq Ali urged the government to take a bold stance against militancy.

He also demanded banning Jamaat-e-Islami and pro-Jamaat student body Islami Chhatra Shibir and trying killers of bloggers, including Avijit Roy.

Former deputy speaker in parliament Shawkat Ali said militancy and fundamentalism could be resisted more effectively if law enforcers and other government agencies played a more active role.

On Hefajat-e-Islam, he said a situation resembling a ceasefire was prevailing between the government and Hefajat. "I think fundamentalism can not be resisted through a compromise," he viewed.

Chairing the function, veteran left politician Ajoy Roy emphasised creating greater unity between pro-liberation and progressive forces to combat militancy.

Liberation War Museum Trustee Sarwar Ali stressed the need for launching a cultural movement to awaken the young generation in fighting fundamentalism and communalism.

"The prime minister has shown her courage and boldness in trying war criminals. Similarly, she should display such boldness to resist militancy," Sarwar said.

The platform General Secretary Saleh Ahmed moderated the function while Institute for Environment and Development Executive Director Noman Ahmed Khan also spoke.