Surrendered militants would be rehabilitated: PM

Describing terrorism and militancy as a threat to the country's development and security, Prime Minister and Leader of the House Sheikh Hasina yesterday said that derailed militants who would come back from the wrong path would be rehabilitated in future.

"Arrangements for rehabilitation including providing legal aid to the derailed militants, who would return to normal life leaving the wrong path of militancy, would be made in future," she said while responding to a tabled query from treasury bench member Kamal Ahmed Mazumdar (Dhaka-15) in the House.

Sheikh Hasina said a significant number of militants have already surrendered to the law enforcement agencies due to gearing up of social awareness through a massive anti-militancy campaign.

In this connection, she said an arrangement for rehabilitation of the militants, who have surrendered, is being made through motivation and extending cooperation.

"Besides, a correct list for suspected missing persons and fugitive militants is being prepared," she said, adding a massive campaign in the print and electronic media in this regard is underway.

Sheikh Hasina said a significant number of missing persons have already been traced and many of them returned back home. "It's one of the anti-militancy successes of the present government," she said.

The prime minister also said preparing a time-befitting standard operating procedure (SOP) is under process to instantly combat terrorist and militant acts.

"The surveillance of the intelligence agencies towards the online-based campaign of the militant outfits would be stepped up further to check radicalisation of ideology on militancy among the people," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said effective measures would be taken through law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies so that radicalisation of ideology on militancy doesn't take place among the people due to online-based campaign of the militant outfits.

She said an arrangement for increasing technological efficiency and providing specialized training to the law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies is being made.

The Leader of the House said a mass resistance would be put up unitedly through conducting a massive campaign against militancy and taking together with all political organisations, religious leaders, teachers, students guardians, intellectuals, businesspeople and professional bodies.

The premier said Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony and the people of the country hate communalism and militancy. "Terrorism, communalism and militancy are a threat to the balanced development and security," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said after coming to power, the Awami League government took effective measures and a plan to clamp down on militancy following the "zero tolerance" policy. "Bangladesh is now being considered as a "role model" in the whole world for curbing militancy," she said.

The prime minister said in recent time a number of important members of militant outfits including their top leaders were arrested and killed and huge quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered due to the successful drives of the law enforcement agencies.

Because of these operations, controlling militant acts has been possible to a great extent, she said, adding this success has further brightened the country's image in the international arena.

Source: BSS