Thirty-nine eminent citizens on Tuesday strongly denounced and protested dastardly militant attacks in different parts of the country and demanded the government to take more firm steps to stamp out the demon from the country.
“Though the government has taken some positive steps against militancy, we are making a strong demand to the government to take more firm steps to uproot militancy by identifying those who are pampering the monster,” they said in a joint statement.
“We can never let Bangladesh which earned independence in exchange for huge sacrifice be hostage in the hands of some extremists and derailed people,” they added
They said they noticed with deep concern that young students of some educational institutions are engaged in the terrorist acts.
” So it’s necessary to find out the reason how and why these students get indulged in destructive acts with the extreme militant outfits by ignoring the main messages of religion, morality, social bondage, moderate national tradition, hospitality and the spirit of independence of Bangladesh,” they said.
In this connection, they hoped that the guardians and teachers’ community would take proper initiatives for introducing moral education and human values alongside academic education in the family and educational institutions.
In the national interest, the noted citizens urged the parents and guardians to take help of the law enforcement agencies without hesitation if they notice abnormality in their children or they go missing from their homes and educational institutions.
In the statement, they further said it is very much needed to give family education from the childhood and incorporate morality and values in the curriculum to prevent the new generation from derailment.
They said cultural activities and sound and normal environment will have to be ensured in the family and educational institutions side by side with study to build students as creative, cultural and science-minded.
To this end, they said, the family, educational institutions and the state will have to take necessary initiatives.
The eminent citizens hoped that the non-communal democratic and harmonious beloved motherland would go ahead with the spirit of the War of Liberation, where there won’t be any place for narrowness and extremism.
They prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls of the local and foreign nationals including members of law enforcement agencies who were killed in these brutal attacks and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved families.
The signatories to the statement are Professor Dr Anisuzzaman, Dr Kazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed, Dr Md Farashuddin, Advocate Sultana Kamal, Professor Nazrul Islam, Selina Hossain, M Hafizuddin Khan, Ramendu Mazumdar, Professor Mahfuza Khanam, Jewel Ich, Professor Syed Manjurul Islam, Rasheda K Chowdhury, actor Mamunur Rashid, Professor Hayat Mamud, Khushi Kabir, Professor Dr Mehtab Khan, Professor Kazi Faruk Ahmed, Professor Mesbah Kamal, Dr Arup Ratan Chowdhury, Dr Mohit Kmal, Professor MM Akash, birds expert Inam Al Huq, Dr Manjur Ahmed, Dr Ainun Nishat, Kazi Rafiqul Alam, Aroma Dutta, Dr Badiul Alam Mazumdar, freedom fighter Mohammad Shajahan, professor Shafi Ahmed, actor Dr Ezazul Islam, Shahidul Islam Helal, among others.
Mansur Ahmed Chowdhury, Shaheen Anam, Farah Kabir, freedom fighter Shirin Banu Mitil, singer Bulbul Mahalanabish, Everest conquerors MA Muhith and Nishat Mazumdar.
