Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday vowed that she would be tough as much as needed to eradicate militancy from the country. “We’ll surely eradicate militancy and will be tough as much as needed,” she said.The Prime Minister was speaking at a programme arranged to exchange Eid greetings with the PMO officials and review the activities of her office. PM’s Press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.Sheikh Hasina said, it will not be possible to derail the country from the spirit of Liberation War and foil the trial of war criminals with this social menace of militancy.The Prime Minister said her government will also deal with natural disasters along with manmade calamities. “I always rely on people, we have to complete the development programmes fast,” she said. Hasina mentioned that Bangladesh will have to march forward defying militancy and terrorism. “We will have to take our country forward.”About Gulshan terror attack, the Prime Minister said such attacks also take place in various developed countries like Japan, the UK, India, France and Belgium.She said, a section of people in the country have an attitude to appease oneself by criticizing the country abroad.The Prime Minister slammed a section of newspapers which are criticizing the commando operation of law enforcers during the Gulshan incident although it was successful.She congratulated all concerned for carrying out the successful commando operation.Regarding the reports of human rights organisations which are vocal about missing people, she said these organisations never come up with reports on those who remain missing willfully. “What type of research these organisations do that they cannot provide any report on such willful missing?” she questioned. Expressing her surprise at the involvement of highly educated youths in militant activities, Hasina said, “I can’t think how highly educated youths could be bigots…mass people are pious, not fanatics!” She also said, a section of people are now engaged in killing refraining from practicing religion. “What type of persons they were who launched the brutal attacks on Gulshan cafe and near the Sholakia Eidgah in Kishoreganj by skipping Esha and Tarbih prayers and Eid prayers?” Hasina emphasised strengthening surveillance on militancy alongside raising awareness among mass people in this regard. She stressed finding out the teachers who are patronising militancy in the country, and urged guardians to always keep watch on their children.Hasina called upon teachers and guardians to inform the authorities concerned if any student remains missing.Blaming BNP-Jamaat for sowing seeds of terrorism and militancy in the country, she said the BNP-Jamaat terrorists killed 24 Awami League leaders and activists by carrying out a grisly grenade attack on Bangabandhu Avenue. “They were involved in the killing of SAMS Kibria and Ahsanullah Master as well as serial bomb blasts that took place at 500 places across the country during their misrule,” she said.Advisers to the Prime Minister and the Principal Secretary and senior officials of the PMO were present at the programme.
