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Govt did mistake by taking militants lightly

Rajshahi mayor says

Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi
Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor and ruling BNP lawmaker Mizanur Rahman Minn yesterday said the government had made a mistake by taking the militants lightly and not bringing them down during their rise.
“The government should have monitored their activities since the beginning and dealt with them with an iron hand," the mayor said at an exchange of opinion at the city BNP office.
"It was a great mistake that the militants could not be identified as a ferocious and strongly organised force."
The BNP legislator also said the government did a mistake by not timely taking into account the activities of militants based in Rajshahi region.
"The alliance government is now fully aware of their activities and the militants will be defeated at any cost."
Asked about continuous newspaper reports on militancy since 2000, he said, "The government should have acted against militants long ago."
He also said, "Abdur Rahman [Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh chief] and Bangla Bhai [operations commander of Jagrata Muslim Janata, Bangladesh] are agents of another country. They are on a mission in Bangladesh to destroy the image of Islam.
Asked which country is backing militants in Bangladesh, he however said it is generally held.
Commenting on the recent statement of BNP lawmaker Abu Hena on militancy, Minu said he [Hena] has acted against the party's code of conduct.
"The BNP is a big party, it may have differences of opinions. Hena's opinion cannot be similar to that of others, especially when the govern-
ment has gone tough against the militants."
Minu, also BNP organising secretary, however, said his party will take stern actions against insiders if anyone found to have been involved in prompting the militants.
The mayor was blamed for supporting militant linchpin Asadullah Al Galib, as he had said the latter was not linked to militants.
Galib was known to him as a faculty of Rajshahi University, he explained, saying, "I certified him on simple belief as I do to all citizens."
On the militants' anti-outlaw operations in Bagmara last year, he said they took an opportunity of people's weakness.
"People wanted to resist the outlaws. Seizing this opportunity, the militants started working openly among the commoners.
"Some of our party leaders also failed to recognise them. But special actions are on way to eliminate the forces now."
He ruled out the possibility of any links between the militants and BNP lawmakers as well as ruling coalition partners.