Both the major political parties have been using the militancy issue as an election issue without taking the national interest into consideration, speakers at a discussion said yesterday.

"The major political parties will never reach a consensus on the militancy issue. So, we should try to persuade them not to make it an election issue," said Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Syed M Ibrahim Bir Pratik.

The daily Prothom Alo organised the discussion on 'Bomb attack, state security and the role of intelligence agencies' at a city hotel.

General Ibrahim also stressed the need to give the intelligence and law enforcement agencies more freedom to unearth the fact about the militants.

General people should be alert to the threat to national security, he said, adding that the media can play an important role in making them aware in this regard.

"As the election is nearing, both the major parties want to achieve political gains cashing in on the militancy issue," said Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Azizur Rahman Bir Uttam.

He urged the civil society members to be united as general people have confidence on them, not on the political parties.

There are no serious efforts to unearth the facts about the militants, he said, adding that the government also could not hold a single trial of any militant since the start of militant attacks in the country.

Criticising the home minister for his remarks that the crisis would be resolved within two months, Brig. Gen. (Retd.) Shahedul Anam Khan, a security expert, said, "It will be possible to uproot the militants only when we will be able to eradicate the ideology of Islamist terrorism."

A section of followers of Jamaat-e-Islami might have been carrying out bomb attacks after losing confidence on its leaders as they have failed to establish Islamic rule in the

last four and a half years, which is one of its main goals, he mentioned.

Maj. Gen. (Retd.) M Golam Qader stressed the need to form an independent counter-terrorism cell whose only task will be to monitor terrorist activities in the country.

He also called for modernising the madrasa education system.

Raising the question of the government's sincerity to curb militancy, Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Abdul Halim said, "Instead of checking the information given by lawmaker Abu Hena, the ruling BNP has expelled him from the party."

He also said such militant activities cannot be conducted without the assistance of neighbouring

countries.

Brig. Gen. (Retd.) Shakhawat Hossain said more attention should be given to internal problems than external problems to resolve the crisis.

He also called for making activities of the NGos in the country fully accountable.

Expressing concern over repeated bomb attacks, former inspector general of police (IGP) ASM Shahjahan said there is no alternative to national unity in this critical period.

Matiur Rahman, editor of the Prothom Alo, was also present at the discussion.