Govt firm to root out terrorism: Sahara

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Home Minister Sahara Khatun Monday said the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is determined to root out terrorism and militancy from the country, reports BSS.
The government, meanwhile, has taken different effective steps to this end, she said. The minister said the country's law and order was now better compared to any time in the past.
Sahara Khatun was talking to journalists after a meeting with Executive Director of United Nations Counter Terrorism Executive Directorate (UNCTED) Mike Smith at her office.
During the discussion, they discussed about the on-going three-day seminar on `counter terrorism' at Hotel Sonargaon. Eighteen representatives from the SAARC member countries, including Bangladesh, are attending the seminar.
The minister expressed the hope that the seminar would come out with recommendations to curb terrorism and militancy in the SAARC countries.
She said Mike Smith has proposed to set up a `Counter Terrorism Training Institute' in Bangladesh for SAARC region. Bangladesh responded positively to the proposal, she added.
Sahara said such an institute would make significant contribution to curbing terrorism.
Replying to a question, the home minister said killing, conspiracy, terrorism and militancy emerged in the country with the killing of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975 by some misguided members of the army.
She hoped that the verdict of the Bangabandhu Murder Case, now at the final stage in the appellate division of the Supreme Court, would be implemented soon.
Sahara said execution of the verdict would help establish rule of law and curb terrorism.
The minister said legal steps would be taken against those who would be found involved with conspiracy, terrorism and militancy.
About bomb attack on Barrister Tapash MP, she said, the matter was under investigation and hoped the criminals would be brought to book soon.
State Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Haque Tuku said legal steps would be taken after investigation against the persons involved in the attack.