Menon for continuing struggle against fundamentalism

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan called on Thursday upon all to continue struggle against religious fundamentalism and imperialism through unity to consolidate democracy, reports BSS.
"Alongside imperialism, religious fanaticism is one of the barriers to advancement of the countries in this region. People would have to be made aware of activities of religious fanatic groups and it is the right time for that," he said in his presidential speech at an international seminar on 'Anti-Fundamentalism and Imperialism Struggles in South Asia' in the city.
Bangladesher Workers Party organised the seminar marking the birth centenary of its founding President Amol Sen at Diploma Engineers Institution auditorium in the city.
Besides Bangladesh, politicians from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal addressed the seminar.
The speakers included Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and Comrade Sudhakar Reddy from India, Pakistan Communist Party General Secretary Emdad Kazi, Sri Lankan left party JVP leader Comrade Nalinda Joytisa and Fazle Hossain Badsha, MP.
Eminent economist Prof Dr Abul Barakat presented a keynote paper in the seminar.
Rashed Khan Menon, also Workers Party President, said the fundamentalists are becoming stronger getting shelters of different kinds. However, the government is not giving any concession to them, he added.
He termed late Amol Sen a legend politician of this subcontinent and recalled his role in anti-British movement. Amol Sen spent 19 years in jail in his bid to realise rights of the suffering people, he said.
Communist Party of India General Secretary Sitaram Yechury lauded Bangladesh government's stance against fundamentalism and urged the youths to spread this campaign across the world.
Pakistan Communist Party General Secretary Emdad Kazi urged all to work together to resist the activities of militant outfit IS in this region. He suggested formulating an inter-state coordinated plan to this effect.
In his keynote speech, Dr Abul Barakat said there are 119 fundamentalist organisations in the country. Of those, the followers of Moududi control Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir and the rest are controlled by Pakistan intelligence agency ISI and Islami Oikya Jote.