There should be no dialogue held with criminals, speakers at a roundtable said yesterday, also urging the government to go for immediate stern steps instead against the BNP-led alliance’s acts of terror across the country.
Claiming that there was no end in sight to the violence that had been taking place since the blockade began on January 6, they also demanded all culprits be brought to justice as soon as possible.
Addressing the roundtable in the capital’s National Museum auditorium, Human Rights Commission Chairman Dr Mizanur Rahman said: “We were in a good situation. Now why do we have to face this situation? The answer is simple and clear: either you are for Bangladesh, or you are against it.
“If militancy is not uprooted the situation will be more devastating... If election is the only issue in question, then why is it being demanded a year later [after the national polls]?” Mizanur told the roundtable titled “Terrorism, Violence and National Security.”
Also speaking there, economist Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said law enforcement agencies should be stern and the people should take to the streets to protest the violence.
“Those who talk about a dialogue are enemies to the people of Bangladesh,” said Dr Mohammad Farashuddin, former governor of Bangladesh Bank.
Prof Mesbah Kamal, a professor at Dhaka University, said: “We should not forget that the second phase of the Liberation War is now going on. They [BNP-Jamaat] are trying to turn Bangladesh into Pakistan. Their militant financing base should be uprooted as soon as possible.”
Speaking at the roundtable, former vice-chancellor of Jahangirnagar University Dr Anwar Hossain said: “Why should the government hold dialogue with those who are directly involved in massacre?” He also urged the government to set a deadline to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for withdrawing the blockade and hartals.
Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee acting president Shahriar Kabir told the programme that he suspects that the violent activities might be directed by forces outside the country.
War crimes prosecutor Turin Afrose also expressed her views against any talk with the 20-party alliance, saying: “There is no option in the world to hold talks with criminals. Talks should be held with the mass people, not with criminals.”
Organised by the Sector Commanders Forum, the roundtable was conducted by the forum’s Secretary General M Hamid.
