Qamrul warns of increased militant recruiting ahead of polls

Food Minister Advocate Qamrul Islam said ahead of the national election, militant activities were increasing. “The government has decided to stringently repress militant activity throughout the country, particularly since militants have become more active in recent days,” said Qamrul. Speaking at a prize giving ceremony at Savar’s Mirpur Mafid-E-Aam School and College on Saturday, the minister urged the students to be more cautious as a group with vested interest was attempting to influence students to stray from the right path. He asked students to keep an eye on their peers and advised them to inform teachers and guardians if they observed any unusual behaviour in any of their friends. Indicating BNP and Jamaat, the minister also warned people to be aware of any conspiracies. Later, he distributed the prizes among the students. Militancy among students has been much talked about recently, especially since the principal of Uttara’s Life School was arrested, along with 10 others, in January for indoctrinating students with extremist jihadi ideology.