AL demands UN-supervised probe into militancy

The main opposition party also demanded immediate government steps to involve the UN in probing all militant activities including the 17 August serial blasts last year and killing of judges and lawyers. Besides, Interpol should be invited for a neutral probe.

"We demand international probe as we cannot expect impartial investigation and trial under this government which itself is the patron of militants," AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil told at a press conference at the party's Dhanmondi office in the capital.

"Godfathers and patrons of militants can be tracked down and their trial ensured only if an international investigation under the guidance of the United Nations is conducted," said Jalil, also coordinator of the 14-party opposition line-up.

He demanded immediate interrogation of ruling alliance leaders Matiur Rahman Nizami, Aminul Haque, Lutfozzaman Babar, Tarique Rahman, Alamgir Kabir, Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu, Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu, Nadim Mostafa, MP, and others as, he said, their names have come to light as patrons of militants.

Jalil also demanded expulsion of those ministers from the cabinet, who 'sheltered' the militants.

Bangladesh is now treated as a terrorist country due to the alliance government's misrule and rise of militancy. And for this, the government under pressure from the international bodies arrested the militant kingpins but it is hiding other godfathers of militants, the AL general secretary said.

He accused the ruling alliance of harbouring militants to destroy the AL.

He reiterated that the arrest of Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai is a 'drama' aimed to divert peoples' attention from the ongoing anti government movement, and power, fuel and fertiliser crises.

AL leaders Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Motia Chowdhury, Obaidul Quader, Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin were present at the press conference.