'Anti-terrorist unit to curb opposition movements'

Workers' Party President Rashed Khan Memon speaks at a press conference on fundamentalism at the party office in the city yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

They alleged that Khaleda-Nizami coalition is forming the unit in order to stay in power for the next term with the support of the USA.

The press conference was organised by Workers' Party of Bangladesh (WPB) at Shaheed Asad auditorium at Topkhana Road in the city.

In a written statement, WPB General Secretary Bimal Biswas said the US terrorist experts would advise law enforcers and military officials of Bangladesh and provide technical assistance and modern equipment to them.

Though it is not clear whether the proposed anti-terrorist unit will be run by Bangladesh alone or jointly by the two countries, there must be a controlling power of the US in the unit, he added.

Bimal also alleged that the tele-tapping ordinance is being implemented in the country under the direction of the US authorities to harass the opposition parties.

He said what the alliance government has taken so far in the name of arresting religious extremists is nothing but an eyewash as it would use the arrested militants in the next general election.

The government is using the terrorist issue in order to divert people's mind from the present political agitation, he added.

The WPB leader called on people to oust the BNP-Jamaat-led coalition government to protect the sovereignty of the country.

He also declared countrywide rally on January 25 to resist the conspiracy of the government.

WPB President Rashed Khan Menon answered different quarries of the journalists at the press conference.

WPB Polite Bureau Member Haider Akbar Khan Rano, Nurul Hasan, Anisur Rahman Mollik and Kamrul Ahsan were present on the occasion.