Ban all militant outfits

Although the alliance government has banned four militant outfits, several dozens of such organisations have been carrying out their activities in public or covertly, which have called into question the crackdown on militants by the government, said the Union President Prof Kabir Chowdhury and General Secretary Shahriar Kabir in a joint statement.

The government's drive against militancy will be reduced to a farce if other militant outfits, including Hizbut Tahrir, are not banned immediately, they said.

They said the Hizbut Tahrir that claims to maintain extensive international network has been continuing its campaign in public for establishing the rule of Islam.

Most of the countries in the Central Asia and the Middle East have banned the Hizbut Tahrir for its terrorist activities, they said, adding that even Pakistan banned it in 2003.

The Union also called on the government to grill the patrons of militancy, including ministers, lawmakers and government officials whose names were mentioned by the arrested militants.

At the same time, it demanded formation of an international inquiry committee to unearth information regarding the international network linked to Bangladeshi militants.

A consortium comprising Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh and Myanmar should also be formed to curb militant activities in the region, the Union leaders suggested.