Call for concerted efforts to stamp out militancy

This particular phenomenon of terrorism by a section of fanatics will be crushed and uprooted by the government, he said at a conference on 'Religion, globalisation and Democracy' in the city.

Bangladesh is a tolerant society, Moudud said, adding that religion should unite people instead of dividing them.

The Institute of Hazrat Mohammad (SAW) and the Embassy of Italy jointly organised the conference.

Eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain said globalisation brings many benefits when it is exercised within a framework of human rights and that the role of religions is to curb people's greed for power and wealth, which is the root cause of the world's struggles.

Bar Council Vice-chairman Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud said, "We should do everything to protect our fundamental and democratic rights by separating religion and politics."

Ambassador of Afghanistan Akmal Gani, former communications minister Anwar Hossain Manju, President of Bangladesh Enterprise Institute Faruq Sobhan, Unicef Representative Louis Georges Arsenault, Prof Matiur Rahman, Vice-Chancellor of Darul Ihsan University Dr Anwar Hossain and Chairman of the Forum Lt. Gen. (Retd.) M Nooruddin Khan also spoke.

The speakers said Islam is a religion of peace and everyone is equal in the eye of Islam. There is no place for terrorism in Islam, they said.