Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked her party lawmakers to form active anti-militancy committees in their respective constituencies to fight extremism and militancy.

“We will have to ensure people's security for the sake of continuation of the country's overall development,” she told an emergency meeting of the Awami League Parliamentary Party (ALPP) at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

Earlier in the day, the PM asked all concerned, including the deputy commissioners of districts, to combat terrorism and militancy with their utmost efficiency, strength, merit and talent.

Hasina was addressing the inaugural session of the four-day Deputy Commissioners Conference 2016 at her office, reports UNB.

At the ALPP meeting, the premier directed MPs to form social resistance against terrorism and militancy so that the extremist forces cannot create any volatile situation in the country.

During the hour-long meeting, she asked the legislators to oversee whether the Khutba of Juma prayers were being recited in mosques across the country in line with suggestions made by Islamic Foundation to create anti-militant sentiment among people.

She directed MPs to hold anti-militancy rallies, processions and carry out other activities in their constituencies to create awareness against militancy.

Lauding the law enforcement and intelligence agencies for their actions during the recent militant attacks, she said her government tackled all the law and order situations successfully.

'PREPARE FOR POLLS'

Hasina, also the AL president, advised party lawmakers to make preparation for the next general election.

“Over two years of our government's tenure have already passed. The next election will be held after around two-and-a-half years. You [lawmakers] will frequently visit your areas and oversee the government's ongoing development activities. You will also publicise the development and the government's successes among people,” she said.

ZILA PARISHAD POLLS

The premier informed lawmakers that her government would soon hold the long overdue zila parishad polls as part of its plan to strengthen local government. She, however, did not mention any time frame for the polls.

The previous AL government in 2011 had appointed administrators, mostly top AL district leaders, to 61 zila parishads (district councils).

According to the constitution, a zila parishad should be run by an elected public representative. But successive governments did not hold polls to zila parishads, local government experts said.

Speaking at the meeting, several lawmakers lauded the PM's time-befitting leadership.

DC CONFERENCE

Hasina asked the DCs to discharge their duties more cautiously and strictly to maintain peace, discipline and stability.

“Although we will have to face questions for one or two incidents, we will be able to overcome this situation as there will be no place for terrorists and militants in the country,” she added.

Referring to the July 1 attack at Holey Artisan Bakery in the city's Gulshan, the PM said it was possible to save 13 lives, including two foreigners, due to the joint operation by army, navy and air forces, police, Rab, BGB and other forces.

Recalling the militant and terror attacks like bombing in 500 places across the country in 2005, killings of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria and ex-MP Ahsanullah Master and grenade and bomb attacks on her, Hasina said the recent terrorist attacks were not new as such attempts were made repeatedly after 1975.

She asked the DCs to tackle such symptoms by any means like they did before and after the January 5 national polls in 2014 and then again for three months from January-March in 2015.

The premier took a swipe at the BNP-Jamaat clique for “patronising” terrorists and militants during their “misrule”.

She directed the DCs to make lists of homeless people, find khas land and build homes for them there and arrange necessary loan and training for them to enable them earn their livelihood.

She asked the authorities concerned to make sure that there is no unnecessary expenditure of state fund. She instructed the DCs to monitor the implementation of development projects properly.

Public Administration Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, State Minister for Public Administration Ismat Ara Sadique, Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Helal Uddin Ahmed, Chittagong DC Mohammad Mesbahuddin, Rajbari DC Begum Zeenat Ara and Sunamganj DC Sheikh Rafiqul Islam also spoke on the occasion.