Militant attacks may pose a threat to next polls: Quader

Obaidul Quader, Awami League (AL) general secretary, who is also the minister for road transport and bridges, has said that frequent militant and terrorist attacks in the country may pose a threat to holding the general elections slated for 2019. “Communal extremism and militancy is a hindrance to keeping the country’s stability intact. The next parliamentary elections are to be held in 2019. But the country has been witnessing such attacks one after another, and these can be a threat to holding the next polls,” he said. The AL general secretary came up with the observation at the annual tuberculosis conference, organized by the National Anti-Tuberculosis Association of Bangladesh (NATAB), at the LGED auditorium at Agargaon in the city yesterday morning.
He also said that the terrorist attacks are being carried out to demoralise the law enforcers ahead of the general elections.
“Attackers are targeting members of law enforcement agencies to demoralise them in a bid to create anarchy in the country,” he added. The government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against militancy, he said, and warned that terrorists will be dealt with a strong hand. Describing extremism as the main obstacle to the country’s stability, the minister urged all, irrespective of political ideologies, to unitedly fight the menace.
“If the country is not run properly and unrest and sabotage continue, then no one will be safe. It’s a challenge for the nation,” he said.
Quader said: “We are a brave nation. We overpowered the Pakistani occupation forces, and I firmly believe that we will be able to defeat the evil forces.” Chaired by the NATAB president, Mozaffar Hossain Paltu, the function was addressed by the director-general of the Directorate General of Health Services, Professor Dr Abul Kalam Azad, Acme Laboratories Ltd managing director Mizanur Rahman Sinha and NATAB general secretary Khayer Uddin Ahmed Mukul, among others.

Militant attacks may pose a threat to next polls: Quader

Obaidul Quader, Awami League (AL) general secretary, who is also the minister for road transport and bridges, has said that frequent militant and terrorist attacks in the country may pose a threat to holding the general elections slated for 2019. Communal extremism and militancy is a hindrance to keeping the countrys stability intact. The next parliamentary elections are to be held in 2019. But the country has been witnessing such attacks one after another, and these can be a threat to holding the next polls, he said. The AL generalsecretary came up with the observation at the annual tuberculosis conference, organized by the National Anti-Tuberculosis Association of Bangladesh (NATAB), at the LGED auditorium at Agargaon in the city yesterday morning. He also said that the terrorist attacks are being carried out to demoralise the law enforcers ahead of the general elections. Attackers are targeting members of law enforcement agencies to demoralise them in a bid to create anarchy in the country, he added. The government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against militancy, he said, and warned that terrorists will be dealt with a strong hand. Describing extremism as the main obstacle to the countrys stability, the minister urged all, irrespective of political ideologies, to unitedly fight the menace. If the country is not run properly and unrest and sabotage continue, then no one will be safe. Its a challenge for the nation, he said. Quader said: We are a brave nation. We overpowered the Pakistani occupation forces, and I firmly believe that we will be able to defeat the evil forces. Chaired by the NATAB president, Mozaffar Hossain Paltu, the function was addressed by the director-general of the Directorate General of Health Services, Professor Dr Abul Kalam Azad, Acme Laboratories Ltd managing director Mizanur Rahman Sinha and NATAB general secretary Khayer Uddin Ahmed Mukul, among others.