The anti-terror and militancy committees formed by the ruling Awami League (AL) at the grassroots level across the country have become dysfunctional since their formation last year. However, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader said yesterday that instructions would be issued to the committees soon on how to deal with militancy.
Leaders of the anti-terror committees said that these had virtually no work in recent times because there were no militants and terror network in their areas. Following the militants’ attacks at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka and on the Eid gathering at Sholakia in July 2016, anti-terrorism and militancy committees comprising public representatives from all political parties were formed last year.
Meanwhile, at least 29 militants were killed in the last couple of weeks in the anti-militant operation by members of law enforcement agencies in the capital and Sylhet.
This correspondent, however, tried to find out the latest condition of the anti-terror committees formed by the ruling party.
Alhaj Mamotaj Uddin, Bogra district unit AL president, said he has not received any fresh instructions from the party leadership to step up the work of the anti-terror committee following the sudden spurt in militant activities.
“The anti-terror committee has had virtually no work in recent times. However, under the banner of party’s district unit, we are holding different programmes, including human chains and meetings, over the issue of militancy,” he said.
Shafiqul Islam Shafiq, a union parishad (UP) chairman of the AL and also the president of anti-terror committee of the union, yesterday said, “The committee is functioning, but the party’s central leadership didn’t give us any special directive on how to tackle the militants.”
Replying to a question, he said, “We held our last meeting at least six months ago. Actually, the BNP-Jamaat men are involved in the militant activities. I hope everything will be fine after the Sylhet incident.” Rangpur district city AL general secretary Tushar Kanti Mandal yesterday said they were not

issued any instructions by the party central leadership over the militancy issue. “We are now busy with the upcoming Rangpur city corporation elections. We are not holding any anti-terror committee meeting at present.”
Dhaka district unit AL president Benajir Ahmad said they have not received any special instructions to combat the militants. “Our central leaders didn’t issue us any instruction after the latest militant activities in the country. We have already formed anti-terror committees. They are working to build awareness against militancy,” he said.
Barisal district unit AL general secretary, advocate Talukder Mohammad Younus, said, “The anti-terror committee here has currently virtually no work. Our central leaders didn’t give us any special instruction following the recent militants’ attacks in Sylhet.”
Sylhet city unit AL president Badruddin Ahmad Kamran said, “After the recent militant activities here, we held a human chain programme on behalf of the district anti-terror committee.”
AL general secretary Obaidul Quader said: “Anti-terror committee members must remain proactive all the time. However, the committee members sometimes become lax in their approach and our party leaders even remain indifferent to the issue of militancy. This is very unfortunate.”
“We’ll issue necessary instructions soon on how to combat the militancy,” the AL general secretary said. Allaying fears about the rise in militants’ attacks recently, AL presidium member Mohammad Nasim said, “We are not worried at all about the recent militants’ attacks. These are just stray incidents. The BNP-Jamaat elements are behind these attacks and the government is determined to root out these elements from the country.” Nasim, who is also the coordinator of the 14-Party Alliance, said: “The alliance leaders will soon start visiting all the districts and this will continue till the next general elections. During the visit, the leaders will urge people to remain alert about the BNP-Jamaat combine and not vote for them in the next polls.”