All will have to vow to fight against terrorism: HPM Sheikh Hasina

"All will have to take a vow that there won't be any place for terrorists and militants on Bangladesh's soil. We won't allow any activities that would malign Islam ... any activities that will destroy peace and security of the people won't be acceptable to us," she said.

The prime minister was speaking at a videoconference with administrative officials, teachers, imams, members of the law-enforcement agencies, local public representatives, journalists, professionals and social workers of 32 districts of Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna and Barisal divisions as part of her campaign against militancy and terrorism from her official Ganobhaban residence on Wednesday afternoon.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, PM's Political Affairs Adviser HT Imam, Energy Adviser Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, State Minister for Youth and Sports Biren Shikdar and eminent scholar Maulana Farid Uddin Masud were present during the videoconference moderated by PM's principal secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad.

Sheikh Hasina said when the country is marching towards the path of light and is being recognised as a role model of socioeconomic uplift in the world, a quarter at that time is out to taint the country's image and take it to darkness through perpetrating militancy and terrorism.

"So, I think all will have to be united against terrorism and militancy and establish peace and security in the public life and free Bangladesh from the twin devils by eliminating terrorism and militancy," she said.

The prime minister also called upon the countrymen to stay more alert against any further attacks like those at Gulshan in Dhaka and at Sholakia in Kishoreganj alongside making the campaign stronger against militancy and terrorism.

"I would like to urge the countrymen to remain more cautious as those who launched dastardly attacks on the Gulshan cafe and near Sholakia Eidgah won't stop here ... they have a range of plans to carry out more attacks and we are collecting reports of local and international intelligence agencies in this regard," she said.

"I also call upon all irrespective of party and opinion to work together to foil the evil design and strengthen the campaign against militancy and terrorism," Sheikh Hasina said.

Reminding the atrocities and rampage unleashed by BNP-Jamaat nexus in the first three months of last year, the premier said those who killed numerous innocent people by launching arson attacks won't refrain from such heinous acts.

"They will work taking the militants beside them. So, all will have to be more careful about them," she said.

The prime minister said all will have to be more alert about important places and establishments. "We have lost police members in terrorist attacks. So, DMP, CMP, RMP, KMP, RAB, BGB will have to stay more alert at their respective places," she said.

"Simultaneously, I would like to tell intelligence agencies to gather and exchange more information about the terrorists and militants and they will have take steps as per the information," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said as a number of war criminals have already been tried, their family members are not sitting idle and their conspiracies were not halted.

"They have enough money at home and abroad. They are making propaganda ... they are pampering militant and terrorist activities and they may attack important places and establishments."

Apart from attacking various installations, she said, they have also plans to launch attack on the people of different professions and classes including law enforcers, ministers, public representatives and journalists.

Pointing out two recent back-to-back dastardly terrorist attacks at Gulshan in Dhaka and at Sholakia in Kishoreganj, the prime minister said these incidents are very shameful for Bangladesh and heinous crimes. "These were unleashed just to tarnish the image of the country abroad," she said.

Sheikh Hasina mentioned that those who carried out the brutal attacks and killed innocent people during the time of Esha, Tarabih and Eid prayers could not be believers in Islam.

Referring to the recent bomb attacks carried out on the premises of the holy Masjid-e-Nababi in Saudi Arabia, the prime minister posed a question that what type of Muslims they are who launched the attacks in Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia.

"The misdeeds were carried out just to defame Islam, the religion of peace Islam, before the world community. The culprits will only incur hatred of the people ... they will never go to heaven, rather they will go to hell," she said.

Calling upon parents, guardians and teachers to be careful about social menaces like terrorism and militancy, the prime minister requested them to be more aware about movement of students and children so that they could not be derailed with the patron of evil forces.

Talking about the students of renowned schools, colleges and universities who are joining such heinous and barbaric acts, Sheikh Hasina said it's unfortunate that the children of well-off families are stepping towards extremism.

However, the prime minister reaffirmed that peace and harmony will certainly be maintained in the country and her government will do everything necessary to establish Bangladesh as the most peaceful country in South Asia.

"I always remain beside the people of the country ... let's build the country as a happy and prosperous Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman," she said.

Sheikh Hasina called upon all to work together in a coordinated manner and advance the country towards peace and progress like the people who fought unitedly in 1971.

She also urged the people to maintain the existing communal harmony as she described it as a beauty of the nation.

"Bangladesh is land of communal harmony where Muslims, Hindus, Christians and Buddhists celebrate their festivals by sharing joy ... it's the beauty of the country and all will have to remain careful so that this secular fabric is not destroyed," she said.

The prime minister congratulated the Muslims and Hindus to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr and Rathajatra with communal harmony. "It's very significant that the people of the Hindu community were seen to guard Eid jamaats," she said.