DHAKA, Bangladesh, April 1 (UPI) -- Bangladeshi Law Minister Shafique Ahmed says more than 120 militant groups are active in the South Asian country.
Speaking Wednesday at a Dhaka workshop on proposed anti-terrorism legislation, Shafique said Islamic militancy has expanded in Bangladesh since the Constitution of 1972 was amended to clear the way for religion-based politics, the Daily Star reported.
Claiming extremism was "now under control" in the country, Shafique said dropping secularism from the Constitution led to the rise of militancy.
Others, however, disagreed, including former caretaker government adviser Moinul Hossain Chowdhury, who reportedly told the gathering, "I think the gap between rich and poor and our education system, unemployment and overall law and order situation were the reasons behind it."
The Star said Shafique ducked a question on whether the government would move to ban religion-based politics.
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Speaking Wednesday at a Dhaka workshop on proposed anti-terrorism legislation, Shafique said Islamic militancy has expanded in Bangladesh since the Constitution of 1972 was amended to clear the way for religion-based politics, the Daily Star reported.
Claiming extremism was "now under control" in the country, Shafique said dropping secularism from the Constitution led to the rise of militancy.
Others, however, disagreed, including former caretaker government adviser Moinul Hossain Chowdhury, who reportedly told the gathering, "I think the gap between rich and poor and our education system, unemployment and overall law and order situation were the reasons behind it."
The Star said Shafique ducked a question on whether the government would move to ban religion-based politics.
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment