BNP admits they back terrorists: Inu

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, MP, said today that the proposal of BNP Standing Committee member Barrister Moudud Ahmed for talks to end terrorism was not only hypocritical but also admission by default that they controlled the "switch" of terrorism.

Addressing a press conference at the Press Information Department (PID) auditorium, the minister in his written statement said, "One does not talk to murderers to stop murders. Nor does anybody talk to arsonists to stop arson."

Responding to the argument of Moudud that it was the "weakness of democracy now" that was generating terrorism, the information minister asked rhetorically, "Why did 500 bombs go off simultaneously when you were in power? Why was Sheikh Hasina attacked with grenades on 21st August (2004)? Why did Bangla Bhai openly parade with arms in northern Bangladesh during your tenure?"

Inu also cited the example of France and said that terrorist attacks also occurred there and added that surely nobody would blame a deficiency of democracy for it.

"So why do they happen there?" Inu asked.

"Surely there is no dearth of democracy there," the minister surmised.

The information minister once again criticized BNP`s political tactics and said it amounts to "political suicide".

He also criticized the BNP`s perception of legitimacy and said it cannot be contingent upon the participation or victory of any particular political party. "This is a queer definition of democracy. Surely no responsible person could agree to it."

The minister, once again, criticized BNP`s political stance since 2008 and said it is unfortunate that it is trying to push for an "unnatural transfer of power". "This is alienating them even further from the center of politics and into the fringes."

Inu concluded by saying that the government would continue its political and administrative steps against terrorists, arsonists and war criminals.

Responding to a question about the possible banning of Jamaat for their role in 1971, he said the process of something akin to "DeNazification" of the political entity was on.