Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson’s adviser Khandaker Mahbub Hossain on Thursday alleged that the government has fallen into the trap it laid by carrying out militancy propaganda.

‘Those who are now around the Prime Minister were used to be called godfathers of militancy. They now often utter the word militancy…the government also tried to find out militancy link to opposition’s movement. You’ve fallen into the trap you set up by carrying out the militancy campaign to get the Western countries’ sympathy,’ he said.

Speaking at a discussion he also voiced concern over the issuance of travel alerts by some Western countries for their citizens following the killing of an Italian citizen in the city.

Bangladesh Jatiya Dal arranged the discussion titled ‘Creation of militancy theory, crisis, consequences: The way-out’ at National Press Club.

On Monday evening, miscreants gunned down Italian citizen Cesare Tavella, 50, in the city’s Gulshan area.

About the security alerts updated by some Western countries for their citizens in Bangladesh after Tavella’s murder, Mahub said it is a disgraceful matter for the country.

Mentioning that the country is passing through a critical juncture, Mahbub said a vested quarter is taking all preparations to make the country a failed state.

He alleged that government is trying to hang onto power by carrying out development and militancy campaign. ‘The country is now heading towards a one-party rule as the ruling party gradually politicised all the institutions.’

The BNP leader said the government wants to cling to power by force as it has no popularity. ‘We saw in the past that many big leaders tried to perpetuate power, but no one could do that.’

He said there is no alternative to holding a fresh election under a non-party administration to overcome the crisis the country has long been facing.

The BNP leader also alleged that the government is controlling the media through an unwritten censorship and creating obstacles towards publishing opposition’s news.