Dhaka: Observing that the Gulshan Café terror attack put a stigma on the nation’s long tradition of communal harmony and pragmatism, BNP on Saturday called for taking a coordinated initiative to stamp out militancy.

The party also urged the government not to create any smokescreen over the militancy and militant incidents.

‘Today is a black chapter for the country as so many locals and foreigners were brutally killed by extremists on it…we had an expectation that the government would take a comprehensive and coordinated step to eliminate the militant networks in the country. But, no such initiative has so far been taken,’ said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

He came up with the comment after paying homage to the memories of those killed in the gruesome militant attack on Gulshan Holy Artisan Café attack, marking the 1^st anniversary of the incident.

A six-member BNP delegation, led by Rizvi went to the militant attack-hit spot around 10:45 am, and placed wreaths there paying tributes to the victims.

On the evening of July 1, 2016, five militants had swopped on the Holy Artisan Café and Bakery killing nine Italians, seven Japanese, one Indian, one Bangladesh-born American and four Bangladeshis, including two senior police officers, before they were gunned down by army Para-commandos.

Rizvi said though the government often claims to have rooted out militancy, the country has long been witnessing militant incidents at different parts of the country at regular intervals.

‘Eliminating militancy is not a mere task of any individual and organisation. The entire nation’s efforts are needed to face it. We hope good sense will prevail upon the government to take such steps,’ he said.

The BNP leader said everyone should remain alert so that the country’s tradition of communal harmony, affection for each other and the mutual respect can no longer been faded by any means.

He voiced dissatisfaction as the chargesheet of the cases in connection with the Holy Artisan Café attack has not yet been submitted. ‘We don’t know what step was taken and what the administration was doing regarding the incident. We want a thorough investigation into it to indentify extremists’ networks and stop recurrence of such incidents.’

Rizvi said the government should take proper steps so that no mystery is created over the militant incidents and their existence.

‘We hope the government will take effective measures to remove the fear from public mind about militancy.’