Chilmari, Kurigram: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday again called upon all to stay alert always so that no one could slip into the wrong path of terrorism and militancy, and mobilise public opinion against these two menaces.

‘I hope all of you will carefully and cautiously continue to work in this regard,’ she said.

Sheikh Hasina was addressing a civic gathering after formally inaugurating a first-ever food-friendly programme for the extremely poor through distributing fair price food ration cards among the heads of 15 families at a function at Thanahat AU Pilot High School Ground at Chilmari in Kurigram, reports UNB.

The Prime Minister again urged guardians, teachers and students of different schools and colleges, elected public representatives and people from all strata to remain alert about their children’s movement, whereabouts and activities.

‘You'll have to enhance your vigil in this regard alongside enquiring about the problems of the children,’ she said adding that the teachers of the educational institutions will also have to know whether any student skipping classes for many days without any valid reason.

Hasina said the people of all classes of society, the administration, members of law enforcement agencies and elected public representatives will have to know why youths are choosing the wrong paths like terrorism, militancy and drug addiction.

Terming Islam as a religion of 'peace', she said it never advocates for killing people. ‘Almighty Allah is the last one who’ll hold the ultimate trial. But, it's not at all acceptable if anyone will go to the path of killing losing his or her trust in the Almighty.’

Though some incidents took place one after another recently, Hasina said, her government took prompt steps to handle the situation for which Bangladesh is now the lone country in the world where hostages [From Gulshan's Holey Artisan Restaurant] were rescued within just 10 hours through stamping out the militants.

The Ministry of Food and the District Administration jointly organised the programme.

Chaired by Food Minister Adv Qumrul Islam, Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury, Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, State Minister for Social Welfare Nuruzzaman Ahmed, State Minister for LGRD Moshiur Rahman Ranga, Chilmari Upazila Parishad Chairman Shawkat Hossain Sarker also spoke on the occasion. Food Ministry Secretary AM Badrudduja delivered the welcome address.