Sirajganj Correspondent/

315 extremists from the bloody towns of Sirajganj, Pabna, Bogra, Meherpur, Kushtia, Rajbari and Tangail returned from darkness to the light after surrendering their arms to the Home Minister.

On Sunday (May 21) noon, 315 members of East Bengal Communist Party (ML) Lal Pataka and several extremist groups surrendered at RAB-12 headquarters in Salanga Upazila of Sirajganj. Responding to RAB’s call, around 315 proletariat and extremist party members, including leaders of several underground active parties, surrendered with a large quantity of weapons. Among them, 180 people from Pabna district, 11 from Sirajganj, 74 from Tangail, 54 from Rajbari, two from Meherpur, one from Kushtia and Bogra are proletariat and extremist party members.

Speaking as the chief guest at the surrender ceremony, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said, “You know that since the 80s, proletarians and extremists have built bases in some districts of this area due to poor communication systems. Later in 1999, holding the hand of the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the extremists returned to the path of light with the slogan of ‘Leave the life of terror, build an enlightened life’. Just as the Prime Minister had rehabilitated everyone then, the Prime Minister told me before coming today that you who have surrendered will be given full support, starting from financial support.

He also said that RAB is doing many good things and has gained trust. That is why the extremists contacted RAB for surrender. Apart from maintaining law and order, RAB is working to eliminate drugs and terrorism. Besides conducting various humanitarian activities. At one time, the name of terror in the remote areas of these 7 districts was extremism. Extortion, disappearances, murders, robberies, robberies and kidnappings were happening every day in these areas. Ordinary people used to spend their days in fear of extremists.

According to RAB, their employment is being created through a pilot project called ‘Uday Pathe’. In the meantime, 30 women members of extremist families have been trained in handicrafts to make them self-reliant. Besides, employment of extremist leaders and members will also be provided by providing fish farming, cow or chicken farms, rickshaws, sewing machines.

The surrender ceremony started at 11:30 am at the headquarters of RAB-12 in Salanga upazila of Sirajganj. Benazir Ahmed MP, President of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Home Affairs, Member of National Parliament of Sirajganj Sadar and Kamarkhand constituencies, Professor Dr. Habibe Millat Munna MP, Member of National Parliament of Sirajganj-3 Tarash Raiganj and Salanga constituencies Professor Dr. Md. Abdul Aziz MP, Member of National Parliament of Sirajganj-4 Ullapara Constituency Tanveer Imam MP, Senior Secretary of Public Security Department of Ministry of Home Affairs. Aminul Islam Khan, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, RAB Director General Additional IGP M. Khurshid Hossain along with senior officials of various departments of the government.

Rajbari district representative Farooq Sheikh, Tangail district representative Saidul Islam and others were also present at the time.