DHAKA, Dec 4: Prime minister Khaleda Zia on Sunday told business leaders worried over bomb blasts and suicide attacks by Muslim militants, that her government would crack down on the militants.

“The criminals have no ideology. So if we all stand together against them, we will be able to establish absolute control over them very soon. My government will employ all means to do so,” she declared.

Khaleda made the statement as a delegation of 11 trade bodies, led by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries president Mir Nasir Hossain, met her and expressed its concern about the situation. The business leaders suggested some measures for combating militancy and restoring peace in the country.

The suggestions include strengthening of administrative activities, including security measures in all key installations, identifying masterminds of terror attacks, enactment of stringent laws, speedy trial of the militants, involving imams in social campaigns and providing more financial help in economically backward areas which are believed to be grounds and stronghold of the militants.

Opening her ‘dialogue’ at the meeting with the top business leaders, Khaleda expressed the hope that all the political parties would join the national dialogue to forge a consensus on how to combat and uproot Muslim militancy.

“It is not the problem of an individual. It is not a problem of a particular party. It is rather a national problem. And we have to address the problem together,” Khaleda said. The main opposition Awami League, however, has refused to join such talks. Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the talks, the LGRD and cooperatives minister, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, said Khaleda urged all, including the businessmen and the media professionals, to help create awareness in this regard.

“Please ask the workers of your company to make aware their family members and neighbours so that no one is encouraged to do anything subversive,” she was quoted as saying.

“When you show the statement of a militant saying that he blasted bombs to go to heaven. Please also use the voice of ulema who say it is wrong and it is not Islam.

That will help a lot to discourage the rise of militants,” she said.