In her speech in the Jatiya Sangsad on Tuesday, the BNP chairperson denied the existence of Taliban and al-Qaeda elements in Bangladesh. She termed the reports about their activities nothing by the opposition's propaganda.

"It's a propaganda against the government and the country. And it [the propaganda] is aimed at causing a rift within the four-party alliance," Khaleda claimed, accusing the main opposition Awami League (AL) of launching the propaganda.

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Matiur Rahman Nizami on Sunday made similar comments in parliament in his speech on the thanksgiving motion on president's address.

"They (AL) want to make a rift within the four-party alliance through discovering the existence of so-called militancy. Because they (AL) know it will not be possible to win in the next election if the alliance exists," he said.

Islami Oikya Jote Chairman Fazlul Haque Amini, after the government launched a crackdown on militants last month, said in public meetings and statements that 'an evil force' has launched the propaganda about Islamist militants.

Another common point in the statements of Khaleda, Nizami, Amini and others is that a section of the media is orchestrating the propaganda 'to damage the country's image.'

The prime minister has said Islamic organisations have long been working to spread the message of Islam and its ideology. "They've also made an important contribution to maintaining social integrity and harmony; and there's no allegation against them."

Almost identical comments came from Industries Minister Nizami in parliament and at a public meeting in Dhaka the same day. Not only Jamaat-e-Islami, none of the known Islamic organisations has link to militancy, he claimed.

A number of Jamaat lawmakers also joined the chorus with their chief while participating in the thanksgiving motion on president' speech.

"An evil force is working in a planned way to create distance between the government and the Islamic organisations," Jamaat lawmaker Abu Syed Mohamamd Shahadat Hossain told the Jatiya Sangsad on March 10.

Another lawmaker from Jamaat Mia Golam Parwar in his speech in parliament on March 8 accused the Awami League of conspiring to make a rift within the ruling alliance.

As IOJ Chairman Amini had repeatedly blasted the government for the harassment of madrasa students in the name of crackdown on militants, the prime minister gave explanations of her government's anti-militancy steps.

"The question here is not of 'extremism' or 'fundamentalism'--the government will take necessary measures against whoever responsible for unleashing terrorism and disturbing social peace and stability," she told parliament.

But the government, while banning Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh and Jama'atul Mujahidin Bangladesh on February 23, in a handout said they were trying to create anarchy in the society through misguiding youths using religious sentiments.