He was speaking at a seminar titled "Militancy in the Eye of Islam and Our Responsibility" at the Jatiya Press Club in the city yesterday. The Islamic Front Bangladesh (IFB) organised the seminar.

Dr Alamgir, also a presidium member of the main opposition Awami League, said only dialogue can not stop bomb terrorism. He emphasised the need for government's stern action against the militants to end the militancy.

"On the one hand the government invites the opposition to join the dialogue, and on the other it has continued repression on the countrymen and its high-ups are patronising the militants," he said.

IFB Chairperson Syed Bahadur Shah presided over the seminar while Office Secretary Prof M Ibrahim Akhtari read out the keynote paper.

The speakers at the seminar said Islam is a religion of peace and there is no place for terrorism and extremism. But a vested quarter is trying to capture state power using the name of Islam and has already challenged the constitution, they said.

It is time to be united against the fundamentalist forces and the government should take stern actions against them immediately, they said. It is duty of all pro-Islamic organisations and intellectuals to resist these fundamentalist forces, they added.

The speakers said the government is still indifferent to the issue of arresting the militants and backing the zealots only for votes in the next general election.

Golam Maola, vice chairman of the Islamic Front of Bangladesh, said Sufis preached Islam in the subcontinent with the message of peace and humanity. But now a vested quarter misinterpreted it and started to misuse it as a tool of their business.

Secretary General of Central Parishad Zoynal Abedin Zubair, Organising Secretary Prof SM Fariduddin and member Shahidul Islam Abedin were present at the seminar.