"Youths can play a vital role in dislodging the anti-people government by turning the on-going agitation into a mass upsurge and rescue the country from the fanatic militant forces", Noor said while addressing a gathering of young people at Shalikha College ground. It was organised by Tala upazila Jubo League.

The AL lawmaker alleged that a partner in the ruling coalition is behind creation of Jama'atul Mujahidin Bangladesh (JMB) and Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB).

Expressing concern over growing militancy and fanaticism in the name of Islam, which never supports violence.

"They (the ruling coalition partner) have created militant organisations only to capture power in the name of religion", he said. Islamist zealots are defaming the religion, destroying democracy and defacing the country abroad, he said.

Noor claimed that Islamist outfits are still active in the country under different names and their international links are intact.

He regretted the government's role saying, militancy cropped up under its protection.

"At the initial stage, when we were demanding action against militants, the government was telling people that it was created by the media and was part of opposition's planned propaganda to tarnish country's image.

"It took a along time when the government finally admitted existence of powerful militant groups in the country".

Mere arrest of JMB kingpins and a handful of cadres will not end militancy unless their mentors and protectors in the government are identified and arrested, the AL lawmaker said.

He demanded immediate arrest of ministers, MPs and officials who protected JMB kingpins Abdur Rahman and Siddiqul Islam Bangla Bhai.

He reiterated that arrest of Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai is a drama, staged to divert people's attention from power-fuel-fertiliser crises and price hike of essentials and foil the anti-government agitation.

Satkhira AL president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman told the meeting that the BNP-Jamaat government would be forced to accept opposition's electoral reform proposals for holding a free and fair election.

The meeting was also addressed by, Satkhira AL general secretary Nazrul Islam, Jubo League central Organising Secretary Mahbubur Rahman Hiron and Tala upazila Jubo League President Mir Zakir Hossain.