Sirajganj:A total of 65 members of an outlawed extremist group have surrendered to law enforcement authorities at the Special Response Battalion (SRB)-12 headquarters in Salanga. The individuals have pledged to abandon arms and criminal activities, aiming to return to normal life.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the group of surrendered members includes 13 individuals from Rajbari, 45 from Pabna, and seven from Sirajganj. The surrender ceremony was attended by State Minister for Social Welfare, Farzana Sharmin, as the chief guest.
During her address at the event, the state minister emphasized that extremism and criminal behaviors are often the result of social deprivation, denial of rights, and severe neglect. She stated that the primary responsibility of a welfare-oriented state is to reintegrate these individuals into mainstream society.
The event was organized by SRB-12, Sirajganj, under the supervision of SRB Forces. Commander, Additional DIG Md Atikur Rahman Mia, chaired the ceremony. Special guests at the programme included Sirajganj-5 lawmaker and BNP Rajshahi divisional joint organizing secretary Md Amirul Islam Khan Alim, SRB Forces Director General and Additional IGP Md Ahsan Habib Palash, and other notable officials.
The government has previously implemented initiatives to encourage extremist members to surrender and reintegrate into society. Notable past efforts include the surrender of more than 100 extremists in Sirajganj in 1998, 596 members in Pabna on April 9, 2019, and 323 members from seven districts in Sirajganj on May 21, 2023.