DHAKA: State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan on Sunday said the government is looking into the pros and cons over the alleged audio message issued by al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri.

The state minister made the assertion while talking to journalists at his secretariat office in the city.

He said, “Bangladesh is enough capable of handling threats posed by such terrorist group.”

On February 14, in an audio message, Ayman al-Zawahiri questioned the motives of the birth of Bangladesh and called for Jihad for alleged attacks against Muslims in the country.

In response to a question, the Asaduzzaman said, “We are not considering it as a threat.”

He also said: “Our law enforcing agencies are trained to counter terrorism. We can combat all forms of threat.”

The ruling Awami League lawmaker said: “The local people supported their (al-Qaeda) causes in areas where they conducted sabotage but people of Bangladesh are with us. They do not want any kind of insurgency, terror and al-Qaeda in their country.”

Inspector General of Police, director general of RAB, DMP commissioner and officials of various mobile operators of the country were among others present in the meeting.

BDST: 1715 HRS, FEB 16, 2014