Bangladesh Muslim rally opposes extremism

DHAKA, Mar 31 (Reuters) About 30,000 Muslims rallied in the Bangladesh capital Dhaka today, calling for an end to radical Islam which they said contradicted the religion and encouraged extremism.

They criticised the government for failing to ensure people's basic needs including food, shelter and health, and said pro-government Islamic parties for ''breeding militants'' in the country.

''We oppose fundamentalism and support democracy,'' said Mohammad Nurul Huda Fayezi, secretary general of Islami Shasantantra Andolon (ISA), which organised the rally.

The group supports governance according to Islamic teachings but denounces violence. killing and anarchy in the name of Islam.

Bangladesh has been rocked by a wave of bomb attacks blamed on two outlawed radical groups -- Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen and Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh -- who are fighting for introduction of tough sharia law in Bangladesh, a mainly Muslim democracy.

At least 30 people have been killed and 150 wounded in the bomb attacks since August last year, police and home ministry officials said.

Speakers at the Friday rally said the government was either unable or reluctant to address core issues affecting people lives, such as inadequate supplies of fuel, gas, electricity -- as well as soaring food prices.

The government says it is trying to control prices and improve supplies of utilities -- but gives no timeframe.

REUTERS SY PC1911