SM Mizanur Rahman :The government is going to take a hard-line course against what it terms ‘the criminals’ involved in unleashing a ‘reign of terror’ across the country in the name of blockade after the end of Bishwa Ijtema. “We are going to take a hard-line course against the criminals involved in subversive activities throughout the country after Bishwa Ijtema,” State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told The New Nation on Friday.At least 24 people have been killed at different places in the country, including capital Dhaka, during the nonstop blockade in the last ten days. Besides, about 500 public and private transports came under arson attack or vandalized.Political violence recorded a surge as the government took a move to celebrate its one-year tenure on January 5 as the ‘Victory Day for Democracy’ while BNP terming the day as ‘Democracy Killing Day’ also tried to arrange a public meeting the same day. The trend of political violence continued till date. Immediately after assuming the office Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had issued directive to take tough measures against those involved in subversive activities in the name of movement.The common people heaved a sigh of relief as they felt security of lives and properties after the January 5 election last year. But the sharp rise in political violence and subversive activities in the name of blockade recorded an alarming rise in recent days causing widespread agony among the people.The donors have also expressed concern over the prevailing situation requesting both the ruling Awami League and main opposition BNP to settle the issue through holding fruitful dialogue Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal added a massive crackdown on the hardened criminals by the BGB, RAB, Police, Armed Police and Ansars is in the offing to combat the wave of big crimes now being committed across the country during the ongoing blockade called by the BNP-led 20-party alliance. “I want to make the government stand clear that as per the Prime Minister’s directive we will do everything to contain terrorism and anarchy,” he added.The law enforcers have targeted Roads and Highways, divisions, districts, police stations and the crime prone areas to combat the hooliganism. Talking to this reporter Awami League presidium member Nuh-ul-Alam Lenin yesterday said a heavy contingent of law enforcers have been kept standby to go hard on BNP-Jamaat alliance soon after the second phase of Bishwa Ijtema that concludes tomorrow, (Sunday). “A political leader or worker can’t kill a human being. But when we have to witness that in the name of blockade, the BNP-Jamaat men are involved in killing innocent people launching petrol bomb attack on transports. They can’t be considered as political party leaders or workers. They are terror,” he added. He said shoot-at-sight order would have to be given to the members of law enforcing agencies to protect the country’s people and their properties “The forces have been kept on alert for possible movement to different parts of the country. Intelligence agency personnel have already reached different places of the country to identify points of deployment,” Home Ministry sources said, adding that the government was maintaining complete secrecy about the upcoming drive against the criminals. Awami League senior leader Suranjit Sen Gupta at a discussion yesterday rejected outright BNP’s proposal to hold dialogue saying there is no possibility to hold dialogue with what he terms ‘those involved in killing people’. Earlier on Thursday, BGB Director General Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed said if someone launches any attack, BGB members can open fire in self-defence. Meanwhile, the authority concerned has prepared lists of persons involved in subversive activities, launching petrol bomb attack and removing fishplates of railway truck. Besides, the list of the leaders of different political parties who are allegedly patronising the criminals and terrorists in their own interest has also been prepared, the sources added. Earlier, several rounds of talks were held by the government high- ups who felt that the law enforcers have totally failed to improve the law and order situation since the Awami League-led 14-party alliance came to power last year.
