UNB, Gaibandha
Describing the pre- and post-election violence in the country unleashed by BNP-Jamaat-Shibir as militant acts, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said the perpetrators will not be spared.
“We won’t let our country to become a den of militants…we won’t allow any space to any militant act,” she said while distributing cheques of financial assistance to the family members of those killed and wounded since February 28, 2013 following the verdict of war criminal Delwar Hossain Sayedee till the recent post-polls violence.
The Prime Minister distributed cheques to 68 family members of those killed and wounded at the Circuit House. Since February 28, 2013, some 10 people were killed and 62 injured during the violence in different parts of Gaibandha unleashed by the BNP-Jamaat-Shibir.
Besides, the hooligans damaged and set fire to 83 primary schools and 34 colleges, madrasahs and other educational institutions.
Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Hasina also directed the district administration to take tougher steps as needed against the destructive activities of the BNP-Jamaat-Shibir men.
“It can’t be that they would unleash attacks on innocent people and we’ll accept that. We’ll take stern steps against all the violent activities unleashed by the BNP-Jamaat-Shibir across the country,” she added.
Mentioning that her party men did not resort to acts of vengeance following the landslide victory in the recently held national election, Hasina said the BNP-Jamaat men had also killed some 22,000 AL leaders and workers across the country after the 2001 national election.
About the recent violence triggered by the BNP-Jamaat-Shibir after having failed to thwart the 10th parliamentary polls, Hasina said such violent acts are terrorist and militant acts and could never be part of politics.
Terming the reason behind the BNP-Jamaat’s bid to foil the election incomprehensible, the premier said the perpetrators of the BNP-Jamaat-Shibir would have to be brought to justice. “Inshallah, we’ll ensure punishment to them for these crimes.”
Referring to the arson attacks on polling centers and attacks on presiding officers, imputing people and severing their tendons for casting votes, Hasina apparently pointed finger at the BNP chairperson and said, “What kinds of acts are these. On one hand, you’re saying people didn’t cast their votes and making attacks on the common people on the other for casting their votes.”
The Awami League chief also said she has no word to denounce the oppression on the common people by a political party in the country in the name of politics as they do not count people as human being.
During the tenure of BNP in 1991, Hasina said, 18 farmers had to lay down their lives in police firing only for demanding fertilizer in Gaibandha.
