Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said the United Nations and any country can send their experts for the proper investigation of every incident of the recent violence related to the quota reform movement.
“I want everything to be investigated. Because, it needs to be found out what happened behind it and how these happened. I’ve appealed to the United Nations to send their experts. If any other country wants, they can send their experts too,” she said.
The premier said this while addressing a voluntary blood donation programme, discussion and doa mahfil, arranged by Bangladesh Krishak League at the auditorium of Krishibid Institution Bangladesh in the city’s Farmgate, on the occasion of the National Mourning Day.
She said, “I want these incidents to be investigated properly. We’ll have to take action against the culprits no matter who they are.”
The Awami League President, Sheikh Hasina, said she formed a one-member judicial enquiry committee, without waiting for any demand in this regard, in a bid to investigate the killings of six people in the violence initially.
Later she upgraded it to a three-member committee to expand its scope when a larger number of incidents occurred, said the PM.
She said her government has brought the status of a developing country for Bangladesh.
“But today the image of Bangladesh worldwide is being tarnished by carrying out false propaganda and such militant acts. I’m leaving it to the people to judge it,” she added.
Hasina, the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu, said the father of the nation is no more today but her government has built the country following his ideals. But these developments were destroyed and the lives of people were snatched.
“They (the perpetrators) would be tried one day. This is why I want it to be investigated internationally and a fair trial to be held,” she said.
The prime minister said not a single militant incident occurred after the Holey Artisan attack in Bangladesh due to the vigilance of the law enforcement agencies. The law enforcers sacrificed their lives but freed Bangladesh from militancy, she said.
“But today they showed ugly teeths of militancy in the banner of the quota movement,” she said.
PM seeks public help to resist Jamaat-Shibir as militant organisation:
The premier said there should be no place for militancy and terrorism in Bangladesh and their main strength is Jamaat-e Islami and Shibir.
“They (Jamaat-Shibir) will be banned under the clause 18 of Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009 so that they won’t have any social dignity,” she said.
She said they would try to carry out destruction again as militants. “At that time, all will have to try to resist them as a militant organisation and save the people (from their hands). All will have to do it in unison,” she said.
“There would be no room for militants in the land of Bangladesh. We all will have to stay vigilant in this regard. I seek cooperation from the people of the country to stay vigilant in this matter,” she went on.
PM blasts intellectuals for supporting movement:
Sheikh Hasina questioned what the rationale was for the continuation of movement when 100 percent demand was fulfilled.
Noting different brutal incidents carried out in the name of movement, she also questioned what type of mayhem and movement it was.
She criticised a section of intellectuals for supporting the movement.
“Many of our knowleagble personalities, dignitaries and intellectuals continue giving their support to this movement. What support are they giving? The demand has already been fulfilled completely,” she said.
She said conducting sabotages in this way in the name of a quota movement is nothing but acts of militancy.
At the outset of the programme, one-minute silence was observed in memory of the departed souls of Father of the Nation Bangabanddhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other martyrs of the 15th August 1975 carnage.
In the event, a special prayer was conducted praying for the salvation of the departed souls of the martyrs of the 15th August 1975 carnage and the people who were killed in the recent mayhem centring the movement for quota reform in the public service jobs.
AL advisory council member Advocate Yousuf Hossain Humaiyun and
AL agriculture and cooperatives secretary Faridun Nahar Laily MP spoke on the occasion.
Bangladesh Krishak League President Samir Chanda delivered the welcome speech in the event moderated by its general secretary Umme Kulsum.
