‘Govt does not want to see further attacks’

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday the government does not want to see further attacks on minority people.

PM also urged all to remain alert so that the incidents that are taking place sporadically at different parts of the country do not recur, reports UNB.

She directed all concerned to ensure the foolproof security of minority people. "The security of minority people must be ensured …this is the duty of all," she said.

The Prime Minister said this during a videoconference with the officials, local representatives and people of different professions on development activities and government’s anti-terror and militancy drives in Rajshahi division from her official residence Ganabhaban.

Mentioning that the country’s law-and-order situation is now good, the Prime Minister urged all to help improve it further. "You all have to work to maintain the communal harmony."    

She said Bangladesh is a land of religious harmony where the people of all faiths live maintaining peace and performing their religious ritual freely. “And this is the message of all religions, including Islam.”

Issuing a stern warning against any terrorist acts and attacks in the name of movement, Hasina said a vested quarter is doing this only to tarnish the country’s image and people will never accept any recurrence of such attempts.

Terming the terrorist acts a new symptom, the Prime Minister said there will be no room for terrorism on Bangladesh’s soil.

Hasina alleged that BNP-Jamaat nexus had shown the path of killings in the country when they were in power. "And the new symptom of terrorism and militancy started following that path."  

Referring to the recent statements of BNP leaders, she said BNP leaders have already given that hints and threatened to go for a tough movement from November. "If their movement is like the previous time like killing and burning people, torching public and private properties, and making attacks one minorities. I’ll urge people to remain alert this time, too."

Recalling the recent spontaneous response against terrorism and militancy by the common people, she put emphasis on united steps against these social menaces.

Hasina said maintaining a peaceful atmosphere is a prerequisite to development and steering the country towards further progress is not possible without ensuring it.

She urged the imams of mosques to deliver khutba (sermon during Friday prayers) against militancy and terrorism to create a strong mass awareness.

The Prime Minister also called upon teachers, guardians and working people to keep a strong vigil on their children and students so that they cannot indulge in drug addiction, militancy and terrorism.

Terming Bangladesh a role model of development for the world, Sheikh Hasina said it is the main aim of her life to ensure a prosperous life for all and her government is working round the clock to this end.

The Prime Minister exchanged views with deputy commissioners, officials and local representatives of five districts of the division. The conference was projected in 2,981 villages, upazilas of eight districts of the division.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, PM`s Adviser HT Imam were, among others, present at Ganobhaban.

Ministers, MPs, political and religious leaders, schoolteachers, farmers, beneficiaries of various benevolent programmes of the government and a cross-section people were present and took part in the interaction with the Prime Minister from different venues in Rajshahi which virtually turned into public meetings.