Murder of two foreign nationals

PM smells BNP-Jamaat link

No IS presence in country, she tells press briefing

Describing the murders of the two foreigners– an Italian and a Japanese– as “pre-planned”, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has alleged that BNP-Jamaat were linked to the killings.
“People will have to understand that BNP-Jamaat have a hand in foreigners’ killings because they want to destabilise the country to show the government in a bad light,” she said yesterday.
Hasina, also the president of the ruling Awami League, came up with the allegation at a press conference at her official residence, Ganabhaban. It was held to inform the media about the outcome of the PM’s recent US visit.
“Such incidents may occur as we are holding trials of war criminals. They will not sit idle; they will try to take revenge. Besides, if you take note of the statement and reaction of a BNP leader before and after the murder of the Italian national in Dhaka, you can easily understand the matter,” she said.
The PM, however, added that such murders took place everywhere in the world. “Even in the US, people are being killed in the broad daylight. The law and order situation in our country is not worse than in US and Australia,” she said. Hasina also underscored the need for building awareness among the people to resist such incidents.
“We are taking necessary steps against those involved in the killings. We will take action and track down the culprits. I appeal to all citizens not to get too sensitive or carried away by these murders. If we get carried away by these murders and overlook our achievements, the BNP-Jamaat conspiracy will be successful,” she said.
Replying to a question on the existence of militant group Islamic State (IS) in Bangladesh, the PM said, “There is still no existence of IS or other global terror groups in our country. Our intelligence agencies are very active. We will not allow any such activities in Bangladesh.”
She, however, said Bangladesh has witnessed home-grown radicalism in the past, when elements like the JMB and Bangla Bhai were promoted by those in power. “But we have taken firm action against them and curbed their activities,” she added.
The PM said during her US visit, the heads of different nations did not discuss the justification of the present government and the political crisis in Bangladesh. Rather, they praised the current government for achieving remarkable progress within a very short time. Many countries have promised to invest in Bangladesh, she added.
Hasina alleged that a certain quarter was trying to destabilise the country and they will continue their attempts because they do not want to see democracy continue in the country.
“Some people opined that the Army is under my control, for which they can do nothing. Whoever made such a statement, have they tried to control the Army,” she said.
Hasina said the 92-day violence sponsored by BNP-Jamaat has created a bad image in the world community. She said the leaders and workers of BNP-Jamaat alliance killed some 150 to 200 people, hurling petrol bombs during the violent movement, and over thousands of people were injured during their movement, she added.
About the shooting of a minor boy by an AL lawmaker in Sundarganj, the ruling party chief said, “The AL is a big political organisation. Some leaders might have been involved in such criminal activities, but we are taking action. Nobody will be spared.”
Referring to the Bangladesh women cricket team’s tour of Pakistan, the prime minister said questions should not be raised over the tour.
“We can face any situation,” the prime minister said. “Our girls went there to play cricket. They should be praised for their courage.”
Hasina said the Bangladesh team had shown courage by touring Pakistan, which she described as a “feudal and conservative society”. The tour, she said, would “encourage Pakistani women” as well.
In response to a question on payment of festival bonus on Pohela Boishakh for government officials, the PM expressed apprehensions whether or not the owners of electronic and print media would pay such bonus or not. The person who asked the question requested the Premier to urge the private organisations to do so.
Among others, the deputy leader in Parliament and AL presidium member, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, foreign minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali, information minister Hasanul Haque Inu, PM’s media adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and several top leaders of the AL were also present at the news conference.
The Premier had left for New York on September 23 on an eight-day tour to attend the 70th UN General Assembly (UNGA). During the visit, Hasina had received the UN’s highest award on environmental affairs, ‘Champions of the Earth’, as well as the ‘ICT Sustainable Development’ award.

Murder of two foreign nationals

PM smells BNP-Jamaat link

No IS presence in country, she tells press briefing

Describing the murders of the two foreigners an Italian and a Japanese as pre-planned, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has alleged that BNP-Jamaat were linked to the killings. People will have to understand that BNP-Jamaat have a hand in foreigners killings because they want to destabilise the country to show the government in a bad light, she said yesterday. Hasina, also the president of the ruling Awami League, came up with the allegation at a press conference at her official residence, Ganabhaban. It was held to inform the media about the outcome of the PMs recent US visit. Such incidents may occur as we are holding trials of war criminals. They will not sit idle; they will try to take revenge. Besides, if you take note of the statement and reaction of a BNP leader before and after the murder of the Italian national in Dhaka, you can easily understand the matter, she said. The PM, however, added that such murders took place everywhere in the world. Even in the US, people are being killed in the broad daylight. The law and order situation in our country is not worse than in US and Australia, she said. Hasina also underscored the need for building awareness among the people to resist such incidents. We are taking necessary steps against those involved in the killings. We will take action and track down the culprits. I appeal to all citizens not to get too sensitive or carried away by these murders. If we get carried away by these murders and overlook our achievements, the BNP-Jamaat conspiracy will be successful, she said. Replying to a question on the existence of militant group Islamic State (IS) in Bangladesh, the PM said, There is still no existence of IS or other global terror groups in our country. Our intelligence agencies are very active. We will not allow any such activities in Bangladesh. She, however, said Bangladesh has witnessed home-grown radicalism in the past, when elements like the JMB and Bangla Bhai were promoted by those in power. But we have taken firm action against them and curbed their activities, she added. The PM said during her US visit, the heads of different nations did not discuss the justification of the present government and the political crisis in Bangladesh. Rather, they praised the current government for achieving remarkable progress within a very short time. Many countries have promised to invest in Bangladesh, she added. Hasina alleged that a certain quarter was trying to destabilise the country and they will continue their attempts because they do not want to see democracy continue in the country. Some people opined that the Army is under my control, for which they can do nothing. Whoever made such a statement, have they tried to control the Army, she said. Hasina said the 92-day violence sponsored by BNP-Jamaat has created a bad image in the world community. She said the leaders and workers of BNP-Jamaat alliance killed some 150 to 200 people, hurling petrol bombs during the violent movement, and over thousands of people were injured during their movement, she added. About the shooting of a minor boy by an AL lawmaker in Sundarganj, the ruling party chief said, The AL is a big political organisation. Some leaders might have been involved in such criminal activities, but we are taking action. Nobody will be spared. Referring to the Bangladesh women cricket teams tour of Pakistan, the prime minister said questions should not be raised over the tour. We can face any situation, the prime minister said. Our girls went there to play cricket. They should be praised for their courage. Hasina said the Bangladesh team had shown courage by touring Pakistan, which she described as a feudal and conservative society. The tour, she said, would encourage Pakistani women as well. In response to a question on payment of festival bonus on Pohela Boishakh for government officials, the PM expressed apprehensions whether or not the owners of electronic and print media would pay such bonus or not. The person who asked the question requested the Premier to urge the private organisations to do so. Among others, the deputy leader in Parliament and AL presidium member, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, foreign minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali, information minister Hasanul Haque Inu, PMs media adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and several top leaders of the AL were also present at the news conference. The Premier had left for New York on September 23 on an eight-day tour to attend the 70th UN General Assembly (UNGA). During the visit, Hasina had received the UNs highest award on environmental affairs, Champions of the Earth, as well as the ICT Sustainable Development award.