Arsonists must face legal action: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday reiterated her government's steadfast stand to take legal action against the persons responsible for colossal damage to the people and killing innocent people alive in the name of politics.

"The persons responsible for causing the damage to the people would be brought to justice must. None of them would be escaped," she said while distributing cheques among affected people and their relatives at her office in the capital.

"We have already started taking legal action against them and it would continue as if they remain unpunished they would do same thing in future," she added.

Yesterday, the prime minister distributed 222 cheques for over Tk 8.37 crore among the relatives of 37 burn victims and owners of 185 damaged transport during the 92-day blockade and shutdown programme enforced by the BNP-Jamaat alliance.

After distribution of the cheques the prime minister said, "We are trying to extend help to you though we know that the damage you have suffered is not recoverable. But we are trying to stand beside you with all cooperation."

"We don't want such damage to the people in future. It's unthinkable one can cause such damage to the people and burning people alive aimed at gratifying own interests," she said.

Hasina said people of Bangladesh never had experienced such brutality in the past which BNP and Jamaat have unleashed during their 92-day agitation since January 5 this year.

The prime minster said her politics is devoted to serve the people and for their welfare. "It's not politics at all if political activities cause damage to the people. It's merely militant and terrorist act," she said.

Earlier, the prime minister distributed Tk 33.77 crore in 994 cheques among the family members of the deceased, injured persons and owners of the damaged transports.