Actions against any opposition anarchy
Says Shahara
The government will take tough actions if the opposition creates anarchy in the country in the name of anti-government movement, said Home Minister Shahara Khatun yesterday.
"It's the duty of an elected democratic government to protect people's lives and property. So, if they (opposition) go against the people, the government will not spare them," she said.
She said these while addressing as special guest a condolence meeting at Dhaka Reporters' Unity in the capital marking the eight death anniversary of Ivy Rahman, former women's affairs secretary of Awami League (AL) and wife of President Zillur Rahman.
Ivy Rahman along with 23 others was killed while around 200 people were injured in the grenade attack on an AL rally at Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004.
Shahara said AL has never feared BNP's threats of repression and anarchism even when they (AL) were in the opposition. The people of the country also do not fear them (BNP), she added.
The BNP led government had repressed AL leaders and activists and filed fabricated cases during their tenure, she said, adding that AL will not harass any opposition party men the way they (BNP) did.
She called on the people to be patient and get united against any possible anarchy.
Saying that Jamaat came to state power in 2001 with the backup of BNP, the home minister also called on the people to unite to prevent Jamaat from coming back to power.
The government hopes that the accused of the August 21 grenade attack will be awarded exemplary punishment soon, Shahara said, adding that the forces that acted behind the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in August 15, 1975 and the plotters of the grenade attack were the same.
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