Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has said terrorists killed innocent people by hurling petrol bombs and carrying out arsons in 2013, 2014 and 2015 in the name of realizing political demands, at the directive of BNP and Jamaat leaders.
"Such incidents did not happen anywhere in contemporary times, not only in the history of the country but also in the political history of the world," he said, addressing as chief guest a token hunger strike with the demand of bringing human rights violator BNP-Jamaat's arsonists and their patrons to justice, at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka on Thursday.
"Bringing only those who carried out the attacks to justice will not be enough, rather those who gave the directives and financed them should also be tried. If trials do not take place for these kinds of crimes, the country will witness recurrence of such incidents."
Hasan, also an Awami League joint general secretary, said BNP-Jamaat's terrorists hurled petrol bombs at innocent people, school-going boys and girls, people returning from Ijtema, bus passengers and sleeping drivers of trucks during blockades, and people were burnt, and thus the “BNP-Jamaat clique destroyed humanity.”
"Those who hurled petrol bombs are not the only offenders. The order came from London. BNP leaders including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Mirza Abbas gave directives for the attacks. At their directives and sponsorship, petrol bomb attacks were carried out," he said.
Today those who are victims of the attacks are demanding justice, he said.
Hasan said Mirza Fakhrul, who always talks big, cannot deny the responsibility for the crimes under the leadership of his party.
All offenders will be brought to justice, he said.
He said working-class people, who were the victims of arson, are the citizens and owners of the country.
"They (victims) do not do politics and nor do they understand it. They did not even join any political program. They were on the streets for their regular work to earn wages. Such heinous crimes against humanity did not happen anywhere in the world," he said.
Expressing solidarity with the victims and their family members, the minister said the cases filed in connection with the attacks should be disposed of quickly.
"I think the trials should be held through a speedy trial tribunal. I am expressing solidarity with the demand of justice and exemplary punishment for the criminals," he said.
Pointing to foreign agencies and diplomats, Hasan said those who talk about human rights should express solidarity with the victims whose rights were violated, in order to stop the path of recurrence of such crimes forever.
Khodeza Nasreen Akhter Hossain, MP, who is also a victim of the petrol bomb attacks, chaired the program while Ognishontrasher Artonad Convener Shahadat Hossain Babul moderated it and Md Rashidul Islam coordinated it.
More than 100 victims, including Geeta Rani Sen, who received burn injuries in the attacks, deceased Nahid's mother Runi Begum, deceased Yusuf's son Jahedul Islam, deceased Anwar Hossain's wife Parvin and deceased police officer Siddhartha's father Bimal Chandra Sarker spoke at the program.
Former Supreme Court Justice AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury Manik, former Dhaka University vice chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, Awami League Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Aminul Islam Amin, DU Social Sciences Faculty Dean Dr Zia Rahman, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote President Golam Quddus, Awami League Deputy Publicity Secretary Syed Abdul Awal Shamim, Ekushey Television Chief Executive Officer Pijush Bandyopadhyay and Barrister Tania Amir, among others, expressed solidarity with the demands of the victims and their family members.
Victims and family members of the deceased broke their fast by drinking water offered by Dr Hasan Mahmud.