Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday assured security to the minority communities and warned of stern actions against the perpetrators of post-poll violence.
Addressing a rally at the Shongkorpasha High School grounds in Jessore, she said: “You [the minorities] are the sons of this land; you have full rights to live here. If someone tries to attack you, we will protect you. The government is always by your side.”
“We have amended the constitution so that people of every religion can live in the country with equal rights,” she added.
Hasina also claimed that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has “turned into the ameer of Jamaat” and had been conspiring against the people of Bangladesh.
The premier alleged that Jamaat-e-Islam, backed by Khaleda, was carrying out anti-Islamic activities in the name of Islam.
She said Jamaat had previously been banned in Pakistan, after the organisation carried out attacks on the country’s minority communities.
Hasina also claimed that 40-45% voters cast their ballots by ignoring Khaleda’s calls to stop the election.
“The only thing she [Khaleda] could do was to burn people in the name of her party’s movement just to protest the election,” Hasina said, adding that BNP-Jamaat people had attacked citizens including the minorities simply because they had dared to vote.
She added: “The BNP leader had said the people did not cast their votes, but why did she attack those who went to polling centre?”
Hasina warned of stern actions against the perpetrators of the post-poll violence, saying: “The government will not allow any kind of killing, violence or militancy. Necessary measures will be taken against those who engage in such activities.”
She added: “The government will ensure the security of the people.”
She also accused Khaleda of “telling lies” and claimed that after changing her own and her husband’s birthdays, the BNP chief had also changed the date of the poll to May 5 from January 5.
The prime minister further criticized Khaleda for her controversial comments about Gopalgonj district.
“She is angry at Gopalgonj being the birth place of the father of the nation Bangabangdhu,” she said.
Apparently hinting at Khaleda, Hasina also said the BNP chairperson had missed the ‘election train.’
“Golapi re Golapi, you have missed the train; Golapi is now not in the train,” she said.
State Ministers Narayan Chandra Chando, Asaduzzaman Khan, Biren Sikder, local MP Ranjit Kumar Roy, MP of Jessore 3 constituency Kazi Nabil Ahmed also addressed the rally, which was presided over by Ali Reza Razu, president of the AL’s Jessore district unit.
During her visit to the district yesterday, the premier also met with the victims of the attacks on the minority community in Malopara of Obhoynagar upazila, and handed Tk20,000 to Tk1 lakh to each of the victimised families.
She also gave a cheque of Tk10 lakh to the family of Jubo League leader Alamgir Hossain Shimul, who was killed during the blockade by the opposition alliance.
