Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday directed the law enforcement agencies to take stern action against the Jamaat-Shibir men for creating violence across the country.
She asked all the agencies including the intelligence to remain alert as the anti-liberation forces would become more violent in the coming months when the verdicts in war crimes cases against top Jamaat leaders will be pronounced.
The prime minister was talking to top police officials after the weekly cabinet meeting.
One of the senior ministers told The Daily Star that the Jamaat-e-Islami and its student front Islami Chhatra Shibir have decided to resort to “combat operation” and would carry out “armed attack” soon to destabilise law and order.
Yesterday, hundreds of Jamaat-Shibir activists went on the rampage in four districts including the capital demanding release of Jamaat leaders now facing charges of crimes against humanity at the international crimes tribunals.
Meanwhile, the government high command expressed surprise and resentment over the poor security measures in and around Bangladesh Secretariat as the Shibir men went berserk in the area when the prime minister was in the cabinet meeting.
Expressing disappointment over the role of law enforcement agencies, another senior minister said proper security measures were not in place around the secretariat. He thought the security should have been better.
Asked about government’s stance, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury said law would take its own course against any violence created by the Jamaat-Shibir men and the government as usual would remain tough.
Whatever the Jamaat-Shibir might do to foil the war crimes trial, it will be completed, she mentioned.
The cabinet meeting over, the prime minister called Communications Minister Obaidul Quader to discuss the Padma bridge issue.
The minister this morning will sign a 100 crore rupee treaty with an Indian organisation for protection of Padma river banks.
Contacted, Quader said the work on the protection of the river banks would start soon. Several options are under consideration for building the main bridge, he added.
Source: The Daily Star
