Describing the Savar tragedy as ‘mass killing’ with a political motive, opposition BNP on Friday demanded a high-powered judicial probe committee to look into the horrifying Rana Plaza collapse.
“It’s a massive killing. The ruling party men called in people to bring out an anti-hartal procession and killed them inside the building with a political motive. We demanded formation of a high-powered judiciary probe committee to investigate the cruel incident,” said BNP standing committee member MK Anwar.
The BNP leader made the demand while addressing a roundtable discussion organised at the Jatiya Press Club. Oitijjo Sangsad arranged the programme, titled ‘What necessary to Protect Democracy and Freedom of Expression’.
Anwar came down heavily on Prime Minister for her remarks that building owner Sohel Rana does not belong to the ruling party’s associate body Jubo League and said, “When all media reported that Rana was a senior joint convener of Jubo League, Savar unit, the Prime Minister in parliament claimed he is none of Jubo League men.”
“I don’t say she (PM) spoke untrue, but she was not properly informed about Rana,” he added.
The eight-storey building Rana Plaza collapsed at Savar bus stand on the outskirts of the capita on Wednesday, killing at least 304 people and injuring nearly 2,000.
Anwar demanded exemplary punishment of those involved in the incident, no matter which party they belong to.
Criticising Sheikh Hasina for not visiting the spot, the BNP policymaker said, though it takes only five minutes to go to the spot by a helicopter, the Prime Minister did not go there to console the victims’ family members and the injured people. “Instead, the government is making false statements over the incident like that of Biswajit and Ramu ones.
The former minister alleged that the Prime Minster has taken the “scorched earth policy” to destroy the country’s industries. “Don’t cause any more pain to people by following the scorched earth policy. We’ll soon oust you and force you to arrange the next general election under a non-party caretaker government.”
He also slammed Home Minister MK Alamgir for his remarks that Rana Plaza might have collapsed due to jerking of its vulnerable pillars by opposition activists, saying the Home Minister has exposed his colour with the remarks.
Chaired by Oitijjo Sangsad president Abul Kashem Mithun, the programme was addressed, among others, by Jatiya Party spokesperson Kazi Firoz Rashid, Naya Diganta editor Alamgir Mohiuddin and Brac University teacher Prof Pias Karim.
Source: UNB Connect
