The government has decided to take action against leaders of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami for the recent violence, Home Minister MK Alamgir said on Tuesday.
Leaders of the central committees and local units of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its ally Jamaat would have to take all responsibilities for lives and properties lost in violence between Thursday and Monday, Alamgir said.
Presenting a statement at parliament, he said the action would be taken against the BNP-Jamaat leaders under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009.
The minister said 67 people — seven policemen, some common people and “criminals” of Jamaat — have been killed in the violence.
He claimed the law and order is under the control of the government.
Alamgir said so far 235 cases have been filed with different police stations and 1,500 people have been arrested during the mayhem.
The offences — killing, attack, capture and kidnap — carry upto death penalty under the anti-terrorism law.
Aiming to destroy unity, harmony, security and sovereignty of the country, forcing the government or any other people to do something or to refrain from doing something through creating panic among the people or any section of people would the considered as terrorism according to the law.
A person could be sentenced to jail for any terms between three years and 20 years for providing funds or any other support or inspiring others to provide the same for terrorism activities.
Any conspiracy to carry out offences under the act will earn upto life term imprisonment.
For attempting to carry out any offence under the act, a person could be sentence to life in prison.
Under the act, abetting others to carry out offences is also punishable.
Instigating others to carry out offices under the act will earn maximum life term imprisonment.
Source: The Daily Star
