Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has vowed to bring an end to a wave of targeted killings of minorities and secular citizens in the country. She said, her government would do whatever is needed to stop the attacks.
Her comments came a day after police launched a concerted drive against Islamists, arresting more than 3,000 people. Police launched the week-long campaign on Friday, saying they were focused on arresting Islamist militants.
Addressing the Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC) meeting at Gonobhaban, Sheikh Hasina, also the president of the party, urged the people to come forward to check the cowardly acts and resist the killers.
“Please don’t play the role of an onlooker when you see that a person is under attack of the thugs. Rather, try to resist and catch the criminals,” she said adding police and we will remain beside you.
Reiterating her government commitment to arrest the killers of all secret killings, she said, “Where the criminals will hide in? Each and every killer would be brought to book as we have done after 2015 mayhem,” she said.
All their sources, financers and patrons of the criminals would be unearthed and brought to justice, she said.
Blasting BNP chairperson for what she said, Awami League is behind the secret killing, the Prime Minister said, “It’s not me, but you, who have the habit of killing. As to why, you have repeatedly tried to kill me since my stepping in the land of Bangladesh in 1981.”
Sheikh Hasina said, it’s a matter of fact that Zia, Ershad and Khaleda everybody was involved with the conspiracy of killing and they have nourished the killers of Bangabandhu, rewarded them and gave them impunity from trial through enacting the indemnity ordinance.