Charge arsonists quickly in court to finish trials, PM orders local administrations

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the local administrations to promptly press charges in court in cases filed over violence during the BNP-led alliance’s agitation that left over 150 people dead.

She also ordered continuation of raids and mobile courts to nab the saboteurs.

The prime minister gave the directives at a meeting with district development coordination committees of Bogra and Satkhira on Monday to help speed up trial process.

Rajshahi and Khulna divisions along with Jhenidha, Narail, Joypurhat and Sirajganj district development coordination committees were also connected through the videoconference.

“Those who killed people in arsons must be punished,” the prime minister said.

The BNP-led 20-Party alliance, which boycotted the 2014 national elections, enforced an indefinite blockade since January to press for a snap poll.

Besides the deaths, the agitations also left hundreds injured, thousands of vehicles damaged and Bangladesh’s economy bleeding.

BNP chief Khaleda Zia has been named in at least four cases, filed over the violence, as the instigator.

Khaleda’s key ally Jamaat-e-Islami ran amok in Satkhira and Bogra in 2013 protesting against convictions of its leaders on war crimes charges.

The alliance again went berserk a year later when they announced to thwart the parliamentary elections.

Prime Minister Hasina appreciated the local administrations and public representatives for ‘tackling the situation’.

“The raids by joint forces will continue until the people’s lives are secured,” she told the meeting. “Press charges against the arsonists swiftly and wrap up the trials.”

Hasina said the BNP-Jamaat alliance unleashed widespread violence this year as the government ‘focussed on development’.