Home advisor dismisses security concern, urges agitating students to return to studies

Perpetrators behind scattered crude bomb attacks are being caught, he says

Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has dismissed any cause for panic over the International Crimes Tribunal verdict that handed Sheikh Hasina a death sentence.

He made the comment after attending a meeting of the Secretariat Core Committee on Monday. He instead urged students on the streets to return home and concentrate on their studies.

“I don’t see any panic. There is no panic on the roads. But there were some isolated incidents. I won’t say there was any major problem,” he said.

He said that crude bomb attacks were carried out in a few places and the perpetrators are being caught.

Jahangir defended the recent order given by police to shoot at suspected arsonists and bombers.

“This is in self-defence. Don’t you register arms for self-defence? You don't do it for hunting,” said Jahangir.

Chief Advisor’s Special Assistant Khuda Baksh Chowdhury said the right to self-defence is preserved by every citizen.

He explained that any citizen could kill someone in self-defence if they attacked him with a murder motive.

“The case has been like this across the world,” he said.

He, however, refused to comment on the Chattogram Metropolitan Police commissioner’s order to open “burst fire” on armed criminals.

Clashes erupted between security forces and students after the verdict against Hasina had been pronounced by the ICT.

Security forces intervened when a crowd of people tried to march towards Dhanmondi Road No 32, where the residence of independence leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman lies in ruins, with two excavators, apparently to level to the ground parts still standing.

Asked by journalists whether legal action would be taken against inciting the “mob,” Jahangir said several security personnel were injured in clashes with the students because they took action.

“Legal action is being taken,” he said.

Jahangir sought cooperation of all.

Describing the agitating crowd as “our children,” Jahangir said: “They should be told that they should stay away from such activities. These are unnecessary. You go to schools and colleges to study. We are here to take care of all of these.”