PM Urges Khaleda Zia to Stop Burning People to Death

"Begum Zia has launched the culture of burning people to death to frighten the people and impede the pace of development. But this type of politics should end and I pray to Almighty Allah that a good sense of prevails in her (Begum Zia) to stop such a culture," she said.

The Prime Minister said human beings are the best creation (of Allah) and nothing is a heinous crime more than burning people to death. "It is my question to those whose hands have the smell of burnt people, for whose interest they are committing such crimes," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the newly constructed Sheikh Lutfar Rahman Bridge, locally known as 'Patgati Bridge', over Madhumati River in Tungipara upazila under Gopalganj district through videoconferencing from Ganobhaban here this afternoon.

The Road Transport and Highways Division implemented the construction of the 391.5 meter long and 9.5 meter wide bridge as well as the Gopalganj-Pirojpur Road Development project at a cost of about 76 crore taka.

Sheikh Hasina also opened the newly-built 'Tungipara BRTC Training Institute' and laid the foundation stone of 'Kalna Bridge' over Madhumati River in between Kashiani upazila under Gopalganj district and Lohagara upazila under Narail district.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and Awami League's Religious Affairs Secretary Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah joined the videoconferencing from Gopalganj Deputy Commissioner Office, while PMO Senior Secretary Abul Kalam Azad and Press Secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhuri were present at Ganobhaban.

Besides, parliament members elected from Gopalganj, Narail, Bagerhat and Pirojepur and district administrators, deputy commissioners and superintendents of police were present at Gopalganj DC Office.

Referring to vandalism and destructive activities of the BNP-Jamaat nexus, the Prime Minister said numerous mothers have lost their sons and a huge number of people have been crippled due to the destructive acts of BNP-Jamaat.

"Those who suffered burn injuries won't be able to work," she said, adding that she is everyday enquiring about them through a director of the Prime Minister's Office.

Blasting the BNP-Jamaat clique for their everyday anarchy, vandalism and burning people to death in the name of the so-called hartals and blockades, Sheikh Hasina said: We did stage many movements in the people's interest in the past. But we did not see such type of movement," she said.

"They are killing common people and burnt 50/60 truck drivers to death and torched trains and buses and other vehicles. Children, female teachers, women and bus passengers were not spared by them," she said.

"They are committing such crimes but putting blames on the government for such subversive acts," she said.

She regretted that BNP and its ally Jamaat are creating anarchy in the country though there is no issue for movements as peace and stability was prevailing for last one year.

Sheikh Hasina said, her government believes in the politics of development and welfare of the country and its people and has been working to reach fruits of independence to every house.

As part of the initiatives, she said, infrastructures including bridges, roads and other big establishments are being constructed across the country.

In this regard, the Prime Minister mentioned that the newly constructed Sheikh Lutfur Rahman Bridge will create huge opportunity of communication and transportation of goods in Gopalganj and its surrounding regions.

Talking about construction of Padma and Kalna Bridges, Sheikh Hasina said, these two bridges will connect Bangladesh with the Asian Highway route-1.

The Prime Minister said, the southern region had always been neglected as the people of the region cast their votes for Awami League.

But, her government took various steps for balanced development of the region keeping pace with other parts of the country, she said.

The Prime Minister said her government wants to leave a beautiful and prosperous future for the next generation as the country is marching ahead to materialise the dream of Bangabandhu.

Photo: Saiful Islam Kallol