Burning people to death is not politics: HPM Sheikh Hasina

Issuing a strong warning against destructive politics like killing, fire terrorism and vandalism, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said those who will be involved in such destructive acts will be contained with iron hands.

"Burning people to death and unleashing terrorism and vandalism cannot be a political programme ... we'll never tolerate such heinous acts. Those who will be engaged in such misdeeds will be curbed with iron hands," she said.

In this connection, she asked the police members to stay alert against such destructive activities. "I hope that our police members will remain always vigilant to this end," she said.

The prime minister was addressing senior police officials at a function at her office here this morning marking the Police Week 2018.

Sheikh Hasina posed a question that burning people to death in the name of the political programme is what type of politics? "The politics which kills people by pouring petrol is not acceptable to us," she said.

"I've been doing politics since my childhood, not today ... I've been involved in politics for over 50 years as I started it from my school life. But I never saw such (destructive) politics," she said.

Pointing out the BNP-Jamaat's killing and arson attacks in 2013, 2014 and 2015 in the name of movement to overthrow the present government, Sheikh Hasina said: "They've cut the roads and trees, which we constructed and planted."

The premier said the BNP-Jamaat nexus torched and destroyed rail bogeys and engines which the government imported. "The common people earn livelihood by doing business of bus and truck. But the BNP-Jamaat clique also torched that buses and trucks and killed CNG and private car drivers by tying up with their vehicles," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the BNP-Jamaat terrorists killed police members by felling on the streets. "We can never allow such heinous acts," she said.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Public Security Division Secretary Mostafa Kamal Uddin addressed the function while PM's Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman was present.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque delivered the welcome address, while Additional IGP (admin) Mokhlesur Rahman gave the vote of thanks.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Asaduzzaman Mia, DIG Rajshahi Range Khurshid Hossain, Additional DIG (Police Headquarters) Muniruzzaman, Rajbari Police Super Salma Begum and Comilla Police Super Shah Ali Hossain spoke.

Urging the police members to gain people's confidence and trust, the prime minister said they will have to work in such a way that the people think that the police will help them. 

"They (people) also think that the police remain always beside them and the police are a place of their confidence," she said.

In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said the police have already earned people's confidence and trust and thanked them for the success.

The prime minister put emphasis on exchanging information among the police, intelligence agencies and other forces to stamp out militancy and terrorism from the country. 

"They'll have to share information among themselves and must go for quick action if there is any information on militancy and terrorism and other anti- social crimes," the premier said.

She also asked the officials concerned not to look at own credits only and work on a particular agency's own way saying handling of terrorists, militants and criminals is always risky and sometimes become as matters of life and death.

"If any operation is carried out in a planned way with mutual cooperation and exchanging information, the drive will witness less casualties side by side with achieving success," she said referring to the coordinated operation at Holey Artisan Cafe in city's Gulshan.

Sheikh Hasina said a committee has been formed with one of her advisers as the chief and the Home Minister as a member to hold meeting with the intelligence agencies which will determine what to be done on receiving such information.

Giving directives to the police members to be more active and strict in rooting out drugs, Sheikh Hasina said this problem is another problem like militancy.

"Drugs are destroying the society, families, and meritorious students ... so we'll have to be hard further to eliminate this problem and I hope that the police members will give special attention to save the country from the menace of drugs," she said.

About cyber crime, she said sometimes technology creates problems and the government wants to develop Bangladesh police as more efficient and equipped with modern technology to handle such crimes.

Putting emphasis on ensuring peace and stability in the country, Sheikh Hasina said the pace of economic activities is accelerated through ensuring peace and stability.

Mentioning her government's steps for establishing 100 economic zones in the country, she said police have very important role in ensuring atmosphere to attract investment there.

"To this end the government will further increase the facilities of all including the police," she said.

Highly appreciating Bangladesh Police for their success in containing terrorism, militancy and maintaining public security, Sheikh Hasina said they can be compared with police organisations of any developed country of the world.

Referring to various international events like IPU Summit and CPA conference held in Dhaka last year, the prime minister lauded the role of the police in holding such mega events in Bangladesh in peaceful atmosphere.

Photo: Saiful Islam Kallol