Go tough on militancy
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday directed the law enforcement agencies and local administrations to take tough measures against terrorism and militancy.
“You will have to take appropriate measures so that there are no militant activities in Bangladesh. There will be no room for militancy in the country,” she said.
The PM was exchanging views with administrations of Patuakhali, Netrakona, Bhola, Jhalakathi, Narayanganj and Shariatpur districts and divisional commissioner's office in Dhaka and Barisal through video conference.
Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan moderated the video conferencing at the Cabinet Division of the Secretariat.
Hasina thanked the senior officials of the districts for tackling “bad times” during the BNP-Jamaat's three-month-long non-stop blockades and hartals across the country.
She criticised the BNP-Jamaat alliance for unleashing violence in the name of hartal and blockade that killed around 185 people in the last three months.
“I've no words to express my hatred for these barbaric acts,” Hasina said.
She directed the officials to take preparation in advance to cope with natural disasters in the country, especially in the southern region.
Expressing deep shock at the loss of lives and properties in nor'westers that swept through different parts of the country in the last two days, the PM asked the local administrations to stay beside the disaster-hit people round the clock.
Earlier at the cabinet meeting, she criticised some of the ministers for disregarding a 2009 order that discouraged wearing suits in summer.
“Is it our dress?” a minister quoted her as saying. “It is the dress of the British,” the PM snapped at her cabinet colleagues, saying they still have that servile attitude.
The government had earlier issued a directive to its officials for not wearing suits and coats during summer in a bid to cut down on use of air-conditioner and reduce wastage of electricity. The directive is applicable during March to November.
The cabinet meeting approved in principle “The Ports (Amendment) Act-2015' to clear legal bar in setting up infrastructure in port areas across the country.
It also approved “National Social Security Strategy of Bangladesh”.
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