Khaleda to be tried in spl tribunal
A special tribunal would be formed for quick disposal of cases against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for instigating arson attacks during the BNP-led alliance's agitation for three months from January, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in parliament yesterday.
"There is a provision under section-27 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 2009 for constituting anti-terrorism special tribunals. The government has plans to set up such tribunals in line with the provision,” Hasina said in response to a question from AL lawmaker Selina Begum.
The cases filed against Khaleda and her associates would be tried under the act, she said.
Instructions have already been given to the authorities concerned to quickly complete the probe in the cases filed for petrol bomb attacks across the country during the agitation, she said.
"The government is closely monitoring whether the instructions are being carried out properly."
Sessions judges have been given the authority to dispose of the cases until the formation of the special tribunals.
Of the cases, the important ones would be transferred to speedy trial tribunals, she said.
At least 134 people were burnt to death in petrol bomb attacks during the agitation. Besides, 1,395 vehicles were vandalised while railway came under attack 13 times and launches six times, Hasina told the House.
The PM also slammed Khaleda for resorting to falsehood against the government in the month of Ramadan.
Referring to Khaleda's allegation that police carried out arson attacks during the BNP-led combine's agitation, Hasina questioned how Khaleda told such lies against law enforcers who work hard to ensure security of people.
The PM showed several pictures as proof of BNP-Jamaat men's involvement in subversive activities during the agitation.
“They are BNP-Jamaat activists. How could she [Khaleda] say police hurled the firebombs? The BNP leader is trying to shift the blame onto police,” she said.
Taking part in a thanksgiving motion, Hasina vowed to turn Bangladesh into an upper middle income country by 2020, and sought people's cooperation to that end.
“We will celebrate the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 2020, and celebrate the golden jubilee of the country's independence in 2021. Bangladesh will be turned into an upper middle income country before the celebrations,” she said.
The country would be able to achieve that target if people take a strong stance against violence as they did before, said the PM.
Earlier, treasury bench lawmaker Abdur Razzak moved the motion in parliament on Bangladesh's elevation to lower middle income nation from the low income status by meeting the World Bank's requirements comfortably.
Senior AL lawmakers Matia Chowdhury, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, AMA Muhith and Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, among others, spoke.
After the discussion, the House passed the motion unanimously by a voice vote.
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