Hasina alerts ministers, MPs

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked her cabinet colleagues and party lawmakers to remain alert for at least next two months as 'untoward incidents' might occur ahead of the Supreme Court verdict in the Bangabandhu murder case.

The directive came at a meeting of the Awami League Parliamentary Party (ALPP) held at its conference room in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban last night with Hasina, also the chief of the ALPP and president of Awami League (AL), in the chair.

Sources said the ALPP meeting was convened to alert the party MPs to the possible danger.

"The verdict of Bangabandhu murder case is at final stage. Those who are beneficiary or directly and indirectly involved in Bangabandhu killing won't accept execution of the verdict. They will try to do something untoward, so everybody has been directed to remain alert," AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam told reporters after the meeting.

Ashraf, also the AL spokesperson and LGRD minister, said, "The prime minister has urged the countrymen to remain united so that the rule of law is established in Bangladesh."

Talking to The Daily Star some of the AL lawmakers said the prime minister referring to the reports of intelligence agencies drew attention of her cabinet colleagues and party lawmakers and said the country is and would be passing through a very critical time on security point of view ahead of the verdict in the Bangabandhu murder case.

Besides, the prime minister warned that stern action would be taken against tender manipulation, extortion and criminal activities. In this regard, she directed the party lawmakers not to interfere in tender bidding. She also asked them to refrain from any wrongdoings.

"The party chief has said that no criminal activity, tender manipulation and extortion in the name of Awami League will be tolerated," said Ashraful Islam.

Hasina also directed the lawmakers to keep tie with the party leaders in their constituencies and warned that any split in the party would not be accepted.

She also asked them not to visit Bangladesh Secretariat frequently.

The LGRD and cooperatives minister informed the meeting that an amount of Tk 15 crore has been allocated for each of the 300 constituencies for the rural infrastructure development activities for the FY 2009-2010. The prime minister asked the lawmakers to oversee the development activities with the allocation for their constituencies.

She also directed them to face the media very carefully and without going harsh. "Don't react sharply with the media," a lawmaker quoted Hasina as saying.

The AL president instructed the party leaders to prepare a database of all leaders of the party and collect primary membership across the country.

"We will hold councils of upazila, union and ward units after completing the members' recruitment across the country so that the next central council of the party is held in three years as stipulated in the Awami League constitution," the AL general secretary said.