BNP activists behind arson attacks: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday told parliament that it was the BNP that carried out the recent arson attack on buses to make the election questionable and malign the government.
"There was no reason to set fire to buses. But why did they do so? It was to make the election questionable when they are not getting people's votes and have lost public confidence," Hasina said in an unscheduled discussion.
She made the remark in reply to BNP MP Harunur Rashid's demand for formation of a parliamentary body to find out who were behind the arson attacks in the capital.
Hasina said when two parliamentary by-elections were being held, they all of a sudden set several buses on fire and but are shifting blame on the government.
"We're in power. Then why our government will earn a bad name by setting fire to buses. Besides, it is our duty to ensure people's security."
Thanks to the technological advancement, those who are setting fire are being caught red-handed as there are CCTVs in all places. It is clear who were behind the attack, Hasina said, adding that there are images of the culprits in her hand.
Several persons from their procession were seen setting fire to buses with a gas lighter, she went on.
Noting that now technology is advancing far and technology speaks, the PM played the record of a phone call conversation between a leader and a female activist of BNP in the House.
Hasina said it is their old habit that they shift blame on the government after arson. Because there was a problem in the party's foundation.
The PM said the party lost public confidence as it made a fugitive convict of a murder and 10-truck arms haul case its acting chairman.
Hasina said the BNP was trying to get political mileage banking on the trying times of Covid-19 and to give the government a bad name.
Pointing at BNP MP Harunur Rashid, the PM said he should have raised the issue in parliament after knowing his party's information better.
She asked him not to mislead people by raising untrue information in the House anymore.
About the BNP's participation in the elections, Hasina said, "My question is whether they are taking part in the elections at all."
She added that BNP candidates do not campaign or even provide polling agents after securing nominations. They do nothing for the election and at one stage, they withdraw from the race, saying that the election is not held properly.
She advised the BNP to take the polls seriously.
Earlier, speaking on a point of order, Harunur Rashid from Chapainawabganj-3 demanded that the Speaker form a parliamentary committee, comprising of treasury and opposition lawmakers, to reveal who were behind the arson attack.
"[Speaker] set the terms and conditions, we will complete the work in seven days. It should be revealed who were behind the incident and this should be placed before the nation," he said.
He said the BNP does not want to trade blame over the incident.
He said, "Police are saying that actions will be taken after examining video footage [of the incident]. But I want to tell you that Ishraq Hossain [BNP Mayoral candidate for Dhaka South City Corporation], Jewel [Swechchhasebak Dal leader] are infected with Covid-19 [whose names are included in the case]," Harun said.
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