Culprit will be punished
PM tells JS about Khadiza's attacker
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday expressed her resolve to take stern action against the attacker of college girl Khadiza Begum Nargis in Sylhet.
“A section of the press and a vested quarter are out to highlight the incident from a political point of view. But we are not granting indulgence to the culprit and he must be punished,” the PM told parliament in her closing speech in the 12th session of the current Jatiya Sangsad.
She blasted bystanders for not saving Khadiza and some BNP leaders for trying to explain the incident from a political perspective.
“It's my conviction that people have learned carrying out such atrocities from the movement of the BNP and Jamaat in 2013 and 2015 when they brutally burnt people and police alive in broad daylight,” she said.
About the recent tensions between India and Pakistan, the premier said the leaders of the two countries should exercise restraint for saving South Asian people from any kind of sufferings.
“We want peace in South Asia. We never want any conflict or a tense situation in the region as Bangladesh would also be a victim of any such situation.”
The leader of the House said her government was striving to guide the country towards peace and prosperity and so it doesn't expect any conflict in the region.
During her 31-minute speech, Hasina reiterated her government's firm stance on militancy and terrorism. She sought support, particularly from guardians and teachers, to keep track of the children.
Highlighting the country's progress in different sectors, she said many internationals agencies now acknowledge this.
The country's per capita income has risen to $1,466, which would grow further in future. The number of “abject poor” has come down while the poverty rate has declined below 22.4 percent, she told the House.
Referring to her interactions with world leaders during this year's UN General Assembly in New York, Hasina said every world leader praised the successes of Bangladesh and gave recognition through many awards.
She congratulated Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury on her 51st birthday. She also greeted the opposition and independent lawmakers for their cooperation in making parliament functional.