Govt warns of stern action to stop chaos

The government will take stern action against any person involved in unlawful activities in the name of student politics and religion, LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam said yesterday.
"All criminal activities in the name of student politics, and chaos and provocation in the name of religion must be stopped," Ashraf said at a crowded news conference at Awami League President Sheikh Hasina's political office in Dhanmondi.
The AL general secretary's warning came in the wake of recent violence at Rajshahi Polytechnic Institute between Bangladesh Chhatra Moitree and pro-AL student body Bangladesh Chhatra League. A Moitree leader was killed in the incident.
Ashraf said the government is determined to punish such offenders.
He blamed former military dictators Ziaur Rahman and HM Ershad for destroying the nature of student politics in Bangladesh and turning university teachers partisan.
The minister criticised university teachers for their involvement in partisan politics and religious fundamentalism.
At the press conference, organised to mark one-year completion of the present AL government, Syed Ashraf unveiled a publication titled "Uttoron", which contains highlights of the government's achievements so far.
The LGRD minister said majority people of the country have expressed satisfaction over the performance of the government, which has been reflected in researches carried out by the media, especially a few influential and independent newspapers.
He said his party has also independently evaluated the performance of the government but this does not mean they are claiming to have been successful in all sectors equally. The government is trying to overcome its failures, he added.
The government spokesperson accepted the research result that people have opposed extra-judicial killings in the name of crossfire and encounter. "Crossfire and extra-judicial killings can never be accepted in a rule of law and constitution," he said, adding that the government will work sincerely in the future to bring an end to this practice.
Regarding BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain's statement that the government has failed to play any role in implementing its electoral pledges, Ashraf said the main opposition made the comments without facts, figures and information.
He criticised the BNP for boycotting parliamentary sittings on various grounds although its lawmakers are enjoying all facilities including salaries and foreign trips and are also lobbying for purchasing duty-free cars.
On the issue of withdrawal of cases against BNP leaders as a prerequisite to joining parliament by the opposition, he said the matter is beyond the jurisdiction of parliament and the speaker.
He said all corruption cases against BNP leaders must be settled in court. "Will the rule of law be established in the country if these cases were withdrawn?" he said.
Referring to the finding of a newspaper's research that 88 percent people do not like BNP's boycott of the House, the AL leader urged the main opposition to join parliament and expressed hope that the opposition leaders will come back to parliament in the upcoming session starting January 11.
Asked what steps the government has taken to curb corruption compared to the last caretaker government, Ashraf said the caretaker government had good intention in this regard but the anti-corruption drive itself turned later into a tool of torturing and harassing political leaders.
He stressed the need for curbing corruption in a systematic way. He claimed that no allegation of corruption has yet been brought against any minister of this government by either the media or the business community.
"But we are not happy yet since there is corruption in every segment of the society, a legacy of military dictators Ziaur Rahman and HM Ershad," said Ashraf.
About a newspaper's finding that the AL has exceeded the BNP regarding politicisation, the AL spokesperson said they do not believe in politicisation. "We are trying to get rid of the past BNP-Jamaat coalition government's politicisation aftermath," he said.
Asked about AL's organisational activities that have apparently come to a halt over the last one year, he claimed the AL's organisational position is "very strong now". Councils of the party's grassroots level units--wards, upazila and district--will be organised after an extended meeting of the party on January 30, he added.
Replying to a query, the AL leader said those who are saying the political culture has returned to the pre-1/11 situation are trying to invite another non-elected and undemocratic government.
On establishing a positive healthy political culture as pledged in the AL's electoral manifesto, he said they want to do this with all other parties. "We are working for bringing a positive political culture and we need cooperation from all. If we fail, the nation will face a very bad consequence," Ashraf said.