PM worries about security of protesters

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday expressed concern over the health and security of the Shahbagh demonstrators who have been demanding death penalty for all war criminals.
Hasina said the government has already enacted a law allowing the state and complainants to appeal against any verdict of the war crimes tribunals in line with demands of demonstrators.
Besides, the government has empowered the tribunals to try various organisations, including Jamaat-e-Islami, alongside individuals for committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War, she added.
The premier was talking to some of her cabinet members after the weekly cabinet meeting at the Secretariat yesterday.
Hasina said people who have been staging non-stop demonstration since February 5 might become sick, and they should take care of their health.
Tariqul Islam Shanto, a Shahbagh protester, died of a heart attack yesterday afternoon.
The demonstrators should consider finding a way to end their demonstrations, highly placed government sources said quoting the premier as saying.
In this context, Hasina mentioned that she supports the 3:00pm to 10:00pm time frame set by the protesters for demonstration at Shahbagh.
Two major hospitals are in the area and the patients have been facing difficulties to go there, she said, adding that patients would be benefited if the time frame is followed.
Expressing solidarity with the movement, she said she has absolute support for the spirit of the young generation, but she is worried about their security as different kinds of people throng there at different times and no one knows their motives.
The prime minister entrusted State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Jahangir Kabir Nanak with the task of talking to the demonstrators in this regard, added the sources.