Stern action for post-poll violence

Awami League (AL) yesterday warned its leaders and activists of stern actions for any involvement in post-election violence.
"If we find involvement of any party activists or leaders in post-polls violence, we shall take organisational action against the person and also request the law enforcement agencies to take necessary steps as per existing laws," AL spokesperson Syed Ashraful Islam said at a press conference at the AL president's political office in the capital's Dhanmondi.
The role of opposition in the parliament is a must to strengthen democracy and make the House effective, he said urging the BNP-led four-party coalition to accept 'people's verdict' in the December 29 election.
He also asked the party activists to stay calm and show restraint.
The AL joint general secretary said probe would be conducted into the allegations and cases filed against the AL men during the tenure of the BNP-Jamaat coalition government between 2001 and 2006 and steps would be taken accordingly.
"We have urged the caretaker government to arrest whoever violates law and order regardless of the person's political identity," he said.
Ashraf also alleged that the activists of BNP and Jamaat have resorted to violence across the country after the four-party coalition's debacle in the parliamentary elections.
"On the one hand, they [BNP and Jamaat] are attacking the leaders and workers of Awami League while on the other hand, they are propagating that Awami League activists are carrying out attacks on them," he said, referring to newspaper reports on attacks on AL activists across the country.
Ashraf said nine cases were filed against AL men and eight against supporters of the four-party alliance in connection with post-polls violence.