Godfathers won’t be spared in anti-drug drive: PM

Iterating her firm stance on the ongoing countrywide drive against narcotics, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the people are now getting relief from such drives and none, even ‘godfathers’ and ‘dons’, would be spared in this regard.

“The people of the country are getting relief from the anti-narcotics drive and it’s the demand of the people…….even the big dailies are making big headlines over the spread of drugs. Let us do our job,” she said replying to a question at a crowded press conference at her official Ganabhaban residence this afternoon.

The press conference was convened to brief the media about the outcome of her recent tour to India.

The Premier said she does not know who are termed as godfathers of drugs or dons, adding, “I can only say that we’re not considering who are ‘godfathers’ or who are ‘dons’. Actions are being taken against those who are involved in drugs dealing, trading and have such allegations against them.”

She said, “If there is any godfather ……….he or she won’t be spared. I can say this as whenever I deal with something, deal it with an iron hand (Ami jokhon dhori bhalo korei dhori). I don’t look at who is whose brother or whose uncle.”

Sheikh Hasina said questions were also raised when her government had earlier launched the drive against terrorism saying, “We’ve been able to contain terrorism. Such terrorist acts are being done even in the most civilized countries of the world. But, we’ve been able to keep Bangladesh into a good position considering that.”

Terming addiction and trading of drug as a ‘menace’ to the society, she said since the ongoing anti-narcotics drive was launched, some 10,000 drug peddlers, suppliers and drug users have been arrested, but she wondered this was not highlighted in the media with such hype.

Replying to a question, the Prime Minister said that no innocent person has fallen victim of the ongoing anti-narcotics drive adding, “If any innocent person falls victim of the drive, then we’ll surely take steps. But, we’ll have to root out drug from the society and this has always been the demand of all.”

Sheikh Hasina said whenever the police or RAB personnel conduct any drive, then they often had to face unexpected situation. “But, if any injustice happens to anyone, then the offenders will have to face the action.”

She said the law enforcement agencies are not conducting drives all on a sudden, rather they have kept the drug peddlers and the drug producers on constant vigil for a long time.

She posed a question before the media and countrymen whether the society would be in good condition if the anti-adulteration and the anti-narcotics drives are stopped.

India tour strengthens bilateral ties

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the existing relations between Bangladesh and India have been strengthened further through her just-concluded visit to India.

“Bangladesh and India are two closest neigbouring countries and I think through this visit the existing ties between the two countries have been further consolidated,” she said in her written speech at a crowded press conference at her official Ganabhaban residence here this afternoon.

The prime minister also said Bangladesh Bhaban established at Shantiniketan will take forward further the existing cultural bond of the two countries.

Sheikh Hasina said, on the first day of her two-day official visit, she along with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the convocation ceremony of the Bisva Bharati University at Shantiniketan in West Bengal.

Later, she said, they jointly inaugurated the newly constructed Bangladesh Bhaban built on Bisva Bharati University campus.

The Prime Minister said primary discussion on constructing Bangladesh Bhaban began during her previous visit to Shantiniketan in 2010.

The issue of building the Bhaban financed by Bangladesh government was mentioned in the joint communique during the visit of the then Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to Bangladesh in 2011, she said.

Later, an announcement was made in this regard during the visit of Indian President Dr Pranab Mukherjee to Bangladesh in 2013, Sheikh Hasina said.

In light of the announcement, she said, education and cultural ministries and Architecture Department of Bangladesh jointly constructed the eye-catching Bangladesh Bhaban at a cost of 25 crore Indian Rupees.

In this regard, she mentioned that a one-time corpus fund equivalent to Rs 10 crore would be formed for the maintenance of the building and for conducting its activities.

From the dividend of the fund, fellowship would be awarded to 10 students of Bangladesh for doing MPhil and PhD research at Bisva Bharati University, Sheikh Hasina said.