Patronising Militancy: BNP-Jamaat leaders must face trial: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reiterated that BNP-Jamaat and its leaders must face trial for patronising militancy by providing money and giving orders, protecting war criminals and burning innocent people to death with petrol bombs.

"These are not political cases... these are cases of burning people," she told a meeting of the Washington chapter of Awami League at Ritz Carlton hotel in Virginia on Wednesday.

The PM said cases were filed against BNP-Jamaat leaders and they must be put on trial.

"The guilty, whoever they are, must be punished. Those who patronised offenders and made war criminals ministers should face trial," she said, adding that the BNP chairperson will have to face trial for her "misdeeds".

About her birthday, the PM said: "I don't like cutting cakes to celebrate birthday.... My only aim is to complete the unfinished tasks of Bangabandhu to bring smile to the faces of the downtrodden people."

The premier, who turned 70 on Wednesday, observed her birthday in a low-profile manner.

Hasina said she learned from her late parents of sacrificing for the welfare of others. Members of her family never celebrated their birthdays in a high-profile manner when the people of Bangladesh had to struggle for food and shelter, she added.

The PM remembered the painful experience of her life after the assassination of Bangabandhu and most of her family members on August 15, 1975. She said she had been abroad for nearly six years after the incident.

She said she had to face obstructions by the military junta of General Zia after returning to Bangladesh in 1981 as the president of AL.

"Awami League leaders and workers always stood beside me in my difficult time. Top leaders make mistakes, but grassroots workers don't," she told the meeting.

She called upon the Bangladeshi expatriates to remain vigilant against violent extremism that claimed lives of many Bangladeshis in the USA.

"The killing of Bangladeshi expatriates here is not acceptable... terrorism is now everywhere, so remain careful," she said.