PM surprised over foreign missions' security alerts

Expressing surprise over the issuance of travel alerts by some diplomatic missions in Dhaka for their citizens after the murder of an Italian, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said there is no justification of issuing such alerts.

The PM was speaking at a press conference at Bangladesh UN Permanent Mission in New York on Tuesday evening.

She said some stray incidents always happen not only in Bangladesh but also elsewhere in the world. “The US government didn't issue an alert when two Bangladesh nationals were killed in New York a few years ago. Other diplomatic missions also didn't issue any such alert for their citizens. I don't know why diplomatic missions in Dhaka did this.”

“I saw suspicious activities of a BNP leader after the murder [of the Italian]. I think the clue of the murder would be found if the BNP leader is grilled. I'll take measures in this regard after returning home,” she added.

The press conference was organised to inform the media about the outcome of the PM's New York visit. It was dominated by questions from expatriate journalists on current political and local issues.

About the reported link of Islamic State (IS) with the killing of the Italian national, Hasina said a message from Chicago claimed links of IS with the killing. But nobody from Bangladesh claimed the responsibility for the murder so far. Bangladesh's intelligence agencies have not received any information like that, she added.

There is certainly a strong force behind the killing, said the PM.

She said terrorism and militancy are not the problems only in Bangladesh, they are a global phenomenon. Bangladesh believes in peace, not in militancy, noted the premier.

Bangladesh, she said, doesn't want emergence of militants. She expressed sadness at the murder of the Italian.

SLATING OF BNP, JAMAAT

Hasina said her government was taking measures to contain terrorism and militancy. But the BNP-Jamaat alliance stayed away from the last general election and chose the path of killing people, she alleged.

The BNP-Jamaat started politics of killing in February 2013 and continued it till 2014. They again resorted to terrorism from January to March 2015, complained the PM.

Bangladesh will put on trial those responsible for burning people alive. No killer would be able to escape trial, she warned.

Replying to a question, the PM said under the parliamentary system, the second largest party in parliament is the opposition party.

“So, if you believe in democracy, particularly in parliamentary democracy, you should have to accept the second biggest party in parliament as the opposition party.”

Terming the BNP and Jamaat “militant and terrorist organisations”, she said people will decide which party will be the opposition party.

The PM said there are some people in Bangladesh who are out to create an abnormal situation by killing people.

NO EARLY POLLS

Enquired about a mid-term election, Hasina said there is no chance of holding a national election in the country before 2019.

Supporters of militancy and terrorism who don't want to see Bangladesh's progress and development may seek a general election ahead of schedule, she added.

“The next election will be held as per schedule in line with constitutional provisions.”

The PM said those who had plunged the country into politics of killing and coup have links with international terrorism. The government has been implementing various programmes to free the nation from terrorism and militancy, she added.

“The war criminals and killers of Bangabandhu will certainly try to create an unstable situation in the country. They are trying ceaselessly to do this.”

The government is making all-out efforts to ensure that a peaceful situation prevails in the country, Hasina noted.

Terming her visit to New York a successful one, the PM said the UNGA has adopted the crucial Post-2015 agenda, a very pro-people goal for sustainable development of nations, particularly the poor ones.

She said she had very successful bilateral meetings with the leaders of India, Japan, the Netherlands and China.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Hasina said the country's constitution allows equal rights to every citizen and the people of every faith will practice their religions freely.

“If anybody doesn't practice his religion, it's up to him. But none can hurt the sentiment of the theists.”

She said her government was trying to find ways to stop such acts by taking measures in this regard.

Hurting the religious sentiment of others is a violation of others' constitutional rights. The authorities concerned must take measures to stop this. Otherwise, such incidents would recur, she mentioned.

Responding to another query by a journalist, the PM said courts will decide whether Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman would be punished or not in corruption and grenade attack cases. However, she said she always favours punishment of the perpetrators of such crimes.

AUSSIES' TOUR OF BD

Regarding the Australia national cricket team's tour of Bangladesh, Hasina said they were still not clear why the team was not going to Dhaka.

Pakistan and India played in Bangladesh in the past. Even matches of Cricket World Cup were hosted by the country. Only Australia can clarify on why they decided not to visit Bangladesh, she said.

Bangladesh hosted a number of sports events over the previous years with complete security and no untoward incident occurred then, the PM noted.

She said the law enforcement agencies and all other organisations concerned have enough expertise to ensure players' security.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Foreign Minister A H Mahmood Ali, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to UN Abdul Momen and PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim were present.