PM slams British govt for giving ‘shelter’ to Tarique

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today came down hard on the British government for giving shelter to BNP Senior Vice-chairman Tarique Rahman, saying he has link to killings in Bangladesh and giving threat to British MP Tulip Siddiq.

"One scoundrel is living there… why has the British government given him shelter with caring? After his arrival in the UK, one British MP was killed and Tulip received death threat," she said while addressing an iftar party organised by Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) on the Jatiya Press Club premises.

The prime minister hoped that the British government would take appropriate measurers in this connection.

Citing the killings of several MPs in Bangladesh, including Shah AMS Kibria and AL leader Ahsanullah Master, Hasina said it came to light that the BNP-Jamaat men had been involved in those killings. “It’s the character of the BNP-Jamaat clique since their inception to kill MPs and people, burn them in broad daylight and get involved in secret killings,” he said.

She also held the BNP-Jamaat nexus responsible for the life threat given to Tulip Siddiq, the British MP and niece of the prime minister.

Referring to the recent attack on a Madaripur college teacher, the prime minister said it is now clear that the BNP-Jamaat men are behind these types of attacks and killings.

Noting that they do not want militancy and terrorism in the country but peace, she urged people to come forward to prevent secret killings, terrorism and militancy.

Hasina also called upon journalists to create awareness against these social menaces. “There’s no place of terrorism and militancy in the country," she said.

Welcoming constructive criticism from the journalist community, the prime minister said, “Please, make sure that criticism must not be inconsistent.”

Mentioning that the government always believes in the freedom of press, she said: "Enjoy freedom alongside discharging responsibility towards society and the state. We want this responsibility from all."

Talking about a policy for the media, Hasina said this policy is not meant for controlling media or journalists. "Everything should be run under guidelines and this is happening in other countries, too," she said.

Responding to the demand of the journalist community for constituting the ninth Wage Board for them, the prime minister requested the media outlet owners to sit and take a decision in this regard.

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, PM's Information Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, BFUJ Secretary General Omar Faruk, Press Club President Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury and DUJ President Shaban Mahmud also spoke at the programme.