Ensure foolproof security of minorities: PM

Stressing the importance of maintaining communal harmony, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday directed all concerned to ensure the foolproof security of minority people.  

"The security of minority people must be ensured …this is the duty of all," she said.

Hasina said this at a videoconference with officials, local representatives and people of different professions on development activities and the government's anti-terror and militancy drives in Rajshahi division from her official residence Gono Bhaban in the capital.

The conference was projected in 2,981 villages and upazilas of eight districts of the division.

The government does not want to see further attacks on the minorities, said Hasina, urging all to remain alert so that such incidents do not recur.

Mentioning that the country's law and order situation is now good, the premier urged all to help improve it further.

She said Bangladesh is a land of religious harmony where the people of all faiths live maintaining peace and performing their religious rituals freely. "And this is the message of all religions including Islam."

Issuing a stern warning against any terrorist act and attack in the name of movement, Hasina said a vested quarter is doing this only to tarnish the country's image…

Referring to the recent statements of BNP leaders, she said the BNP leaders "threatened to go for a tough movement" from November. "If their movement is like the previous one like killing and burning people, torching public and private properties, and attacking minorities, I will urge the people to remain alert this time too."

Hasina also said maintaining a peaceful atmosphere is a prerequisite to development, and steering the country towards further progress is not possible without ensuring it.

She urged the imams of mosques to deliver Khutba (sermons) against militancy and terrorism to create a strong mass awareness.

The premier called upon teachers, guardians and working people to keep a strong vigil on their children and students so that they cannot indulge in drug addiction, militancy and terrorism.

Local lawmakers, political and religious leaders, schoolteachers, farmers and beneficiaries of various benevolent programmes of the government took part in the interaction with the prime minister.