Govt failed to ensure security

Special Envoy to the Prime Minister HM Ershad yesterday criticised the Awami League (AL)-led government for the "breakdown of law and order" and for failing to serve the constitutional duty of ensuring security, especially of foreigners.

No one is safe in Bangladesh, the former military dictator told a press conference at his Banani office in the capital.

The Jatiya Party chairman also congratulated Prime Minister and AL President Sheikh Hasina for winning the champions of the earth, and ICT sustainable development awards, saying these projected a good image of Bangladesh.

"However, terrorism, politicisation, tender grabbing and lack of good governance in the country have overshadowed the prime minister's efforts," he added. On whether he, as part of the government, will shoulder the responsibility of the present situation, he said it was a "sensitive" question he could not answer "at the moment".

Simultaneously, JP Secretary General Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu answered that the envoy post was just an "ornamental" one and that Ershad's main responsibility was to serve JP. JP should not take any responsibility of the government's corruption and misrule and expects people to take the right decision in the next polls, said Bablu. Ershad just nodded in agreement. He said it was necessary for JP to leave the portfolios and perform as a real opposition party. But it is not the time to leave the government, he added.

On whether ISIS was involved in the recent killings of the two foreigners he said, "Why will ISIS come here? They are fighting in Syria and Iraq...None could prove the allegation." He, however, declined commenting on the arrest of JP lawmaker MA Hannan over war crimes allegations, saying it was a sub judice matter.