People must come forward to resist culprits: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that the people of the country must come forward to ensure that the perpetrators of the recent countrywide carnage face trial and get punishment.

She said: “They (people of the country) have to try these culprits, I am seeking justice from them."

She said this after visiting the vandalised metro rail station at Mirpur-10 on Thursday morning.

She said that everyone involved in metro rail construction is now in tears witnessing such destruction.

“Why did they do this? I am working tirelessly to upgrade the living standard of the people of this country, and I have done that, no one can deny that,” she said.

She also said that when Bangladesh is progressing to the next level conspirators are there to pull the country back, reports UNB. 

“Why, that is my question and I do not know who will give the answer,” she said.

With an emotion-hoked voice, Hasina said the infrastructures that provided services, comfort and convenience to the mass people have been destroyed.

She said that the government has to overcome so many hurdles to construct the metro-rail and it was completed before the schedule.

She said that the metro rail eased the sufferings of mass people who earlier had to wait for hours in traffic jams.

“Why this type of attack on metro rail, that is my question,” she said.

She said that the metro rail and its services were of international standard.

“But what a grave scene of destruction I have seen here! it is not believable that people of this country can do this. But that has been done here,” she said.

The prime minister accused the BNP-Jamaat clique of taking the advantage of students' quota reform movement to unleash the devastating destruction.

She said that in the last 15 years she has done everything for the welfare and happiness of the people.

“I have ensured food security, power, medicare, education and communication. Who are the beneficiaries of these developments? The mass people of the country. Why is there such anger on this metro rail, that is my question,” she said.

She said that the highest efforts were given from the government to convince the quota reform movement activists that the matter is in the court and the government is doing its best to get a result which will not disappoint them.

“But they did not stop, they did not agree to have patience till the verdict of the apex court comes. still now they are pressing their demands, at first it was one point, now it is eight point,” she said.

The prime minister said that a situation was created giving the BNP-Jamaat nexus the opportunity for carrying out this kind of mayhem.

“Who are the worst sufferers? I do not know how long it would take to restore this metro rail and the vandalised stations,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina inspected different parts of the station which was totally devastated in the recent mayhem centering the student movement for reformation of quota in public service.

Senior officials of the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) briefed the PM regarding the destruction and the future plan to reopen the Mirpur-10 and Kazipara stations.

Some unidentified people went on a rampage at Mirpur-10 and Kazipara metro stations last Friday causing significant damages.

Metro rail services were suspended on July 18 amid demonstrations by students demanding quota reform in public service.