Dhaka (Barta24.com): Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina informed the people that there is every apprehension of militant and terrorist attacks in Bangladesh. She said that we lost few Bangladeshis including children in the terrorist attack in Colombo terrorist attack on last April 21. We have lost our grandson Jayan in this terrorist attack. There are similar attempts in Bangladesh but our Intelligence agencies and law and order departments are very much alert about it.
The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating Rajshahi-Dhaka-Rajshahi non stop inter city train 'Bonolata Express' on Thursday (April 25) from Gonabhavan through video conferencing.
To remain vigilant against this militancy she called upon the countrymen to secretly inform the law enforcing agencies about the presence and activity of such terrorists. Because we want peace in the country. Only peace can ensure development. Country will go ahead in peaceful atmosphere, Sheikh Hasina said.
The Prime Minister said that this is unfortunate for us that we had to observe arson, destruction and human killing by the BNP- Jamaat men in the name of movement. They destroyed valuable properties including BRTC buses in the name of movement, she said. Even the train, launch and many other valuables could not escape their wrath. We have seen many cruelties in Bangladesh but don’t want its repetitions. So I called upon my countrymen to chase the arson and fire terrorism in Bangladesh, she said.
Remembering the incident of losing her grand son Jayan Chowdhury in Sri Lanka she said that the innocent child Jayan was only eight years old. Recollecting the tragic incident of August 15, 1975 she told that as myself and Sheikh Rehana were abroad so we escaped death while the rest of my family were killed brutally. Jayan’s maternal grand father Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni along with his family members were also killed. She mentioned that Jayan was the grand son of Awami League presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim MP. We don’t want further such tragic end of a child.
Sheikh Hasina said that some irresponsible terrorists are making the great religion Islam questionable which only preaches peace. I don’t know what the terrorists gain through human killing in the name of religion, she said. Islam and militancy cannot go together, she reminded the people.
She also urged upon all to create awareness among the youths about the ferocity of militancy and to keep them away from such tendency.
The Prime Minister said that I want that on next Friday all the Muslims across the country will pray for the departed souls of Jayan Chowdhury and for the Muslims who were killed in the mosque attack in New Zealand. I would also urged the Imams and Muazzins to highlight the adverse of militancy and terrorism and how it affects the humanity.
The function was conducted by principal secretary to the Prime Minister Nozibur Rahman and was addressed by Railway ministry secretary Md. Tofazzel Hossain.