Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said the nationwide
mayhem was a part of conspiracy to completely cripple the economy to make
Bangladesh again a country of beggars.
"It might be their conspiracy to make us again a nation
of beggars by crippling the country's economy completely," she said. The
prime minister made the remarks with emotional voice after paying a visit to
the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation (NITOR)
popularly known as Pongu Hospital at Sher-e-Banglanagar here to see the injured
people who came under terror attacks during the total shutdown centering the
quota reform movement. She later visited rampaged Setu Bhaban, Department of
Disaster Management and toll plaza of the expressway at Mohakhali here. Road
Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, among others, was present at the
Setu Bhaban. Referring to casualties during the nationwide destruction, Sheikh
Hasina said, "Everything (dozens of government establishments built to
ensure comfort to the people and generate employment) had been gutted into
ashes. Today, so many people gave their lives and so many people have become
crippled." The prime minister said the BNP-Jamaat clique did such
incidents in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2023 and killed a number of people by
carrying out widespread violence and arson terrorism. "Every time police
personnel were their targets," she said.
This time, they hanged policemen and an Awami League
activist after killing them inhumanly taking advantage of the quota reform
movement, she said. The premier said she repeatedly requested the students to
have patience as their desire will be fulfilled by the apex court and the
government is also in favour of them. She questioned why the total shutdown
would continue after the apex court issued status-quo on the quota issue that
means there was no quota in the government jobs now. "I don't know why
their shutdown isn't stopped despite all of their demands are met," she
said. The premier said she wanted to know from the countrymen who will now
shoulder the responsibilities of the casualties and the massive destruction. She
questioned what was her fault? The premier continued that she has been
tirelessly working to change the fate of the people and elevate their living
standard. "But, I seek justice from the countrymen," she said. The
miscreants rampaged through the government establishments which were built to
ensure comfort and ease public life alongside making the country developed and
prosperous, she added.
The people including the students now have to suffer due to
vandalism of metro rail stations, she said. The premier reiterated that the
people have to resist those who caused the sufferings.
About the casualties she said she never wanted that any mother would lose her
child as she knew the pain of losing near and dear ones as she lost everything
on August 15, 1975. After visiting the Pongu Hospital, the prime minister
reiterated that her government will do everything possible for ensuring proper
treatment to the injured during the nationwide mayhem. She said the government
will provide artificial hands and legs to them who lost those in the rampage as
they can return to their normal life. "I will do my best," she added.
During her visit to the Pongu Hospital, she also enquired about the treatment
of the injured people. The prime minister was seen hugging the female relatives
of the injured people to console them with giving assurance of extending all
sorts of assistance to ensure their proper treatment and their rehabilitation. Nitor
Director Prof. Dr. Kazi Shamim Uzzaman apprised the prime minister of the
treatment of the victims.
