Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaking at a press conference at Ganobhaban in the city on Wednesday — BSS Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Wednesday she would soon order law-enforcement agencies to start a nationwide crackdown on illicit activities at universities and other educational institutions, reports bdnews24.com.
Hasina also promised to mete out the toughest possible punishment to the killers of Abrar Fahad, a BUET student bludgeoned to death allegedly by Chhatra League activists in his dormitory recently.
She termed the murder as extremely cruel.
"Beating somebody to death is extremely inhuman. I can feel the pain of the parents who lost their child," she said at a media briefing at her official residence Ganabhaban in Dhaka.
The prime minister, however, has said she is against banning student politics altogether, adding that BUET may opt to separately ban student politics.
She also promised no political interference in the trial of Abrar murder suspects.
"I don't care about political identity when someone commits a crime. A criminal is a criminal to me. We treat them as criminals," Hasina said.
Media have reported how "drunken BCL activists" bludgeoned Abrar with cricket stumps for six and a half hours last Sunday night. A forensic doctor said he died from excessive bleeding, citing internal injuries.
"Why this cruelty? Why this heinous act? We are taking action against these [culprits]. No doubt they will face all sorts of tough punishments. I don't care which party they belong to. Criminals must be tried. We don't wait for anyone to demand justice," the prime minister said.
She said the post-mortem examination report of Abrar reminded her of the "tortures of Awami League leaders and activists in 2001".
"It has naturally aroused suspicion. Who are these [culprits]? Yes, it's true some people join the party when it is in power. Some people are always the 'permanent government party'. But I don't accept this in my party. I called BCL leaders and asked them to expel all [involved in Abrar murder]. I ordered police to arrest them," the Awami League chief said.
Police have arrested 13 BUET students, including the BCL unit's general secretary Mehedy Hasan Russell, over Abrare murder. BCL has expelled 11.
The prime minister also asked the media to check why police were initially barred from leaving the campus after collecting a security camera video of Abrar's hall.
UNB adds: Turning to the export of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to India, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh would export only imported and processed LPG, not the country's own natural gas.
She also trashed the allegation that anti-state bilateral documents were signed during her recent India tour, saying it cannot happen that Sheikh Hasina will sacrifice the country's interests.
"Those who have raised questions and talked (about the deals with India) have forgotten the past. It can never happen that Sheikh Hasina will sell Bangladesh's interests and everyone should know it," the Prime Minister said.
"We'll import LPG from abroad and export it to India after bottling it. LPG is not natural gas and it's not produced in Bangladesh," Sheikh Hasina said.
BSS adds: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India reached a special height following her four-day official visit to India from October 3 to 6.
"The bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India have got a momentum following her four-day official visit to India," she said.
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