PM for fresh probe into arms smuggling

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday opted for a fresh inquiry into all arms smuggling through Bangladesh to unveil whether Hawa Bhaban and the BNP chief had any involvement, reports UNB.

"If you (MPs) allow us, we can launch a fresh investigation to find out who are involved in the arms smuggling and the involvement of Hawa Bhaban and the BNP chief," she told Parliament winding up the hour-long unscheduled debate on the verdict of much-talked-about 10-truck arms haul case.

Awami League MP Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim initiated the debate standing on point of order and demanded trial of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for her alleged involvement in this largest-ever arms smuggling.

Sheikh Selim said it became clear through the verdict that Khaleda Zia was involved in the arms smuggling.

"She should also be tried under the arms act… she can't evade her responsibility any way. If former State Minister for Home Babar could be tried in this case, why not Khaleda Zia, as law is equal for all," she said.

Senior treasury bench MPs Abdul Latif Siddiqui, Begum Motia Chowdhury, Jahangir Kabir Nanok, JSD MP Mainuddin Khan Badal, JP MP Kazi Firoz Rashid and AL MP MA Mannan also demanded trial of BNP leader Khaleda Zia.

In response, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the trial had already been done. "This trial started during the tenure of the caretaker government. After that there had been reinvestigation into the case."

She mentioned that the names of the BNP Chief and Hawa Bhaban came in the limelight during the trial process through the depositions of witnesses.

In this connection, she said it should be figured out who were involved in the arms smuggling and why. "We can launch another investigation into the arms smuggling conspiracy. We need to do it and it'll have to be done."

The premier, elected Leader of the House for the third time, also said such a large scale arms smuggling was not possible unless there had been involvement of the then government.

Hasina said the BNP Chief remained silent when she was informed about arms haul. "Silence means acceptance."

In this connection, the Prime Minister mentioned two issues-seizure of one-truck bullets in Bogra and two-truck ammunition in Chokoria during the BNP-Jamaat tenure. "All these were on the way to neighbouring countries to help the separatists there. We'll find out who are involved in it one after another."