Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaking at a news conference at the Gonobhaban on Wednesday — Focus Bangla Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said steps will be taken if any innocent person falls victim to the ongoing drive against narcotics, report agencies.
"We'll surely take steps if any innocent person falls victim to the drive," she told a press conference at her official residence Ganobhaban Wednesday afternoon.
The press conference was arranged to brief the media about her recent tour of Wes Bengal, India.
Hasina says she is determined to continue her campaign against illegal drugs despite growing criticism among human rights groups and rival political parties over the rising death toll in the crackdown.
Hasina renewed her pledge to toughen the anti-drug campaign. "Nobody will be spared however influential he may be."
If anyone commits anything wrong during the anti-narcotic drive, he or she is surely being tried, Hasina said.
"Please show at least one incident -- from what happened so far -- whether any innocent person fell victim to it," the Prime Minister added.
Mentioning that drug is like a disease in society, Hasina said more than 10,000 drug dealers and users have been arrested, but no newspaper ran any news over the number of arrestees during the drive.
The Prime Minister said the government is not considering who is 'godfather' and who is 'don' while conducting the anti-drug drive across the country.
"If we get a little bit of information, we're taking action, no matter who are involved in it," she said adding that the government has not launched drive out of nothing.
"Intelligence agencies have collected information for a long time, they've dug out who are involved in it...we've put them under surveillance."
Responding to a question, Hasina said whoever the godfather is and whatever the force that godfather belongs to the government will not spare anyone.
"I don't know what you are trying to indicate by saying godfather. At least I can say whenever I hold anything, I hold it firmly-who, what whose brother, whose uncle I never look at that," she said.
The Prime Minister said the people of the country are passing their days in relief and peace after the launching the drive against drugs. "This drive was the demand of people."
Hasina mentioned that eliminating the drug from society was the desire of the common people.
About her India visit, the Prime Minister said her country wants no return from India as it will ever remember Bangladesh for returning it peace.
"Bangladesh helped India get rid of daily bombing and shootout. We've returned them peace, they have to remember this," she said.
Responding to a question, the Prime Minister said the government does not depend on others to solve Bangladesh's water problem. "We're doing our job to mitigate the water problem in the country."
She also mentioned about the ongoing river and canal dredging, digging of old and new ponds in the country to solve the water problem.
Responding to a question on Teesta water-sharing issue during her visit to Kolkata, Hasina said she did not go there to discuss Teesta water-sharing issue. "The Joint River Commission is there to discuss it," she said.
She also mentioned that the present government works for the welfare of the country, not to ensure the interest of a particular person.
"I don't know whether India will bring me back to or not," she said while replying to a question regarding BNP's criticism that she went to India for ensuring her return to power in the next election.
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