Govt to end impasse soon by rationally reforming quota system: FM

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Saturday said the government is confident to end the impasse soon by rationally reforming the quota system to the satisfaction of the students within the provisions of the Constitution and the judgment of the Supreme Court, reports UNB.
Reading out a press statement at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he said, the government continues to exercise maximum restraints while at the same time remains undeterred in protecting lives and properties and maintaining order.
Hasan said some international media outlets published "distorted and wrong news" based on unverified information. "We ask them to apply maximum prudence to avoid release of any unverified and distorted news."
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and MoFA Spokesperson Seheli Sabrin and other DGs of the Ministry were present at the briefing.
He said they hope their foreign friends and partners will appreciate the gravity of the situation and reach them for any relevant information or facts.
The Foreign Minister said they will brief the diplomats stationed in Dhaka today (Sunday).
"The issue remains an internal affair of Bangladesh. We appreciate continued support and cooperation of our foreign friends and partners for the socio-economic development of Bangladesh," according to the press statement shared with media after the briefing.
To protect the development gains of Bangladesh, on Friday night in consultation with the law enforcement agencies and the allied political parties, the government has decided to impose nationwide curfew and deployed military in aid of civil administration until the situation returns to normalcy.
Hasan said the ill motive of the perpetrators was exposed when the coordinators of the "Quota Reform Movement" made public statements denying any involvement of their movement in the indiscriminate violence, vandalism and arsons and called all quarters not to take evil political advantage from their apolitical movement.
He said the government quickly moved to ease the violence to protect lives and property and it also immediately formed a judicial inquiry committee led by a judge of the High Court to investigate the violence and deaths.
The Prime Minister assigned a ministerial committee to discuss with the student group to reach an agreement on their demands and eventually the committee met the student group on Friday night holding a "satisfactory" discussion.
Moreover, the Supreme Court, at the plea of the Attorney General, brought the date of the hearing forward from the previous date from August 7 to July 21, according to the press statement.
"Unfortunately, nothing proved enough to stop the spread of violence since the anti-Liberation, anti-state and extremists led by BNP-Jamaat took control of the movement from the innocent unsuspecting students and resorted to their old tactics of killing, arson and vandalism," it mentioned.
Without any instigation, the press statement said, they have torched and vandalized important government establishments, including key point installations like national data center, national television, metro rail, elevated expressway, burnt hundreds of public and private vehicles, including firefighting and law enforcement vehicles, and breached a prison to help captive religious extremists and convicted criminals to escape.
The government said hundreds of law enforcement members were injured, some died and media personnel were not spared.
Regrettably, the press statement also said, despite willingness expressed by the government to attend the demands of the protesters, including televised assurance by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and exercise of utmost restraints by the law enforcement agencies, the anti-Liberation and anti-state elements and religious extremists, including BNP-Jamaat clique, took advantage of the situation by infiltrating in the movement and turning it violent.
Describing the attacks, the Awami League Joint Secretary General said these attacks are made on state and general people of the country.
He said the criminals are carrying out arson attacks on various establishments, including expressway toll plaza, metro rail stations, disaster management department and state-run BTV station.
Hasan said the criminals hired terrorists, addicted people and others to carry out attacks and vandalism.
The Foreign Minister also said the criminals set the data center on fire, disrupting internet services. "You know who those attackers are."